Coach Billy Donovan said he doesn’t like to name starters, but he admitted Monday that four of the five spots are just about set by a process of elimination. The one role that isn’t defined yet? Small forward.
After backing up Erving Walker for two years, Scottie Wilbekin will be the Gators’ starting point guard. Patric Young and Erik Murphy will start in the frontcourt, and Kenny Boynton will return to his usual role as shooting guard.
As for small forward, Casey Prather and Mike Rosario are fighting for the starting role.
The 6-foot-3 Rosario started in Saturday’s scrimmage against Rollins College and is expected to start again in tonight’s exhibition against Nebraska-Kearney at 7 in the O’Connell Center.
Donovan said the Gators would have no problem using the 6-foot-6 Prather against bigger opponents.
“That’s the one spot for us right now where I think we have two guys,” Donovan said.
Prather will miss the exhibition after suffering a concussion in Saturday’s scrimmage, the team announced Wednesday.
Rosario got the start against Rollins because of his improved consistency, Donovan said.
“As far as my trust level for him off the court, I think it’s growing and growing because he is taking care of his responsibilities,” Donovan said.
At media day on Oct. 10, Donovan discussed his disappointment in Rosario for his inconsistency. Donovan specifically focused on the number of games and practices Rosario missed last season because of mild injuries, even adding that his daughter would have recovered from a hip pointer sooner than the 10 days Rosario needed.
“Coach was just trying to be funny and trying to put a little smile on my face, but I didn’t take it personally at all,” Rosario said. “I look at it as a motivation, so those comments really pushed me.”
Although Donovan has been impressed with Rosario’s hard work and change in attitude over the past two months, it isn’t enough to guarantee him the start at the three spot when the regular season begins.
“To say that that’s the starting lineup for the year, it could be in some games (and) it may not be in other games,” Donovan said. “To me, guys starting and not starting can be a direct impact of what happens that week.”
Contact Katie Agostin at kagostin@alligator.org.
