Prather and Rosario out so...

[gator7gh]

Prather and Rosario out so...Now it is time to put in Capt Kirk, I mean Capt Kurtz and High Plains Drifter Dillon Graham. Gotta get them some minutes for March Madness run. We need players not bench warmers. Go get em. Go Gators!

[InstiGATOR1]

I suspect the Rosario and Prather ankles mean:

1. the starters at aTm will be Wilbekin, Boynton, Yeguete, Murphy and Young.

2. Wilbekin and Boynton will play big minutes.

3. UF has little depth in the front court.

4. Frazier and Graham will each get a few more minutes when the game is in doubt.

It will be interesting to see if Yeguete can hang with E.Turner. He is 6'5" and went 6 of 10 from the arc against UK. I am guessing Yeguete starts on him and if he can not handle him Wilbekin gets the next shot.

[gator7gh]

Donovan is keeping alot of the startes in at the end of the game. Really need to get these players kurtz, graham and walker some playing time.

[LoyalGatorFan]

Do we know how long Rosario will be out?

[HALLGATOR]

Donovan is keeping alot of the startes in at the end of the game. Really need to get these players kurtz, graham and walker some playing time.

I don't look for an significant minutes for those guys this year unless we have no choice.

[MiamiGator79]

Prather and Rosario out so...Now it is time to put in Capt Kirk, I mean Capt Kurtz and High Plains Drifter Dillon Graham. Gotta get them some minutes for March Madness run. We need players not bench warmers. Go get em. Go Gators!

Do you mean Colonel Kurtz? If we are relying on any significant contribution from him when March comes around...the horror :awkward:

[jareduf]

Do we know how long Rosario will be out?

Donovan after the game said he was hoping to have him back next game.

[GatorPlanet]

I don't look for an significant minutes for those guys this year unless we have no choice.

You never know beforehand when you have no choice. That's why I like to get guys some playing time when you have big leads.

It's easy to imagine a game in the NCAA tournament where we go in with an 8-man rotation but have a guy turn an ankle and a couple more foul out. You've got an 8-point lead with 3 minutes left, and nobody left on the bench but Kurtz, so in he goes. You don't want him to try and win the game, but you want him comfortable with being on the court, able to be in position on defense, boxing out, passing without turning it over. And comfortable with going to the free-throw line if the opponents single him out as the guy to foul. Just enough to get through a couple of minutes or to give a starter a minute or two of rest.

[gymgator]

I thought Braxton was expected to be the most game ready of the FR? I thought he would be more in the 7-10 min PT range instead of 1-2 min.

[gator7gh]

Even though Braxton looks a little lost and has not made the best decisions with the ball so far, some time on the court will help this. We need another ball handler come March madness.

[GatorPlanet]

I thought Braxton was expected to be the most game ready of the FR? I thought he would be more in the 7-10 min PT range instead of 1-2 min.

Yeah, I expected him to be the top contributor of the freshmen. He was rated among the top 5 or 6 point guards out there. On the other hand, point guard is the most challenging position for a newcomer.

He'll get there. You can see the athleticism.

[gatorbogey]

Frazier, i think, gets more p.t. and not just garbage minutes. he's been an integral part of the rotation right now.

i'd like to see more braxton and graham and walker - even if it's a possession or two in each half. steal a minute here and there. i think it would benefit BD to get some quality game tape on these players to help really coach 'em up for games later in the year and/or next season.

[InstiGATOR1]

I am quite content with an 8 man rotation. That is typical of good teams in conference play. It might even shorten a bit more come March.

[bullish]

Billy has always had a tough love policy. The Back to Backs were a the only teams he still only played 8 men most of the time. Get your reserves a lot time early and often. Then some of them might not transfer and actually be better teammates knowing they will at least get some minutes most nights. Now here we are with injuries starting to be a part of the fabric. Guys aren't ready but we need to play them. I say play all the freshmen, they got fresh legs and are willing to get better and that is what we need. Missouri is coming to town and is a physical team. If pat or murphy gets hurt, wow. This reflects the need for more big men to be recruited. Even next year, injuries happen.

Frazier has to play more now, no other option. Even Walker is going to be needed with these injuries. Ogubeze against the SC's, Ga. other weak teams needs to get some minutes. Graham, Kurtz needs minutes also. The seasons are long and grinding. I feel like we are on the Titanic, we have hit the iceberg and the situation is only getting worse. We are headed for disaster! LOL

I don't want to hear we will be alright next year, we still need another big or big wing for depth and injuries.

[brolowe]

I'd have to say that Billie knows player development much, much better'n all of us. However, it normally seems the better coaches use a method of early in the season, the frosh are used VERy sparingly unless they are just gifted adn exceptionally mature and ready. If you get way ahead near teh end you bring'em in to mix and mingle with the experienced players. You don't depend on'em too early. However, they do use them as early as they can because your going to need every one of them later, no doubt. I would have been putting guys in 3 minutes before the end, if not sooner last night. One at a time doesn't hurt too much. They're all there to play and thats the only way they'll improve.

[themistocles]

Apparently, Rosario is expected to play against Tex A&M, however, it would be really nice to have Mr. Lock Down Prather available against their gunner, but that doesn't appear possible. Bad timing.

Yeguete, despite his quickness, may not be able to stay with him. I see Wilbekin being given him primarily.

[oneatatime]

Billy will lengthen his bench more liberally in the first half of any game depending of course on the foul situation.

I expect Rosario to be back Thursday, which is critical because we don't want Wilbekin and Boynton to play 35+ minutes with less than 48 hours and a long flight between the A & M and Missouri games

[tupacbiff]

I thought Braxton was expected to be the most game ready of the FR? I thought he would be more in the 7-10 min PT range instead of 1-2 min.

Except when he got pt he showed horrible d and poor offensive decision making. If he can't play d he won't and shouldn't get min.

From what I've seen I dont see him getting min next yr either. He certainly won't play ahead of hill or Scottie. If hill is one and done and we land that pg recruit (name escaping me) then he would prob be a 10 min per game bench player as a jr.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Except when he got pt he showed horrible d and poor offensive decision making. If he can't play d he won't and shouldn't get min.

From what I've seen I dont see him getting min next yr either. He certainly won't play ahead of hill or Scottie. If hill is one and done and we land that pg recruit (name escaping me) then he would prob be a 10 min per game bench player as a jr.

Joel Berry, and you're spot on. Ge won't play 2 ahead of Dillon or Michael. Hill and Scottie will dominate the PG position.

[rserina]

Nice to see Tupac show up with his typical moderation. So, should we renew the kid's scholarship or not?

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Nice to see Tupac show up with his typical moderation. So, should we renew the kid's scholarship or not?

There is a reason BO isn't playing. Doesn't mean he won't improve and earn PT, but I don't see where Tupac is off base this time :)

[tupacbiff]

Nice to see Tupac show up with his typical moderation. So, should we renew the kid's scholarship or not?

Never said he wasn't scholly worthy or could improve. Said from what u see he shouldn't get min this yr. he likely won't get min next yr. if we land a recruit he won't play much jr yr.

No need to be moderate when being truthful. I could see this playing out three ways 1) like I said 2) he gets upset and works his butt off to improve and force tge staff to give him min or 3) something I don't comment on in season

[gatorbogey]

the implication is braxton won't improve, though. that seems over the top that you assume he's not going to improve and lose out to some recruit. we all assume the recruit will out-perform someone that has a year or two in the system. that's a stretch. given that braxton was once 'that' recruit too.

[rserina]

the implication is braxton won't improve, though. that seems over the top that you assume he's not going to improve and lose out to some recruit. we all assume the recruit will out-perform someone that has a year or two in the system. that's a stretch. given that braxton was once 'that' recruit too.
Exactly. He is a combo guard whose minutes are being chewed up by three upperclassmen in front of him (Boynton, Rosario, Wilbekin). He doesn't have the size to defend the three like Frazier and Graham and he can't effectively run the point right now, which is the most difficult position to master in Donovan's system (hell, maybe in all of college basketball). We have more than enough off guards in front of him and so he has been unable to get a rhythm on the floor.

But for our resident savant, the three or four games he has seen him play are reason enough to take a rather innocuous comment from another poster and turn it into an unnecessarily pessimistic account of the kid's prospects. In all honesty, I have no clue whether or not Ogbueze will make it in the end. But neither does Tupac. Yet that has never stopped him from pontificating with little substantiation of his points. Why others don't have him ignored I will never know. It astonishes me how many here fawn over him.

[tupacbiff]

the implication is braxton won't improve, though. that seems over the top that you assume he's not going to improve and lose out to some recruit. we all assume the recruit will out-perform someone that has a year or two in the system. that's a stretch. given that braxton was once 'that' recruit too.

Incorrect. The implication is he won't improve enough to beat out hill and Scottie (99% certainty). Hill is an nba pg and Scottie has size and experience plus def on him by a lot. The further implication is berry will be better than him despite his experience in his jr yr (75% certainty). How can I say that? I've seen all 3 play. Braxton was never that level of recruit, sorry but you are wrong on that point.

Look I hope he becomes and all American and best guard in the country but I just haven't seen anything in him to indicate he will be more than what I previously stated.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Exactly. He is a combo guard whose minutes are being chewed up by three upperclassmen in front of him (Boynton, Rosario, Wilbekin). He doesn't have the size to defend the three like Frazier and Graham and he can't effectively run the point right now, which is the most difficult position to master in Donovan's system (hell, maybe in all of college basketball). We have more than enough off guards in front of him and so he has been unable to get a rhythm on the floor.

But for our resident savant, the three or four games he has seen him play are reason enough to take a rather innocuous comment from another poster and turn it into an unnecessarily pessimistic account of the kid's prospects. In all honesty, I have no clue whether or not Ogbueze will make it in the end. But neither does Tupac. Yet that has never stopped him from pontificating with little substantiation of his points. Why others don't have him ignored I will never know. It astonishes me how many here fawn over him.

I get your point. I didn't, however, take Tupac's post as being negative toward Brax.

I don't think it's unfair to say that both Hill and Berry both have a higher skill set than Brax.

I think Brax can be a solid combo guard for us but don't see him playing a lot of meaningful minutes until he is a Jr.

I think this is a fair and honest outlook for his future at UF. Now, he may very well improve enough with hard work and may surprise. I hope he does, as all indication is he is a fine young man and a good ball player.

I also want to say that I disagree with Tupac more than I agree, but believe he does bring up points at times that others wouldn't which at least deserve discussion.

No fawning on my end. Simply think he is more on point than being given credit for on this one.

[gatorbogey]

Incorrect. The implication is he won't improve enough to beat out hill and Scottie (99% certainty). Hill is an nba pg and Scottie has size and experience plus def on him by a lot. The further implication is berry will be better than him despite his experience in his jr yr (75% certainty). How can I say that? I've seen all 3 play. Braxton was never that level of recruit, sorry but you are wrong on that point.

Look I hope he becomes and all American and best guard in the country but I just haven't seen anything in him to indicate he will be more than what I previously stated.

let me say this: you're basing your appraisal on brax vs college teams/talent and experience and hill etc on playing against h.s. talent.
when brax was coming in, i swear, sounded like, from the folks on the boards, that he would immediately take over pg duties. [some hyperbole involved in that statement, but it's like the typical attitude/opinion that most here have on the star recruits]. [it's one given/one constant that seems to never change whether it's football or basketball].

a suggestion: wait until hill goes up against experience college talent and then make the appraisal.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

let me say this: you're basing your appraisal on brax vs college teams/talent and experience and hill etc on playing against h.s. talent.
when brax was coming in, i swear, sounded like, from the folks on the boards, that he would immediately take over pg duties. [some hyperbole involved in that statement, but it's like the typical attitude/opinion that most here have on the star recruits]. [it's one given/one constant that seems to never change whether it's football or basketball].

a suggestion: wait until hill goes up against experience college talent and then make the appraisal.

I respectfully disagree. I think most who have seen Kasey Hill play on several different instances agree he is a special talent who will be playing in the NBA 1-2 years from high school graduation. It's not a knock on Brax. Hill is just special.

[gatorbogey]

i state hill in the rebuttal because he's the only known in the arguement. hill's indeed special, but "we're" benching brax 2 years from now in favor of an unknown theoretical recruit that's not even committed or signed. someone has 75% confidence in the absolute unknown. that's alot of faith. and it's a big time slap in the face of braxton, imo.

[tupacbiff]

i state hill in the rebuttal because he's the only known in the arguement. hill's indeed special, but "we're" benching brax 2 years from now in favor of an unknown theoretical recruit that's not even committed or signed. someone has 75% confidence in the absolute unknown. that's alot of faith. and it's a big time slap in the face of braxton, imo.

Or just a realistic assessment of the situation as it stands today.

[oneatatime]

Billy has said many times that the biggest improvement he sees in a player is between his freshman and sophomore season.

With the loss of Boynton and Rosario, I expect that Frazier could move into a starting job or as the 6th man. As for the other 3 freshmen, the jury is still out about the longer term impact they can make as Gators.

[tupacbiff]

Billy has said many times that the biggest improvement he sees in a player is between his freshman and sophomore season.

With the loss of Boynton and Rosario, I expect that Frazier could move into a starting job or as the 6th man. As for the other 3 freshmen, the jury is still out about the longer term impact they can make as Gators.

Yes but often that improvement is largely dependent on a physical improvement. In terms of physical improvement:

Walker- obviously needs to get stronger
Graham- strength and quickness
Frazier- no specific area
Brax- where is he going to improve? Seems to be near his physical ceiling with only a slight room in all aspects.

[InstiGATOR1]

Billy has said many times that the biggest improvement he sees in a player is between his freshman and sophomore season.

With the loss of Boynton and Rosario, I expect that Frazier could move into a starting job or as the 6th man. As for the other 3 freshmen, the jury is still out about the longer term impact they can make as Gators.

I expect next years two deep to be:

PG: Wilbekin, Hill
SG: Frazier, Graham
SF: Finney-Smith, Prather
PF: Yeguete, C. Walker
C: Harris,

This is pretty much the same mix UF has this year with one extra guard.

[lean_gator]

Donovan is keeping alot of the startes in at the end of the game. Really need to get these players kurtz, graham and walker some playing time.

Not this sh*t AGAIN.....

[rserina]

No fawning on my end.
I wasn't addressing that at you. Sorry if it came off that way.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

I wasn't addressing that at you. Sorry if it came off that way.

No worries. I'm way too over sensitive these day!

[609gjk]

A and M's stud is a 6'5" guard. Scottie and Kenny will probably be the ones to guard him. Will Yeguette will be rotating with the big men.

The reason Scottie played a lot his freshman year was because of his defense and the fact that we had no depth at guard. Not so now, Braxton is 5th option. It will be interesting to see how much he develops over the summer. I never thought Scottie would be a guard that could penetrate lane but he is beginning to do so. He has improved a lot every year.

[InstiGATOR1]

The reason Scottie played a lot his freshman year was because of his defense and the fact that we had no depth at guard.

Nimrod Tishman called in and ask me to point out that no depth at a position does not necessarily get one off Donovan's bench if one is not ready to play at the UF level.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

If Scotty doesn't figure out how to beat the press pretty quick Braxton may get a shot. I can't believe the teams don't press us from the start we have been awful against it.

[InstiGATOR1]

If Scotty doesn't figure out how to beat the press pretty quick Braxton may get a shot. I can't believe the teams don't press us from the start we have been awful against it.

Like UF's play against the press, you too are suffering from a E.Walker hangover apparently. It is not the job of the PG to beat the press. It is the job of the team and staff to beat the press.

Actually the way UF is attacking the press is pretty sound. UF is not moving the ball quite as quickly as it should though against presses. That is you throw the pass when the double team is coming at you, not after it gets to you.

[oneatatime]

I expect next years two deep to be:

PG: Wilbekin, Hill
SG: Frazier, Graham
SF: Finney-Smith, Prather
PF: Yeguete, C. Walker
C: Harris,

This is pretty much the same mix UF has this year with one extra guard.


So Young is gone for sure? Add him to the lineup above and we could be preseason #1

[dawny]

Next Year ,Now.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Like UF's play against the press, you too are suffering from a E.Walker hangover apparently. It is not the job of the PG to beat the press. It is the job of the team and staff to beat the press.

Actually the way UF is attacking the press is pretty sound. UF is not moving the ball quite as quickly as it should though against presses. That is you throw the pass when the double team is coming at you, not after it gets to you.

Nobody pressed us successfully last year, this year we have struggled with the press consistently. Scottie is the one charged with bringing the ball up against the press, when he is trapped he panics and makes really bad passes, teams couldn't trap Erv, he was too quick and was great at drawing fouls. So if all Scottie needs to do is pass the ball before the double team gets to him then he better learn to do it soon because if SEC coaches are watching any film they will see that Yale turned us over two possesions in a row and LSU got us for 4 in a row, not to mention the loss at Arizona which was directly related to our failure to even inbounds the ball against the press. So, no hangover here, just reality and frustration.

[gatorbogey]

and you know that dang ncaa selection committee will probably curse us w/ a team that loves to press. they just love to do that sort of thing.