Florida Gators basketball media day notebook from Mike White

The Florida Gators basketball team held their media day on Thursday afternoon. Mike White said he thinks the Gators can have one of the top defenses in the country this season, among other things.

Gator Country brings a notebook of what he said.

• Monday’s practice was the first of the season. Mike White said it was as good of a first practice as he’s ever been a part of.
• The team is making free throws at a higher rate in practice so far this season than last season.
• “If you have 13 scholarship guys, what you really want is 13 leaders,” said White.
• John Egbunu has improved his leadership this year and Canyon Barry is a big leader right now, even though he is a newcomer.
• “We’ve gotta shoot it better from the foul line, from the three,” said White.
• White thinks the team could be really good defensively. The goal of the team is to be a top ten defense this season.
• Kasey Hill is shooting the ball much better so far this year, White said he spent a lot of time in the gym.
• Kevarrius Hayes has made a lot of improvements over the offseason. He is one of the leaders at the four spot.
• “We’ve got better depth. We’ve got more experience,” said White.
• Keith Stone has had three really good practices so far.
• Devin Robinson is shooting the ball as well as anyone on the team right now.
• “We hope that he maintains that focus that’s got him shooting the way he’s shooting right now,” White said on Robinson.
• With so many road games to start the season, White wants to give the team more days off this year to keep them rested. He said the team didn’t get two days off in a row at all last season.
• White hopes the away games in the first half of the season will give the team an advantage with experience of playing on the road.
• The offense is going to be more simplified this season. White said when they simplified the offense at the end of last season, the offense got better.
• White said the SEC is a really strong basketball league and is improving.
• He expects the O’Dome to be a significant home court advantage once the renovation is complete.