A Healthy Team

[themistocles]

If this team could ever get healthy, it might prove to be very dangerous.

The number of injuries we are seeing is simply amazing.

Against Georgia, it was Murphy and Yeguete.

Against LSU, it was Rosario and then Prather.

Wilbekin has been playing with a broken finger.

As of right now, the only players in the top 8 who have not been injured enough to influence their play are Young, Boynton and Frazier.

I know that injuries are expected, but this team has been bothered right from the start of the year with Prather's Concussions.

Interesting that given the loss of 2 wings, we saw Dillon Graham get 6 minutes today.

Pretty soon, if the injuries continue, the Gators may look a lot like Kentucky, with like 3 Frosh starting.

[InstiGATOR1]

Yes it would be very nice to see UF get healthy as March approaches.

BTW, who else was pleased to see Murphy foul out. I know to me it meant that he would not get banged in his ribs late in a game with UF leading by 20.

[themistocles]

Regarding Murphy, I'm with you Insti.

[gatorbogey]

if we can get healthy in time for the post season, that would be tremendous. in the meantime, it may pay dividends in the longhaul to have injuries 'now' - that way: have a variety of different guys step up and perform and/or, just get more p.t./experience.

[rserina]

It really does help us in certain respects. The injuries to Brewer and Humphrey in 2005-06 were blessings in disguise because they really forced Hodge and Huertas into the rotation. Hopefully the extra minutes will help Frazier and the experience could be good for Graham, too.

[themistocles]

Excellent points regarding the Forcing of young players into the lineup at crunch time.

Note that Frazier played 31 minutes against LSU (his highest N of minutes) and that Graham had 6 (his 2nd highest for the year).

[rserina]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Note that Frazier played 31 minutes against LSU (his highest N of minutes) and that Graham had 6 (his 2nd highest for the year).

And that was with essentially no additional preparation since we found out about Rosario late and Prather was hurt during the game.

Assuming Rosario is back next game while Prather misses the next few weeks, I suspect we work Wilbekin some at the four, extend Frazier's minutes, and get Graham into that eighth spot in the rotation. But we desperately need the bigs to stay healthy and out of foul trouble. Three guys can rotate through 80 combined minutes without a problem, but it gets real dicey without a fourth guy in the rotation there.

[themistocles]

The Bigs have been healthy at some time???

Given the lack of depth up front, and Prather's continual injuries, I think this entire season is Dicey. Too bad given what a good team this could be.

[themistocles]

I thought it might be a good idea to revitalize this post, and particularly so given the loss respectively by Florida and Kentucky of Yeguete and Noel.

The Gators have done pretty well despite the name injuries this year. Hopefully the Cats also respond well to Noel's injury.

If Yeguete gets back by the final game against Ky, perhaps the team will be partially full-speed for the SEC tournament, and fully full-speed for the NCAA tournament. That would be nice, wouldn't it?

[ETGator1]

Yes. A healthy 8 deep UF would be a threat to win the national title.

If Yeguete doesn't make it back, I think Devon Walker needs more playing time to get him ready for more than end of game minutes. He can be a big help with defense and rebounding.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Originally Posted by ETGator1

Yes. A healthy 8 deep UF would be a threat to win the national title.

If Yeguete doesn't make it back, I think Devon Walker needs more playing time to get him ready for more than end of game minutes. He can be a big help with defense and rebounding.

Can is the key word.

Billy doesn't seem to trust him because, in part, Devon seems to be hell bent on shooting the first time he shoots the ball on offense.

If Devon wants more PT, he would be wise to do the things you mentioned and only shoot if it's a lay up.

[themistocles]

If Yeguete does not return (hopefully he will), my projection is that, unless another injury or two occurs, we won't see much of any of the Frosh except Frazier, unless a game is completely in the Bag.

He will play with 7, or 6, or even 5 (like, for example, against Georgetown and Wisconsin). Against Georgetown, aside from the starting 5, Frazier and Ogbuze saw a grand total of 3 minutes of playing time between them in the first half. Against Wisconsin, a blowout victory, Frazeri got 19 mins, while Young, Murphy, Boynton, Roisario, and Yeguete each played between 29 and 39 minutes. Ogbuze, Walker and Graham totaled 11 minutes among them.

Billy D does not like using backups during game critical times.

[InstiGATOR1]

Yep, the only Frosh Donovan is comfortable with is Frazier. And Frazier leash seems to have tightened up some recently, though today should have loosened it back up some.

UF has won the NCAA tourney with a 7 man rotation. 8 is better, but that is all you need.