For one Gators player, Saturday's matchup against Rutgers is turning into a family affair.
As the 7 p.m. tipoff nears, UF freshman Chandler Parsons is fully aware that his grandfather will be in Gainesville, and in the wrong locker room.
Parsons? grandfather, Don Parsons, played for Rutgers from 1946-1950 and was a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Knicks.
BHe?ll definitely be there in the (Rutgers) locker room,C Parsons said. BHe was bothering me, but I?m not a New Jersey guy. I?m not about all that cold weather.C
Parsons said his grandfather tried to push him to go to Rutgers, but in the end the decision was a no-brainer.
BFlorida?s the best place to be,C he said. BI know he played there, he did his thing there. But I?m a Gator and I?m proud of it.C
When asked if his grandfather would use his relationship against him to help Rutgers prepare for the 6-foot-9 forward, Parsons said he hoped not.
BThat would be dirty if he did, but I doubt it,C he said.
Parsons is coming off an impressive performance against North Carolina Central, where he led the Gators with 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists in 18 minutes.
Parsons said Rutgers (3-0) poses the biggest challenge for the young Gators squad (3-0).
BThey?re a great team,C Parsons said. BThe Big East is a great conference. … We?ll be ready for Rutgers.C
UF coach Billy Donovan seconded the notion.
BCertainly the most talented team we?re playing up to this point is Rutgers,C Donovan said. BThat?s going to be a heck of challenge for us on Saturday.C
As part of the Blue Ribbon Challenge, Rutgers and UF have both played the same opponents thus far. Although both are undefeated against the bunch, Rutgers barely edged Tennessee Tech 70-64 at home, whereas the Gators dominated the same Golden Eagles team 93-65.
Rutgers is averaging only 74 points per game during the tournament, compared to the Gators? 91.
The Gators have impressed Donovan so far. After UF?s 105-51 win against North Carolina Central, Donovan said that although the competition has been minimal, he?s proud of the way his team has played.
BI thought the last two games they had a reason to feel good about themselves,C he said. BI think that if I was sitting up here telling you our team came out complacent, selfish and didn?t play together, you know what, I would be upset. I would be saying there was youthfulness, but after this game I can say we?ve showed some maturity, which is good to see.C
The Gators are averaging almost 21 assists per contest so far, a trend Donovan thinks has been the key to their early season success.
BI?m very happy with how we?ve shot the ball, and how we?ve passed the basketball so far,C Donovan said. BIt?s encouraging to see them play together.C
After breaking a school record for consecutive wins at home against Tennessee Tech last Sunday, the Gators will aim for a new milestone in Saturday?s contest.
With a win, Donovan will have 300 career victories, 265 of which he will have amassed during his tenure at UF.
