When the Florida Gators host the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday night it will be the last time the Stephen C. O’Connell Center — as we know it. The O-Dome will receive an ambitious $65 million dollar renovation that will change the look and feel of the 36-year old building forever.
Two Gators will also play in and be honored as they play in their final games as seniors. Seniors Dorian Finney-Smith and Alex Murphy will be honored before the game on Tuesday night as the Florida Gators nod to the two seniors on the team. Murphy, who has played in only three games due to a plantar fascia tear in his foot, plans to walk during senior night with his mother and father but intends on petitioning the NCAA for a medical hardship waiver, a source close to the family told Gator Country.
While it may not be Murphy’s final game in Gainesville it will be Virginia Tech transfer Finney Smith’s final contest. His mother, daughter and a former AAU coach will flank Finney-Smith for senior day ceremonies, but he doesn’t anticipate it taking away from the game, an important one for Florida’s NCAA Tournament dreams.
“They just want me to go out there and have fun. I don’t think that’s pressure if they’re just telling me to go out there and have fun,” Finney Smith said. “They’ve been telling me lately that I don’t look like I’m enjoying it, so I’m just going to try and enjoy it.”
The senior forward admitted that he has had fun his senior year but that losing the past three games and 12 on the season are hard. Doe-Doe has shined during his final season in Gainesville, leading Florida in scoring (14.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg) despite Florida not having much else in the way for other teams to prepare for outside of him.
“I think he, even from the first few games to now, I think he’s a much better player now that he was even in October,” head coach Mike White said. “I don’t think the numbers always indicate that, he’s just become such a focal point to a lot of very good SEC teams that spend the majority of their scouting report on him. Even when he has a 1-7 night for us he’s found ways to help us in other areas. He’s a very versatile defender, of course. A stat sheet stuffer type guy.”
Finney-Smith’s career began in Blacksburg, Virginia. He was named ACC All-Freshman in 2011-12 after playing in 33 games (30 starts). He averaged 6.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game that year before deciding to transfer to Florida after Va. Tech fired head coach Seth Greenberg. Doe-Doe sat out the 2012-13 season as the Gators made it all the way to the Final Four before losing to Michigan.
Finney-Smith made his debut in 2013-14. As a redshirt sophomore, Finney-Smith was named SEC Sixth Man of the Year — the second Gators to receive the honor — and placed on the Academic Honor Roll. As a junior he was named to the All-SEC team after leading the Florida Gators in scoring (13.1 ppg), rebounding (6.2 rpg) and three-point shooting (.426).
Tuesday night represents the end of one chapter in Finney-Smith’s life. It will be the last time he plays a game in the O-Dome and the building might not look familiar the next time he steps foot inside it. With an opponent like Kentucky there isn’t time to get wrapped up in anything else but the game plan or the Wildcats will make you pay. Finney-Smith wants to enjoy the pregame ceremony and then focus in on the task at hand.
“It’s going to be fun and sad,” he said. “This will be my last time playing in the O-Dome. I’m just trying to enjoy it, trying to treasure the moment.”