The Stephen C. O’Connell Center will soon fill up with Rowdy Reptiles looking to make their home court the House of Horrors. After an offseason of getting players ready for new roles, the time has come.
The Florida Gators men’s basketball team is back.
The Gators kick off the season Friday, and at Gator Country we’re previewing each opponent prior to the game in a piece we call “Know Your Opponent.”
This week’s opponent is William & Mary.
William & Mary Tribe
Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Athletic Association
Head coach: Tony Shaver, 12th season
2013-14 record: 20-12 (10-6 CAA, 3rd place)
The William & Mary Tribe enter the 2014-15 season under similar circumstances to the first opponent of the season. Much like the Gators, the Tribe are looking for players to take on new roles after losing six seniors, three of whom were in the starting lineup. The loss of players means a lack of experience and potential growing pains with a team that will feature five true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen.
Just like Florida, William & Mary will also rely on their head coach to steady the ship during rough times during the season. Tony Shaver is the school’s leader in head coaching wins with 136. Last year, Shaver led the Tribe to the CAA tournament final, where they lost to Delaware. His experience and focus on team play will be essential for a team with players in new spots on the team.
Key players
Marcus Thornton
Guard
Senior
6-4, 190 pounds
The team’s leading scorer (18.7 ppg last season) returns for his senior campaign. Thornton is looking to build upon a college career that includes a First Team All-CAA award last season, and First-Team NABC All-District 10 awards for the past two seasons. Thornton has shown his proficiency from downtown, holding the school record for three-pointers made per game (2.37), as well as second in three-point field goals (223) and fourth in three-point percentage (.402). Thornton’s 1,519 points are the seventh-most in school history and the guard is on pace to become the school’s all-time leader in scoring.
Thornton is a crafty player who does a good job of dictating the pace as a point guard. While he attempts to make plays happen, he doesn’t force things and continues to warm up as the game goes on. He can score from anywhere, squaring up for a shot no matter what dribble he is coming out of. In addition to a smooth game, Thornton has a crossover-step back combination that will present problems to defenders.
Omar Prewitt
Forward
Sophomore
6-6 191 pounds
Prewitt had a big freshman year, earning the CAA Rookie of the Year award and making the CAA All-Rookie Team. The forward averaged 11.4 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and 2 assists per game. Prewitt also finished top ten in the CAA in free-throw percentage, three-point percentage and steals. The sophomore will be one of the many players in a new role this season, as he is projected to start for the first time against Florida.
Prewitt has shown a dedication to improving upon last year. During the offseason he put on 15 pounds of muscle, looking stronger than the 191 pounds he currently is listed as. He is a fundamentally sound player who looks for the easy basket, but has the ability to score from long range. Prewitt also showed the ability to score key baskets late in games last season.
Terry Tarpley
Forward
Junior
6-5 210 pounds
A man who served as the team’s utility player, Tarpley was the Tribe’s top rebounder and defender last year. He owns the fifth-best rebounding average among returning players in the CAA and was one of two players in the conference to rank among the top 15 in rebounding, steals and blocked shots. Last season, Tarpley averaged 5.4 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists per game.
Tarpley’s ability to rebound despite only being 6-5 is a testament to his positioning and will to crash the boards. While not an offensive threat, the junior will do the little things to help his team win, and essential part to having long-term success.
How they fare against Florida
William & Mary is a team that does a strong job of playing team ball. On offense, they have great ball movement and do a good job of finding the open man. They run a Princeton-style offense that is usually initiated from the left side of the court. The Gators, who have had defensive rotation issues in scrimmages and preseason, will have to be mindful of backdoor cuts and pick-and-roll plays. While the Tribe will shoot from outside, they tend to focus on getting high percentage shots.
However, Florida’s speed should be a problem for William & Mary throughout the night. While the Tribe rotated well on defense last year, opposing players were able to get around defenders fairly easy and attack the paint. Fast breaks also proved to be a problem for the team, as the opposition was able to get past the players and get to the basket. While Florida is giving up height in the backcourt, their guards are significantly faster and could get William & Mary in foul trouble. William & Mary have scorers on the team, but are overmatched in talent.