Larson Leaving the Program

[Jonas]

Thought this deserved it's own thread:

https://twitter.com/GatorZoneMBK:

Donovan: “I know this was a difficult decision for Cody. He has made great strides in his personal growth and I’m very proud of him for that. All of us here wish him the best as he moves on from our team.”

Larson: “After a lot of careful thought, I have decided that I need to place my focus on my personal life and my academics. I really appreciate Coach Donovan and the whole staff here at Florida for the support they have given me and that made this decision even harder."


Sounds like he might be stopping BBall all together.

[dnigels]

Yeah like Adam Allen.

[StrangeGator]

Difference being that Adam Allen had injury issues, yet was a pretty good student. Cody does not have stellar academics or any evident career trajectory outside of basketball. Maybe he just needs to take a year off to get his head on straight. Or maybe his family changed their minds about paying for Cody's tuition out of their own pockets. That would be $30k plus a year for a non-Florida resident.

[ThePlayer]

Another victim of the classroom.

[JohnC1908]

He's his own worst enemy, hopefully this story will have a happy ending.

[REM08]

Another victim of the classroom.

Other than him saying he needed to focus on his personal life and academics, I haven't seen anything that made it sound like this was a classroom issue.

I'll be honest, my only info on this comes from this board, but from what I've read, Billy took his scholarship (because of disciplinary issues?) and was going to allow him to be a walk on with the chance to earn back his scholarship.

He transfered once, right? Or do I have that wrong? Can you transfer twice?

[MadduxFanII]

He didn't transfer, REM. He signed with us out of high school and redshirted.

EDIT: He might have been verbally committed to another program (Iowa, maybe?), but he never transferred.

[REM08]

He didn't transfer, REM. He signed with us out of high school and redshirted.

EDIT: He might have been verbally committed to another program (Iowa, maybe?), but he never transferred.

Gotcha, thanks. Figured I might have had that wrong.

[tupacbiff]

Unfortunately he never showed he had what it takes to play at an sec level.

[GatorLurker]

Interesting. I was going to say that I wished that I knew the entire story here, but in retrospect I think it better that I don't.

[tegator80]

Could have been a personal success story but chose to do something else. Good luck in your new direction.

[gatordee]

Wish the best for him. I have a hunch he will be back on the court again. Not with us but somewhere else once he gets his accedemics in line. With a fresh start somewhere else, he will know what it takes to make it work in college.

[richardtangeman]

Hope it works for all parties.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Wonder what the guy who just a couple of months ago predicted Cody would be a poor mans Joahkim Noah for us thinks of all of this, you know the guy, the one who thinks he is never wrong

[don23lucia]

I personally didn't think he was gonna see the floor much this year and not at all next year, and maybe he realized this.

[tegator80]

I personally didn't think he was gonna see the floor much this year and not at all next year, and maybe he realized this.

I have to think that since he already redshirted, this was a hill he was not prepared to climb. What are his options, since the 1aa (or what they used to be called) are Div 1 in basketball?

[MadduxFanII]

He's a redshirt sophomore. He can transfer to another school and be eligible to play his senior year. In fact, I suppose it's possible that if he transfers right this second he would just have to sit out this year and play in 2013-2014. But I don't really know how that works.

[YakYak]

He'll be fine as long as he remembers not to be a fugitive man!

[tupacbiff]

Wonder what the guy who just a couple of months ago predicted Cody would be a poor mans Joahkim Noah for us thinks of all of this, you know the guy, the one who thinks he is never wrong

Silly prediction but if you look at past Xferd plenty went on to shine elsewhere. So who are u referring to? If you are gonna call someone out be man enough to name
Names.

For those curious: certainly was not me

[NorthCaptivaGator]

FGCU could use him, maybe pitino at fiu

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Silly prediction but if you look at past Xferd plenty went on to shine elsewhere. So who are u referring to? If you are gonna call someone out be man enough to name
Names.

For those curious: certainly was not me

Ahh, guilty conscience eh, no, it was either mad or insti, I get them confused

[tupacbiff]

Ahh, guilty conscience eh, no, it was either mad or insti, I get them confused

Guilty-absolutely not just wanted to e clear and call u out

[rserina]

More than anything this just leaves us little room for the unexpected in the froncourt. Like last year, Young, Murphy, and Yeguete are going to the the post rotation, but we don't have any flexibility to go big with Young off the floor and we can't handle many injuries in the post. I suspect this means Prather will get some spare minutes at the four, which is a nice luxury, though it does mean we will play some more small ball at times.

[ufgator4ever]

Unfortunately he never showed he had what it takes to play at an sec level.

From the very beginning he seemed like an insurance policy for Billy's lack of bigs recruiting. Now that a few are in the fold for next year, there's no point in holding on to this guy. He isn't and wasn't SEC material.

[UFreak]

More than anything this just leaves us little room for the unexpected in the froncourt. Like last year, Young, Murphy, and Yeguete are going to the the post rotation, but we don't have any flexibility to go big with Young off the floor and we can't handle many injuries in the post. I suspect this means Prather will get some spare minutes at the four, which is a nice luxury, though it does mean we will play some more small ball at times.

Yup. Was thinking the same thing.
I don't think that Cody would have ever been a starter for us, but he was another big. And he did have a nice touch from about 10 feet. You never know when someone is going to turn the corner athletically. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Cody would have turned the corner this year and provided valuable minutes - maybe even been someone we depended on at some level.
Oh well ...

[Go2gtr]

you know the guy, the one who thinks he is never wrong

I was wondering who this statement would bring out.

[bullish]

One injury to Patrick and we have big trouble. Billy plays a short bench and has in return given players that add depth, reasons to leave. I am sure Cody didn't fulfill his contract with Billy, I am not defending that. Lack of playing time and labeled a black sheep was probably wearing on him. His motivation with the changing coaching staff was a arrow in his heart. I hope Cody goes on to play Div. 1 ball and gets a degree he can use because he is not NBA talent. The ball is in Cody's court. Good luck Cody, you chose Fla. from a land far off, to that I hope you can find some fun back in your life.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Can Chris Walker give any minutes at the 4? Don't know much about him

[rserina]

One injury to Patrick and we have big trouble. Billy plays a short bench and has in return given players that add depth, reasons to leave. I am sure Cody didn't fulfill his contract with Billy, I am not defending that. Lack of playing time and labeled a black sheep was probably wearing on him. His motivation with the changing coaching staff was a arrow in his heart. I hope Cody goes on to play Div. 1 ball and gets a degree he can use because he is not NBA talent. The ball is in Cody's court. Good luck Cody, you chose Fla. from a land far off, to that I hope you can find some fun back in your life.
An injury to Young and we would trouble, Larson or no Larson. The short rotation argument is crap. How many programs go four deep in the post and give those guys 10+ minutes a game?

[rserina]

Can Chris Walker give any minutes at the 4? Don't know much about him
Walker could legitimately play all three frontcourt positions. He starts out at the four, in my opinion, because he is a perfect fit for our system. Deadly pick and roll or pick and pop tandem with Hill who can space the floor with his shot or operate out of the high post. Skilled enough and athletic enough to give us a big wing if needed (still think that goes to Finney-Smith, who sounds like a much better passer and facilitator), but long enough to provide some help at the five. I like that Yeguete has added weight and they are using him some more at the five. He doesn't have the best height, but he is a great post defender and rebounder. Sort of a leaner Chuck Hayes with a French accent.

[oneatatime]

WY is Dennis Rodman without the tattoos and dramatics.

He'll play the "5" if needed

[madgator]

I made that prediction....and I would still stand by it. Unfortunately, we may never know. However, this is a player who was recruited by the likes of Indiana, Ohio St., Michigan, and signed at Florida.....but you're right. He has no skills, no talent, nothing. The Florida coaching staff put up with quite a bit with this kid over the years giving him second and even third chances to right himself. There is a reason why and it certainly has nothing to do with doing the right thing for a kid. They would've bailed on him long ago if he didn't have potential on the court.

the simple fact is that a lot of things I saw from him in his first year of action was very similiar to what I saw from Noah his first year. Not saying that they were identical in every way. However, Larson did certain things that impressed me enough to make that bold prediction. Not something I do capriciously. There was a basis in fact for what I said.

NCG, you have the right to agree or disagree.....I could really care less as I don't hold your opinion in very high regard. That being said, if you ever want to have a rational, facts based discussion about basketball. I can do that and if you ask around I have had several quality discussions about basketball with people on these boards. Problem is that you seem to have an obsession based vendetta against those that have a difference of opinion than you. As evidenced by you taking every opportunity to make some snide, off-topic remarks in forums that have nothing to do with basketball. Frankly, I find it pathetic.

[themistocles]

He originally did sign with Iowa.

My guess is that the family decided that paying the out of state tuition, plus room and board would put them out. Florida has the 2nd lowest undergraduate in-state tuition in the nation (for the State University System), but our non-resident tuition is roughly average, which is substantial.

Hopefully he makes progress toward whatever he decides to focus on.

Unfortunately, this makes the Gators woefully thin in the paint, and assures that Prather will play some strong forward which may leaves an extra 5 or 10 minutes per game for one of the taller freshman to play the 3 (Walker, Frazier, Graham).

[gatordavisl]

Wait . . . was that an admission of being incorrect?

Good luck to Cody. Hope he experiences academic success and finds a way back on the court elsewhere.

[rserina]

Unfortunately, this makes the Gators woefully thin in the paint, and assures that Prather will play some strong forward which may leaves an extra 5 or 10 minutes per game for one of the taller freshman to play the 3 (Walker, Frazier, Graham).
One thing that intrigues me going forward is how much Donovan loved the unit down the stretch last year with Murphy and four guards. He said repeatedly how difficult it was to defend because the floor was so easily spaced and made getting in the lane or crashing the offensive glass much easier, not to mention the fact that we had enough guys on the perimeter to get back in transition.

The downside, rather obviously, is that you are at a disadvantage protecting the rim and also defending bigger fours with a wing. That means it can't be a regular lineup or anything, but sort of has to be personnel-specific, especially against other perimeter oriented teams who won't take advantage of the more open lane (Mizzou) or teams with great shotblockers who now can't protect the rim themselves without leaving a shooter (Kentucky).

Should be fun to watch as it develops.

[GatorLurker]

One thing that intrigues me going forward is how much Donovan loved the unit down the stretch last year with Murphy and four guards. He said repeatedly how difficult it was to defend because the floor was so easily spaced and made getting in the lane or crashing the offensive glass much easier, not to mention the fact that we had enough guys on the perimeter to get back in transition.

Having a player like Beal helped. He really knows how to play and is athletically gifted. The sky is the limit with him. He is better than any Gator I have ever seen and I have seen a lot.

In fact he is better than most of anybody's that I have ever seen. He can really play.

[rserina]

Having a player like Beal helped. He really knows how to play and is athletically gifted. The sky is the limit with him. He is better than any Gator I have ever seen and I have seen a lot.

In fact he is better than most of anybody's that I have ever seen. He can really play.
Very true. But remember Donovan also ran some of that with Wilbekin at three and even at the four. While Wilbekin isn't in the ballpark with Beal as a player, he brings some of the same intangibles in terms of competitiveness, toughness, and smarts, as well as a fairly think, physical frame for a guard and good defensive chops. That's why I continue to think that he may be the real key to this team's upside. We don't have anyone with the versatility he offers in terms of defending three, even four positions, and playing three offensively.

[bullish]

Rserina, Donovan has played a short bench his whole Florida career. It has caused a lot of transfers. This year adds to that list. We are now playing against Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama and others that have big men. One turned ankle and we are toast against decent teams. Larson could have given a few minutes of rest for Patrick. Div 1 seasons are long and our schedule is tough. Another body would have helped even knowing he is not Patrick. Not many people are. We need bigs and we have turned one off that we have just gotten a commitment from. If we don't get two bigs to go with Kasey and Chris, we will still be short on bigs. I guess Billy could go and sign another guard, LOL! He has put all his chips on a couple of bigs, I hope he can pull even one of them, we need depth on the front line.

[GatorsGators]

Rserina, Donovan has played a short bench his whole Florida career. It has caused a lot of transfers. This year adds to that list. We are now playing against Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama and others that have big men. One turned ankle and we are toast against decent teams. Larson could have given a few minutes of rest for Patrick. Div 1 seasons are long and our schedule is tough. Another body would have helped even knowing he is not Patrick. Not many people are. We need bigs and we have turned one off that we have just gotten a commitment from. If we don't get two bigs to go with Kasey and Chris, we will still be short on bigs. I guess Billy could go and sign another guard, LOL! He has put all his chips on a couple of bigs, I hope he can pull even one of them, we need depth on the front line.How will we be short on bigs even if we do strike out on Embiid and Randle? We'd still have Yeguete, Walker, Harris, and Finney-Smith. Embiid probably wouldn't play much over those four in his freshman year. Randle would play, but that's because he's an elite talent, and not because we'd be thin down low.

Larson leaving changes nothing outside of what we can do in practice. He failed to get playing time down low over a 6'6" Prather after Yeguete went down. Unless he had dramatically improved his game, he wouldn't have gotten significant time this season. If Young goes down, we're screwed. But that would have been true even if Larson was still playing.

[tampajack1]

Rserina, Donovan has played a short bench his whole Florida career. It has caused a lot of transfers. This year adds to that list. We are now playing against Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama and others that have big men. One turned ankle and we are toast against decent teams. Larson could have given a few minutes of rest for Patrick. Div 1 seasons are long and our schedule is tough. Another body would have helped even knowing he is not Patrick. Not many people are. We need bigs and we have turned one off that we have just gotten a commitment from. If we don't get two bigs to go with Kasey and Chris, we will still be short on bigs. I guess Billy could go and sign another guard, LOL! He has put all his chips on a couple of bigs, I hope he can pull even one of them, we need depth on the front line.

Billy played 10 guys when he had 10 guys who could play. In 1999-2000, Matt Bonner played 13.5 minutes per game, which was the 10th most on the team.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Rserina, Donovan has played a short bench his whole Florida career. It has caused a lot of transfers. This year adds to that list. We are now playing against Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama and others that have big men. One turned ankle and we are toast against decent teams. Larson could have given a few minutes of rest for Patrick. Div 1 seasons are long and our schedule is tough. Another body would have helped even knowing he is not Patrick. Not many people are. We need bigs and we have turned one off that we have just gotten a commitment from. If we don't get two bigs to go with Kasey and Chris, we will still be short on bigs. I guess Billy could go and sign another guard, LOL! He has put all his chips on a couple of bigs, I hope he can pull even one of them, we need depth on the front line.

I think it was the lack of scholarship that lead to the transfer, not the lack of minutes

[tupacbiff]

I think it was the lack of scholarship that lead to the transfer, not the lack of minutes

Based on what?

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Based on what?

Based on he fact that he transferred after his scholarship was taken away and not after he played limited minutes last season.

[tupacbiff]

Based on he fact that he transferred after his scholarship was taken away and not after he played limited minutes last season.

Could he have decided to transfer once he realized he wouldn't be gettin min this year?

[bullish]

In reply to Gators Gators, another big would give us flexibillity. Next year another torn Labrum or high ankle sprain, we are short again on bigs. Yes we can wear down any of these young athletes, I would hope Billy would give a few minutes rest to the starters when we play Stetson, Flager, JU and other teams we out talent. The seasons are longer nearly each year and injuries happen. Billy I know has recruited for next year extremely well/great even. He needs a project like Emblid to help get him ready for D-1 Ball defense and banging in the SEC. Randle I know likes Billy, but in high stakes B-ball recruiting, one thing for certain, is nothing is a lock, I hope he decides to come aboard. He would probably one and done which means the following year Billy would have to have a couple of more bigs to have depth. This allows for development and a stronger finish most years. This year we will have to hope for Herculean efforts by Pat, Murphy and Will Y on the front line. Even Prather who could be a top wing with development now has to provide depth there just like last year. This is not a bad thing, but like last year we couldn't get over the hump of beating Ky due to inside play. Kentucky went big and deep on the front line. We will be a tough out this year and even tougher the next. I am all for keeping the recruiting momentum and loading up, that is all.

[bullish]

In reply to Gators Gators, another big would give us flexibillity. Next year another torn Labrum or high ankle sprain, we are short again on bigs. Yes we can wear down any of these young athletes, I would hope Billy would give a few minutes rest to the starters when we play Stetson, Flager, JU and other teams we out talent. The seasons are longer nearly each year and injuries happen. Billy I know has recruited for next year extremely well/great even. He needs a project like Emblid to help get him ready for D-1 Ball defense and banging in the SEC. Randle I know likes Billy, but in high stakes B-ball recruiting, one thing for certain, is nothing is a lock, I hope he decides to come aboard. He would probably one and done which means the following year Billy would have to have a couple of more bigs to have depth. This allows for development and a stronger finish most years. This year we will have to hope for Herculean efforts by Pat, Murphy and Will Y on the front line. Even Prather who could be a top wing with development now has to provide depth there just like last year. This is not a bad thing, but like last year we couldn't get over the hump of beating Ky due to inside play. Kentucky went big and deep on the front line. We will be a tough out this year and even tougher the next. I am all for keeping the recruiting momentum and loading up, that is all.

[rserina]

Billy played 10 guys when he had 10 guys who could play. In 1999-2000, Matt Bonner played 13.5 minutes per game, which was the 10th most on the team.
Exactly. He also played four bigs in 2005-06, five bigs at times in 2004-05, and four bigs in 2010-11 because we had guys who were ready to play.

That's the issue. Larson had not proven he was ready to play yet. I disagree with those who say he isn't SEC-caliber. There are some pretty bad players out there on our league's benches. He can play SEC ball. He is big, athletic, and skilled. His problem initially was that he came off essentially two years away from basketball (senior year due to the suspension, freshmen year due to redshirt) and was adjusting to a new position with new responsibilities in a new offense. I personally think he could have given us a good 10-12 minutes per game because I thought he was decent defensively last year and just needed to find a role offensively.

But that doesn't mean he would have been a contributor next year. I find it pretty odd to bemoan the loss of your fourth-post player and predict calamity if one of your other bigs gets hurt when in fact the same post rotation was in place last year and one of them did get hurt, yet Larson saw only a scant increase in minutes. For the season, he averaged 5.7 minutes and during the nine games following Yeguete's injury, he only saw the floor in six of those games for a total of 32 minutes, or 5.5 minutes per game--less than his average.

Yet Prather, who averaged 9.5 minutes per game on the year, played in eight games for a total of 86 minutes, or 10.8 minutes per game--more than his average. What that tells me is that when the exact situation some are concerned about did materialize (loss of post player to injury) and Larson had a chance to play, it was instead Prather who took the majority of the new minutes in the rotation, not Larson. Why would it be different this year? Or next year?

The chatter about short benches gets old because it is as if there were some Platonic idea out there about the length of a bench of which all other benches are merely short shadows. Most NBA coaches run eight-man rotations, with a ninth ordinarily in the queue based upon matchups, contingencies, etc. In the playoffs, they often shorten that rotation by one. And that is an 82-game season with 48-minute games often playing three or four times per week with much older, more easily fatigued players and deeper benches with more experienced, capable players. Yet we complain because Donovan rotates eight?

[REM08]

Based on he fact that he transferred after his scholarship was taken away and not after he played limited minutes last season.

With absolutely no inside info - I tend to agree. Its either because of having his scholarship pulled or its a big coincidence timing wise.

[dalwood13]

With absolutely no inside info - I tend to agree. Its either because of having his scholarship pulled or its a big coincidence timing wise.

Then why wait until the semester started and waste what could have been a transfer year? It's most definitely about minutes. Coach Donovan expected a bigger improvement out of Cody and Cody did not improve enough to warrant playing time.

[InstiGATOR1]

Interesting couple of tweets today about Larson:

Kevin Brockway‏@gatorhoops

Billy D said he would take Larson back, said that Larson lost his love for the game.


and

Kevin Brockway‏@gatorhoops

Billy D on taking Larson back if he asked "If anyone knows about changing his mind, it's me." Joking about Magic, 2007.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Interesting couple of tweets today about Larson:



and

Very interesting, seems we need someone like Jo Noah to give him a call, get his head on straight, but damn, it is a lot of work, you gotta love it, especially if you are paying your own way

[GatorLurker]

[QUOTE=NorthCaptivaGator;6106571]Very interesting, seems we need someone like Jo Noah to give him a call, get his head on straight.../QUOTE]

LOL

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Lurker, I was serious, I swear I read somewhere last year that Noah talked to Young about his commitment to playing and practicing at 100% all the time and we all know Noah had some issues with just how hard he needed to work after his freshman year, Billu helped him see the light and the rest is history

[InstiGATOR1]

Broadway turns the possibility of Larson coming back into an article. One wonders if Donovan is trying to turn encourage him to come back? He is part of the article:

Billy D would welcome Larson back
by Kevin Brockway

Florida coach Billy Donovan kept the door open for Cody Larson. But he doesn’t expect the 6-foot-9 big man from South Dakota to walk through it.

Donovan said he would let Larson back on the team if he decided he wanted to come back. Larson left the team on Friday to focus on his personal life and academics.

“If there’s anyone who knows about changing his mind, it’s me,” said Donovan, a self-deprecating jab at his six-day stint with the Orlando Magic in 2007. “I think right now for Cody if he legitimately felt like you know what, a week, two weeks from now, I miss this, I made a huge mistake, we’re not bringing anyone in right now, he could come back to our team.”

There is precedence. In 2009, Donovan welcomed forward Alex Tyus back to the team after he said he was transferring following his sophomore season. The 6-foot-8 Tyus was upset at the prospect of having to play center for a second straight season.

Hit the link to read the rest of his article.

http://brockway.blogs.gatorsports.com/11700/billy-d-would-welcome-larson-back/

[Ahab]

And that is an 82-game season with 48-minute games often playing three or four times per week with much older, more easily fatigued players and deeper benches with more experienced, capable players. Yet we complain because Donovan rotates eight?

I don't disagree with much of your argument but NBA players are not more easily fatigued than college players. The opposite is generally true.

[bullish]

Rserina, the pros have centers backing up centers, forwards backing up forwards, we have guards backing up everyone this year if Pat and/or Murph get hurt. Eight man rotations, in the pros the Heat had at least five other backups that played and won it all. Depth got them through a long season.
My being wants to support the Gators and to discuss the basketball program for better or worse. Billy is a good coach who has done a lot of good for Florida basketball. He knows just like I do, we need bigs to back up bigs to compete with Kentucky and final fours slots. Hopefully Randle comes aboard and Emblid too. This would give us depth, weather the growing pains of 18 yr olds and get us back to the final four.

I hope Billy doesn't turn down Emblid waiting on Randle, Randle would be a capper to an amazing stretch of recruiting but he is waiting. If Emblid commits, we need him to come and grow into an amazing center.

My short bench rant is frustration for another year with razor thin depth and tough love has been played once again. I know he has had a few years with big depth but he always plays tough love with some backups and some of them have shoved off. I know he is trying to get these guys to buy in and get better, but sometimes it doesn't work out. I am sure I am not the only one who is frustrated and concerned about this current situation. All the pre season mags support our lack of depth. I also know 2013/14 we will be better in this regard to big depth

[GatorChoice]

Has anyone heard something further about Cody?

[MadduxFanII]

Nothing on Google and his Twitter feed hasn't been touched since April. He was apparently going to "step away from basketball" for a while, so it's possible we won't hear much from him for a bit.