Everything went well for Florida to ring in “The Golden Era” as the Gators led from start to finish against Stony Brook, winning the game 81-45 and comfortably giving new head coach Todd Golden his first win as a leader of the orange and blue. Everyone on Florida’s bench had an opportunity to see the floor and buckets by Alex Klatsky and Jack May at the end of the game meant that 13 players had at least a point giving fans an opportunity to cheer on everyone from the starters to the end of the bench. Stony Brook did their best to junk up the game with a compact 2-3 zone not allowing the Gators to really show what the offense under Golden will look like but the players responded well to what was in front of them and ended up with an easy win.
Starting Things Off
With so much incoming talent alongside some qualified returners, who was going to start for the Gators was a huge question entering Florida’s opening game. Ultimately there weren’t any big surprises as the five that got sent out were Kyle Lofton, Will Richard, Kowacie Reeves, CJ Felder, and Colin Castleton. Perhaps the biggest question was who was going to start on the wing next to Reeves, and ultimately it was Richard’s versatility on both ends of the floor that won out. This starting lineup had good chemistry and demonstrated swift ball movement and it could be seen again in Florida’s next game, although there was one player that came off the bench that might have commanded a starting role.
Introducing Himself
Arguably the most impressive Gator on Monday was Alex Fudge who led the Gators in scoring with 16 points off the bench. Simply put, Fudge looked like an NBA player out there against a low-major ball club and his athleticism and length were dominant. Not only was grabbing rebounds and finishing everything around the rim but he also stepped out to the perimeter and knocked down a pair of threes from the outside. It’s hard not to be excited for a player like Fudge who brings just about everything you want from a modern forward, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him command a starting role in Florida’s next game.
Staying Solid
Colin Castleton is as consistent as they come in college basketball and he cruised to an easy 13 point, 5 rebound, 3 assist, and 4 block night while playing a light 26 minute load. At one point in the second half he grabbed at his surgically repaired shoulder after getting tied up with a Seawolves player and while it wasn’t serious, given the massive lead the Gators had he took it easy and stayed on the bench for much of the final stretch. While he was in the game he was his regular dominant self, though it was apparent that he was making it a focus to be a playmaker and try to find his teammates for an open look. That resulted in a trio of assists, something that really helped Florida’s offense roll. Of course, he also tried out a three-point jumper as was said he would after it being an offseason focus, though it sadly rimmed out without much of a chance at falling.
Final Thoughts
Things went according to plan for the Gators who took control early with a 22-3 lead and never looked back. It’s exactly what you would have wanted to see from a new-look Gators team, and they’ll look to keep the momentum rolling on Friday when they take on Kennesaw State.