Scottie Wilbekin finally rejoined the team during Friday’s practice after serving a three-game suspension for undisclosed reasons.
"He certainly paid the price missing three games, three big games to start his junior year,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I think he missed an opportunity to play on the [USS Bataan], which is a great experience, and playing home opener against Alabama State and then playing the other night against Wisconsin.”
Donovan first announced Wilbekin’s suspension one day prior to what was supposed to be the season opener on Nov. 9 against Georgetown. The Gators game against the Hoyas was called after the first half due to condensation on the court.
Before Wilbekin’s suspension, Donovan had announced the junior as the starting point guard. Donovan said that Wilbekin will need to work his way back up to becoming the starter again, but the guard won’t be held out of the starting rotation the entire season.
“One of the things I feel like as a coach, I don't believe in having a dog house so to speak,” Donovan said. “He starts fresh and clean in my mind. Although we did address the things he has done, I think I'd be making the mistake as a coach to constantly keep holding onto that, because I'm expecting him to move on and expecting him to be committed to himself, the team and the things he needs to do here.”
While Wilbekin will not start on Sunday against Middle Tennessee at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Donovan does expect him to log his first minutes of the season.
Despite being 2-0 without Wilbekin, he has proven his value to Florida in his first two years at Florida. Wilbekin racked up 187 points, 110 rebounds and 122 assists while serving as Erving Walker’s back up.
"We're definitely happy to have him back,” freshman Michael Frazier II said. “He's a guy who helps us. If you have a question you go to him. He explains it to us. It's good to have him back."
Contact Katie Agostin at kagostin@alligator.org.
