After Florida’s exhibition rout of Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 1, coach Billy Donovan expressed concern about his team’s rebounding.
The Gators only outrebounded the Lopers 32-29. Division II UNK does not have a player taller than 6 feet 7 inches.
“Clearly, from a talent standpoint and a size standpoint, we had a huge advantage over them,” Donovan said. “I just saw time and time again our older veteran guys getting beat off the dribble and not rebounding.”
Four days later, Donovan again criticized his team’s effort on the glass.
“We don’t leave the floor,” Donovan said. “We are the best on-the-floor rebounding team in the country. … Unfortunately, while our guys are standing on the ground, somebody else is jumping.”
UF ranked sixth in the Southeastern Conference averaging only 35.7 rebounds per game last season. The Gators’ plus-2.8 rebounding margin ranked 79th in the country.
No player on Florida’s roster last year averaged more than seven rebounds per game. Center Patric Young finished the season with 6.4 boards per contest, while power forward Erik Murphy averaged 4.5.
Against Nebraska-Kearney, Young and Murphy combined for seven rebounds in 40 minutes. Only two came on offense.
“That’s not good enough,” Donovan said. “They’ve got to come down with it. They’ve got to go hard after it.”
As the Gators struggled to rebound the ball against the Lopers, Will Yeguete excelled. The 6-foot-7 forward finished with 11 rebounds and grabbed five offensive boards — almost half of the team’s total.
“Where are the rest of these guys?” Donovan said.
No. 10 Florida’s rebounding will be put to the test when UF squares off against Georgetown on Friday night in the Navy-Marine Corps Classic in Jacksonville.
Due to cold and windy weather conditions on the deck of the USS Bataan at the Naval Station Mayport, Donovan expects both squads to struggle shooting.
Allowing second-chance opportunities could be detrimental.
“It’s been a point that’s really been pounded on, but we’re playing against a team in Georgetown that is very long, very athletic,” Donovan said. “This is going to really, really expose what kind of commitment we’ve made to rebounding.”
Patric Young pulls down a rebound during Florida’s 101-71 exhibition win against Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday in the O’Connell Center.
