When coach Billy Donovan suspended starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin on Thursday, shooting guard Kenny Boynton took on a different role.
The Gators have relied on the 6-foot-2 senior to play point guard as Wilbekin serves his indefinite suspension.
Boynton averaged 2.7 assists and a team-high 15.9 points on 11.5 field goal attempts per game last season.
“A lot of people think, because he’s been such a prolific scorer, that if you play him at the point, it’s going to hurt our team, (and) it’s going to inhibit him from scoring,” Donovan said.
So far, the experiment has yielded mixed results.
Boynton scored six points, notched three assists and committed four turnovers in one half against Georgetown on the deck of the USS Bataan in Jacksonville on Friday night.
Two of Boynton’s giveaways came via ill-advised passes. The other two were the result of an offensive foul and a travel.
Friday’s contest was called at halftime due to condensation on the court.
“Luckily, it was wiped out,” Boynton said. “I went back and watched over the first half. Those turnovers could have been prevented. It’ll just get better in time.”
Against Alabama State two days later, Boynton looked more comfortable with his point guard duties, tallying five assists against no turnovers in an 84-35 victory.
While Boynton distributed the ball to his teammates, he never hesitated to shoot, recording a team-best 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting. He was also 4 of 4 from behind the arc.
“I came out this game and just tried to make the simple play instead of forcing it,” Boynton said. “I just wanted to let it come to me. I calmed myself down.”
Boynton will be Florida’s starter at point guard for the immediate future. The Gators’ official site posted during the weekend that Wilbekin’s suspension would last four games, but Donovan said on Sunday that the timetable remains indefinite.
“I have not met with him since we’ve been back,” Donovan said. “I saw him briefly to say hello to him, but I have not spoken to him at all. There’s still information I have to gather. As of right now, I am not playing him against Wisconsin.”
When the No. 10 Gators (1-0) host the No. 22 Badgers (1-0) on Wednesday night in the O’Connell Center, Boynton will square off against redshirt freshman George Marshall at the point.
The 5-foot-11 Marshall has played only one collegiate game. Wisconsin pushed him into the starting role after junior guard Josh Gasser suffered an ACL tear more than two weeks ago.
“[Boynton] understands when to shoot,” Donovan said. “Kenny understands, being a senior now, just the different things he needs to do. I’ve got confidence in him.”
Florida guard Kenny Boynton brings the ball up the floor during Friday’s game against Georgetown aboard the USS Bataan in Jacksonville.
