Entering last season there was a lot of buzz surrounding two freshmen–CJ Ingram, and Alex Lloyd. For Lloyd, a lot of the enthusiasm surrounded his style of play and the highlights of him smoothly hitting jumpers and breaking defenders down with the dribble. Ingram, a Florida legacy, didn’t have quite as much buzz based on the film but had the full force of Florida’s coaching staff building him up as they told a number of media members there was a chance that he might be starting.
Both players got their chances in the opening games of Florida’s schedule, and then…things quickly trailed off. There were a couple of games where each got a chance for a regular shift, but passed that it was “DNP-Coaches Decision” or just a couple of possessions in garbage time. Given the hype and what was said by the coaches in the offseason this came as a bit of a surprise, but as these players enter year two there is once again some optimism that these two could play a key role. Is that something that could actually be expected?
Ingram was the more physically ready of the two, and someone who more naturally fit at a position the Gators needed at the wing. Though in some settings Ingram really might be best as an undersized power forward, Ingram was someone the Gators had slotted into the small forward spot and they thought he could absorb some important minutes there. At 6’6” and 205 pounds he looked the part, and enthusiasm built even more when he hit his first three in the orange and blue. In fact, shooting, which wasn’t something Ingram was known for as a recruit, actually looked like it could be something he could bring after finishing the season 8-16 from behind the arc.
Though the pieces were there, ultimately the SEC game just moved a little too fast for Ingram. His processing speed on the offensive end was slow and he struggled to see the reads he needed to make, and on defense he wasn’t able to diagnose the action around him which didn’t allow for him to channel the size and athleticism that could hypothetically make him a great defender.
Whatever Florida’s staff was seeing in training camp didn’t quite translate to the floor, but that’s the case for many freshmen–and Florida remains high on the outlook moving forward.
For Lloyd, the transition from the role he played in high school to the role needed for a 1-seed was a challenge we have seen over and over again across college basketball. Many players make it to the highest level because of their individual offensive creation–and that was exactly the case with Lloyd. At 6’3” he looked like he was gliding around the court in college, and his dribble moves were confident yet relaxed. Whether it be breaking down a defender one on one or using the ball screen to create an advantage, he was a ball-in-hand guard who did all his work with the rock.
Then, he showed up in Gainesville where older players were going to be the initiators and Lloyd was going to have to play without the ball which is something he never really had to do in high school. This led to struggles. Again, this happens all across the sport, and the Gators also saw a similar situation with Tre Mann who struggled to play a complimentary role at first at Florida before ultimately earning a role as primary creator. Lloyd also came into college as a heralded shooter, but in his limited time on the court coming in cold he wasn’t able to hit shots finishing 4-19 from three, unable to earn a position as floor spacer despite the Gators desperately needing it.
Things weren’t all rosey for these two freshmen, but can we expect big leaps in year two?
When talking about leaps, opportunity always plays a massive role. This is where Ingram had a clear opportunity last year since the Gators were desperate for wings, and there could clearly be minutes available on the wings once again even though the Gators’ roster wasn’t shaken up all that much. Florida’s staff wants to play a bit smaller this year in order to get Thomas Haugh more minutes at the “4” and Alex Condon more minutes at the “5,” and if that happens then Haugh’s minutes at the small forward spot could be vacated. It was Isaiah Brown who was able to earn the small forward minutes that were up for the taking last year and he is likely to have the lead once again, but there could be a bigger slice of the pie to go after. If Ingram can continue to shoot the ball at a high-level while his volume goes up it could go a long way in earning some of those minutes, so that will be something to monitor. Understandably, processing speed and decision making was the biggest reason Ingram wasn’t able to play more, but that is a clear area where there could be a massive area of improvement between year one and year two.
For Lloyd, opportunity is going to be much tougher. First of all, the Gators did lose one guard but brought another in with Denzel Aberdeen. There is a chance that Aberdeen ends up factoring into the small forward discussion which would impact Ingram, but while he has the length to play small forward he is more of a guard. Lloyd was pretty skinny at 6’3” last year which meant the Gators weren’t comfortable trying to play him at small forward, and if he’s locked at a guard spot he’s going to be in competition with Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar, and Denzel Aberdeen for minutes. Plus, with Lloyd it isn’t just minutes–it’s role. Lloyd is more of a point guard, or combo guard that wants the ball in his hands, whatever you want to say. Earning a role as a ball handler in the SEC is extremely difficult, so either he finds his way to prove he is actually worthy of being as good a pick and roll creator as Boogie Fland, Denzel Aberdeen, and Urban Klavzar, or he’ll need to find a way to work as a complimentary player. That would start with him improving his catch and shoot numbers, as that would probably be the easiest way for him to earn a regular role. Improving defensively so he could be trusted on that end would also be huge, and bulking up his frame will play a role there.
Right now the path to a big role for both of these players doesn’t look straight forward, but if you had to choose one it could be Ingram who is better positioned. Florida’s staff already loved him the previous summer, and the competition at the wing spot could be easier than the guard spot. You never know just how players develop in the offseason particularly off a year where there weren’t many minutes so there is a chance we could be surprised. Either one of these players playing well enough that they command a rotation spot over some of the more established names would mean they took a massive step and would inherently mean the Gators have another major weapon, and that could be what it takes for the program to get to the level they’re hoping for.