“Let’s make year 2 great, Gainesville.”
Kowacie Reeves, Florida’s 6’6 sharp-shooter and former 5-star recruit, posted the message to twitter just days after a brief flirtation with the transfer portal.
The sophomore guard was returning to Gainesville for a season that had . . . and maybe, still has . . . the promise of greatness.
But outward appearances suggest such promise may be on the verge of ‘broken’.
But a promise broken by whom? And why?
Oddly, there has not only been a dearth of answers, but barely the question asked . . . except those from a confounded fan base.
Where is Kowacie?
That one’s easy. . . and to some, frustratingly so.
Reeves is on the bench. He has been there, in large part, for three and a half games. And coincidentally, or perhaps not, the Gators are 1-2 during that span. And the lone victory represents the only game he made a brief, though emphatic appearance.
“Think Reeves had any frustration behind that slam. My goodness,” Gators’ writer, Chris Harry tweeted following a fierce, reverse dunk.
It was Reeves’ only basket during a fleeting, 8-minute stretch. But many fans hoped it signaled his return.
It didn’t.
Instead, Kowacie again had a front-row seat Sunday night, this time as witness to an unmerciful beating. Florida’s best shooter watched teammates convert a paltry 34.5% from the floor, and an abysmal 11.8% from beyond the arc – all while conceding dunks, 3-pointers, layups and endless free throws.
It was an awful night for Florida, and another helpless one for Reeves.
All the while – silence reigned and speculation ensued.
Is he hurt? Nope.
Is he in trouble? Seemingly not, as this span would represent a severe and inconsistent punishment.
Has Coach Golden simply decided there are better players, and better rotations than those that include Reeves? Maybe, but such would be an odd and sudden change of heart. After all, it is highly unusual for a player to fall from starter to outside a 10-man rotation in a single game.
And remember, retaining Reeves was an off-season priority for Golden, who recognized an explosive guard, with a high-ceiling – and a player who ended his freshman season on a tear. . . a 21-point second-half explosion in the SEC Tournament, and a 14-point burst in an NIT victory.
And that momentum seemingly carried.
“He’s had a really good fall,” Golden said in early November. “He’s doing a much better job at defensive rebounding, which is an area he’s really improving. Just getting more comfortable on the defensive end. But he’s a guy that will make a jump as a sophomore, for sure.”
But after 7 games, and in these portal times. . . it’s a different ‘jump’ fans fear. Kowacie’s Instagram account was suddenly made barren – even void of his affiliation to Florida’s program. And an apparent family member tweeted, “HE DOESN’T DESERVE THIS” following his absence again Sunday.
What this means is mere fan speculation, and likely hysteria. In fact, that April twitter proclamation still remains – and so to does the opportunity to fulfill.
But, of course, Kowacie will need to get on the court. And to do so – he probably needs an understanding as to why he was pulled in the first place.
Reeves began the season a starter, along with Kyle Lofton, Will Richard, CJ Felder and Colin Castleton. And the Gators beat outmatched Stony Brook and Kennesaw, before falling to a torrid Florida Atlantic squad. Through those three games, Reeves averaged 10 points per outing, and collected 7 rebounds. He tallied only two turnovers. Even in Florida’s first loss, Golden praised Reeves heart and lauded the “big shots” that brought the Gators within striking distance.
“I am proud of him for stepping up in those moments,” Golden said.
No one would’ve guessed Reeves’ playing time was soon to be reduced to mere ‘moments’.
But then came the opening stanza versus rival FSU. Not a single player was without fault for an abysmal start, but it would be Reeves on whom the hammer would drop . . . or at least upon his playing time.
Reeves would not re-enter the game after halftime – having recorded 4 points on 1-4 shooting, and nary a rebound. The latter stat, along with defensive lapses, were perhaps the most irksome.
At intermission, Golden switched to dual point guards, opting for junior transfer Trey Bonham to join Lofton in the backcourt. The former was an undeniable spark, and the change was one Golden touched upon following a rousing second half comeback, and an overwhelming victory.
“He takes heat off Kyle,” Golden said. “We’ve asked Kyle to do a lot – pressure the ball full court, pretty much initiate action on the offense. And Trey, as a secondary ballhandler and playmaker is a guy who can get in the paint and really put pressure on the point of the defense.”
Though initially non-committal to changes following Florida’s historic rally, the tea leaves were quite legible.
“But obviously when you outscore an opponent by 26 in a half, playing a certain lineup – you’ve got to think about what you are doing and seeing if that might be a better way to go,” Golden said.
For better or worse – and it has arguably been equal parts both – the Gators have gone that way since. Aside from those sparse minutes versus the Beavers, Reeves has been a “DNP” since that halftime departure.
There is less confusion over Bonham’s well-earned role, and little debating his performance. Though he struggled versus the length of West Virginia, Bonham has tallied 56 points and 13 rebounds since sparking that November 18 rally. But fans and observers have wondered why the change has entirely and wholly relegated Reeves to the bench. And those questions grew louder during Sunday’s beatdown.
But so too did the silence.
Surely, Golden will speak to the situation in the coming days. But he faces a stark reality: For whatever shortcomings Golden perceives in Reeves, Kowacie does possess something largely lacking on the roster:
Shooting ability, particularly from the arc.
Reeves is ….errrr… was shooting nearly 45% from the arc, on a team hovering just about the 33% mark. And since this hardly seems a squad that will be carried by its defense, scoring is a must.
A lot of scoring.
And so the greater reality – Florida needs Reeves . . . on the court.
That certainly is true if Kowacie is to have a great year 2, and if Golden wants the same for year 1.
Go Gators!