Leading up to the the UF men's basketball team's season opener, Coach Billy Donovan had some advice for his young Gators team: Beware of North Dakota State.
BThey are a really good basketball team and this is as hard as an opening game as we?ve had since I?ve been here,C Donovan said. BGoing into this it will be an unbelievable challenge. It would be a phenomenal win for our basketball team.C
This bode of warning from Donovan may force some to take a double-take, but Donovan pointed out that Friday?s game against North Dakota State is not your typical opener.
The Bison return four starters from a team that went 20-8, including a victory against then-No. 8 Marquette.
The year prior, North Dakota State went to Madison and toppled then-No. 15 Wisconsin.
Donovan said that overlooking the Bison should not be a problem for the Gators, who unlike last year?s squad, have no expectations heading in.
BThese kids haven?t proved anything,C he said. BThese guys haven?t even won a game yet in college basketball.C
The young squad, which features five scholarship freshmen and only four returning players, has Donovan still unsure of what to expect.
BWe have Dan Werner, Jonathan Mitchell and Marreese Speights, who have never been in a significant basketball game with the game on the line. And then we have five freshmen who have never been in a basketball game at all,C he said. BSo for us, I don?t care if it?s North Dakota State. I don?t care if it?s Kansas. … To me, we have to go out there and play with a sense of urgency just to give us a chance to win the game.C
It?s been so far so good for the Gators, as the freshmen have impressed early on.
The Gators dominated Flagler College 97-51 and handled Lynn 101-65 in the team?s two exhibition games. All five scholarship freshmen scored in double figures against Flagler and combined to score 71 of the team?s total points against Lynn.
One of UF?s young players, freshman Nick Calathes, said the two exhibition games are hard to judge. Calathes is eagerly anticipating the start of the regular season, where he thinks the team will face its first true test.
BThey?re really good,C he said. BThey beat Marquette and Wisconsin. They kind of got screwed losing to Kansas State. But they?re a really good team, and they know how to play.
BI think we?re a lot more focused. This is where it counts. This is where you lay it all on the line.C
The Gators will look to set a record in Friday?s game. The team is riding a 19-game home winning streak heading into the contest, tied for the most all-time in UF history.
The record, however, belongs mainly to a group of Gators who now play in the NBA. Sophomore Dan Werner, who spent most of last season watching, said this year?s team has to form its own legacy.
BThe only thing the same from last year to this year is the same name on the front,C Werner said. BSo we?re defiantly going to respect our opponents and come out and play hard.C
