After the guard-laden Gators proved in an exhibition they can put up impressive numbers from the 3-point line, the focus this week is showing they can pull down enough rebounds when they miss.
“When you shoot the ball well it cures a multitude of sins,” coach Billy Donovan said. “But what happens when you don’t shoot the ball well? Sometimes those things now are a lot more exposed.”
Chief among Florida’s hidden transgressions during last Thursday’s 114-57 win against Catholic was a lack of presence rebounding the ball.
Although UF made 20 threes on 50 percent shooting, its dominance failed to carry over to the defensive glass, as the squad managed just one more rebound (23) than the Cardinals (22).
Florida finished with a 36-31 overall edge thanks to seven-rebound performances from Patric Young and Casey Prather.
“We’re not a long, big, strong athletic team with unbelievable size, so we’re not going to be a team that just all the sudden is going to be a great rebounding team,” Donovan said.
Florida will face a much taller test against Jackson State on Friday. The Tigers have two players taller than 6-foot-8 — the height of the largest Cardinals center –— in 6-foot-9 Raymond Gregory and 7-foot-2 Jamarious Sykes.
Instead of looking for more production down low, Donovan wants his guards to get more involved. He said he expects Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario and Erving Walker to bring in four to five boards a night.
Against Catholic, only Boynton met his quota with four rebounds.
“We did so many good things offensively, and we actually defended well, too, but if we just give up the rebound then that kind of defeats the purpose,” Walker said.
After Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Chandler Parsons averaged 7.8 rebounds last season, Donovan is putting pressure on UF’s new starting swingman, freshman Brad Beal.
“Coach Donovan has been on my head ever since our scrimmage game,” Beal said. “I have to take the initiative.”
At 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, Beal is UF’s largest guard but was only able to snag one rebound in 24 minutes before fouling out .
Beal had 20 points and five assists, but Donovan expects him to grab at least five rebounds, too.
“Clearly, Brad is the best rebounder from that position,” Donovan said. “He’s got to do a better job getting in there, because he’s capable.”
Contact John Boothe at jboothe@alligator.org.
