Prather and Frazier II

[HALLGATOR]

Are two very important cogs to how this Gator team will fare from here on out. With Will on the sideline for at least the rest of the season (although there is hope he will make it back for the last game against Kentucky) their play cannot be overstated. In this evening's game the scored 23 points and pulled down 11 boards between them. Add in 3 assists by MF II and only 2 TOs between them and you have the makings of key contributors on the road to post-season play.

Three things I mentioned in the game thread I thought were important in this game were team attitude after the loss, how Prather would play and the possibility of another freshman stepping forward. I feel like two of those three were answered in the positive and the last really could not be determined due to lack of more playing time.

[rserina]

Donovan didn't sound too thrilled about the energy, but that is sort of too be expected coming off the Arky game and playing someone you drilled just two weeks earlier.

But I agree that in terms of the rotation additional minutes will go to Frazier and Prather and their production will be key at both ends of the floor. The real challenge, and this is something Donovan sounds very concerned about, is dealing with foul trouble at the five. Yeguete could give you decent minutes there because of his defense and offensive rebounding. Prather and Frazier just can't.

[exiledgator]

I only caught glimpses on my phone here and there. Did Walker get many minutes? Contribute?

[gatorbogey]

gators looked fresh and energized to me.

but i was worried when i heard about scottie's attitude issues during practice. is that what BD was referring to? lack of energy from SW? or was that something else?

last year, prather and beal stepped up after WY went down. this year it will be Frazier in that role - w/ prather again.

going to likely be a little bumpy - like last season, but by the time the ncaa's came around, i think the team and coaches had a pretty good idea of what to do and how to use the players properly.

[HALLGATOR]

I only caught glimpses on my phone here and there. Did Walker get many minutes? Contribute?

Walker got 8 minutes most of them coming at the end. He scored 2 points and had 1 block but the block might have come against their player who looked to be about 5'5".

[GatorPlanet]

Walker got 8 minutes most of them coming at the end. He scored 2 points and had 1 block but the block might have come against their player who looked to be about 5'5".

He played okay, but he also did exactly what I did not want to see from him...he jacked up a quick, contested 3, missed badly, and then complained that he was fouled. He needs to understand his role...and it ain't being the scorer.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Casey had been getting in early foul trouble with the limited minutes he played since coming back from his injuries. I was glad to see them play extended minutes without sloppy fouls tonight.

[Gatorphilly]

I really have no idea what to expect out of Prather. He's definitely quick and athletic. I would think he'd be able to rebound, but what does he bring offensively? I've seen him hit a 3, but for some reason it shocks me when he does hit a 3.

[HALLGATOR]

I think the biggest problem with Casey this year is he has had a hard time getting into a rhythm due to injuries. Last season ended with it appearing the game had finally slowed down enough for him to come in and play quality minutes. I think most of us were expecting good things our of him this year but he has been snakebit to a degree. His athleticism is apparent and he can shoot but he needs to get in the flow from game to game. He once again looked comfortable out on the floor tonight and if he can stay healthy I feel he will be a solid contributor. In fact I am kind of looking for him to have a breakout type game soon.

[rserina]

I really have no idea what to expect out of Prather. He's definitely quick and athletic. I would think he'd be able to rebound, but what does he bring offensively? I've seen him hit a 3, but for some reason it shocks me when he does hit a 3.
I wouldn't expect much from his shot, but where he has been at his best in what limited action we have seen of him this year is on the bounce against fours. He is just too quick on the dribble for most bigs to defend him out at the top of the circle or along then baseline. We don't need much from him in this stretch (maybe a couple of buckets when isolated on a slower big, maybe something in transition or off the weakside glass), but he can't turn the ball over. That has been his biggest problem at times.

[HALLGATOR]

Casey is not bad in the scoring department. He may not be prolific but he is definitely a threat to score close in.

[UFreak]

I wouldn't expect much from his shot, but where he has been at his best in what limited action we have seen of him this year is on the bounce against fours. He is just too quick on the dribble for most bigs to defend him out at the top of the circle or along then baseline. We don't need much from him in this stretch (maybe a couple of buckets when isolated on a slower big, maybe something in transition or off the weakside glass), but he can't turn the ball over. That has been his biggest problem at times.

Agreed on the turnover part. And he has to make the bunnies. He had a nice game today. But he did miss an easy one underneath the bucket.
But as much as anything we need his D. He can't lag behind on switches like he did a number of times today and can't get lost chasing shooters against good teams. I like Prather, but sometimes he doesn't have the notch turned all the way up. We need him now more than ever.

[rounds]

Donovan didn't sound too thrilled about the energy, but that is sort of too be expected coming off the Arky game and playing someone you drilled just two weeks earlier.

But I agree that in terms of the rotation additional minutes will go to Frazier and Prather and their production will be key at both ends of the floor. The real challenge, and this is something Donovan sounds very concerned about, is dealing with foul trouble at the five. Yeguete could give you decent minutes there because of his defense and offensive rebounding. Prather and Frazier just can't.
Prather can play the 5 if he has to, and probably better than Yeguete would. 6'6" vs 6'7", but Prather has better bkb I.Q. & offense skills and is JR.
Prather also seems to play better when Frazier is in the game, due to familiarity of playing 2nd team together I would guess.

[regurgigator]

Donovan didn't sound too thrilled about the energy, but that is sort of too be expected coming off the Arky game and playing someone you drilled just two weeks earlier.

But I agree that in terms of the rotation additional minutes will go to Frazier and Prather and their production will be key at both ends of the floor. The real challenge, and this is something Donovan sounds very concerned about, is dealing with foul trouble at the five. Yeguete could give you decent minutes there because of his defense and offensive rebounding. Prather and Frazier just can't.

Their big man Ware was tossing our small lineup around like ragdolls :joecool:


As I mentioned in another thread, Frazier is turning into a 1-man zone-breaker. When he has time to really line up a 3-point shot, he's about as automatic as it gets.

[rserina]

Prather can play the 5 if he has to, and probably better than Yeguete would. 6'6" vs 6'7", but Prather has better bkb I.Q. & offense skills and is JR.
Prather also seems to play better when Frazier is in the game, due to familiarity of playing 2nd team together I would guess.
Wait, is this one sarcastic or not? If it isn't, I would say that Yegeute's post defense is significantly better than Prather's.

[akaGatorhoops]

Though it is not a huge height difference, there is a very obvious strength difference between cp and wy. Casey can not defend the 5. He got killed on the post a few times today. I am not knocking the kid, but there is no comparing interior defense of he and yeguete.

[HALLGATOR]

Will outweighs CP by quite a lot and you can see the difference when they are both battling underneath the basket.

[GatorsGators]

Prather can play the 5 if he has to, and probably better than Yeguete would. 6'6" vs 6'7", but Prather has better bkb I.Q. & offense skills and is JR.
Prather also seems to play better when Frazier is in the game, due to familiarity of playing 2nd team together I would guess.Yeguete is a great post defender and has had success both defending and rebounding against other centers... Prather hasn't. He's slightly more skilled than Yeguete and is quicker off the bounce, but Yeguete is a far more traditional big and is far more suited to play the five.

[bearshark]

Agree with Coach Donovan that the energy level seemed down and at times the players appeared not interested i.e. KB with horrible passing. The team may have still been reeling from Arkansas game. Kentucky is improving each game as is Missouri which will make it very interesting from here thru the SEC Tournament.

[MichaelJoeWilliamson]

Both had important minutes. They rebounded and they scored. Both only had 1 TO. Frazier had three assists.

I hate it that we lost Will. But I think we can be successful without him, as long as these two guys continue to have valuable minutes.

[InstiGATOR1]

I only caught glimpses on my phone here and there. Did Walker get many minutes? Contribute?

PG: Wilbekin played 33 min and he averages 31.6 min.
SG: Boynton played 30 min and he averages 31.7 min.
SF: Rosario played 24 min and he averages 28.8 min.
PF: Murphy played 26 min and he averages 26.8 min.
C: Young played 25 min and he averages 25.6 min.
G: Frazier played 24 min and he averages 18.9 min.
F: Prather played 22 min and while he averages 14.6, he has played zero since the first SEC game until Yeguete was hurt.

So basically Prather replaces Yeguete's minutes, more than replaced Yeguete's scoring with 10 points and almost replacing Yeguete's rebounding with 5. Frazier's minutes were up because he stayed in with the other Frosh for the last 3 min.

[regurgigator]

Agree with Coach Donovan that the energy level seemed down and at times the players appeared not interested i.e. KB with horrible passing. The team may have still been reeling from Arkansas game. Kentucky is improving each game as is Missouri which will make it very interesting from here thru the SEC Tournament.

KB with horrible passing? He had 6 assists and 2 TO's.

And, I loved those 2 plays in a row KB made in the 2nd half where he drove into the lane to collapse the defense and passed back out to Murphy for a wide open three and on the next play threaded the needle to Patric under the basket for a dunk, which was Young's 1st basket of the game.

[themistocles]

Billy D clearly does not think that Walker is ready to contribute much yet.

Both Prather and Frazier clearly are.

As Insti noted, Prather replaced Yeguete's minutes, which is a bit of a loss because he can't play the 5, but a bit of a gain due to his slight speed, quickness and agility advantage.

The Gators have been successful in the past with a 7 man rotation, and that is primarily what we will see until Yeguete returns, hopefully by the Lexington game.

[rounds]

Donovan didn't sound too thrilled about the energy, but that is sort of too be expected coming off the Arky game and playing someone you drilled just two weeks earlier.

But I agree that in terms of the rotation additional minutes will go to Frazier and Prather and their production will be key at both ends of the floor. The real challenge, and this is something Donovan sounds very concerned about, is dealing with foul trouble at the five. Yeguete could give you decent minutes there because of his defense and offensive rebounding. Prather and Frazier just can't.

I disagree with your opinion of Prather's ability to play the five. He plays inside taller than he is and is our best offensive weapon in the paint.

[GothamGator]

Last night against Kentucky, Prather was obviously terrific. He provided a high level of play on both ends of the floor.

I was more troubled by Frazier II. He made some critical mistakes on offense and defense, and Kentucky kept on him out by the 3-point line, negating his biggest strength. That said, I do see a very bright future for Frazier II. He is taking on more responsibility than before with WY absent. Let's hope he can adapt quickly.

[rounds]

Though it is not a huge height difference, there is a very obvious strength difference between cp and wy. Casey can not defend the 5. He got killed on the post a few times today. I am not knocking the kid, but there is no comparing interior defense of he and yeguete.

True. Casey is better.

[rounds]

Yeguete is a great post defender and has had success both defending and rebounding against other centers... Prather hasn't. He's slightly more skilled than Yeguete and is quicker off the bounce, but Yeguete is a far more traditional big and is far more suited to play the five.

Yeguete is clueless offensively.

[austingtr]

^^^^not really, he has progressed tremendously on that this year. I think he had the injury issue preventing him from practice, but he did improve a lot and looked good at the beginning of the year.

[UFreak]

I agree austingtr, I thought WY's offense was really coming along nicely. We are clearly a better team with both. The each bring a different skill set to the team and having them both healthy is crucial to our post season hopes.

[MichaelJoeWilliamson]

I disagree with your opinion of Prather's ability to play the five. He plays inside taller than he is and is our best offensive weapon in the paint.

Yep. Lest we forget, last night he both dunked on a seven foot guy and blocked the shot of a seven foot guy.

[InstiGATOR1]

One various comments above:

1. Let's remember early in the season Yeguete was actually getting the ball in the post and making offensive mores. In the past he has mainly been a garbage man scoing on put backs, layups and the like, but he did make some offensive moves at the beginning of this season.

2, Despite Prather blocking a shot and slamming over a 7' player last night, I prefer Yeguete and his bulk defending the 5 for any lenght of time. Still Prather against any 4 who is 6'8" tall or shorter maybe even 6'9" tall or shorter gives UF an edge offensively without giving up too much defensively.

3. As we saw last night Murphy can play five if need be. That is as long as they do not call the crazy fouls on him in the post.

[austingtr]

I know, I wonder why the refs were picking on him calling phantom fouls.

[rounds]

Prather & Frazier also solve our free-throw problems in 'steal or foul' end of game situations.

[grayg8rstevo]

gators looked fresh and energized to me.

but i was worried when i heard about scottie's attitude issues during practice. is that what BD was referring to? lack of energy from SW? or was that something else?

last year, prather and beal stepped up after WY went down. this year it will be Frazier in that role - w/ prather again.

going to likely be a little bumpy - like last season, but by the time the ncaa's came around, i think the team and coaches had a pretty good idea of what to do and how to use the players properly.

Billy complimented his team's energy. Not a problem.