Dorian Finney-Smith is back with the team after missing Florida’s first two games due to suspension, coach Billy Donovan announced Friday.
But the redshirt sophomore forward is ill and unlikely to play in No. 11 UF’s matchup against Arkansas Little-Rock on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the O’Connell Center. Finney-Smith missed Thursday’s practice with the illness.
“He’s done a very, very good job up until this point in time taking care of all of his responsibilities,” Donovan said of Finney-Smith. “I feel bad for him just that he’s ill right now. We don’t know what it is. He has some kind of virus. He actually went to doctor to get some blood work done. Probably not going to know what it is until later [Friday] afternoon, later tonight.”
Point guard Scottie Wilbekin and center Damontre Harris still remain suspended from the team and will not be available Saturday. Wilbekin is practicing with the team, while Harris is “not even on the team,” Donovan said.
“He’s off right now,” Donovan said of Harris. “He’s not even in practice. He’s got a long, long way to go before he ever gets back on the team. He’s doing things. It’s kind of like the similar situation to Scottie, where Scottie was doing things apart from our team. He has some things set in place in order for him to get back on the team.”
Added center Patric Young: “I haven’t seen him too much, very minimal these last few days. I think he’s in good spirits right now.”
Donovan said Wilbekin has been at practice every day.
“He’s been doing great. I’m really, really proud of him,” Donovan said. “Scottie is a totally different person. Totally different leader, totally different attitude. … The strides he has made, no one has had a chance to see him play, but for me as a coach, it’s been very, very rewarding to see where he is.
“I’m not so sure if he didn’t go through the difficulties and challenges he went through that he could even be the kind of person and player he is today. There’s some drastic, drastic improvements that I’ve seen him make.”
Graham hurting: Sophomore guard Dillon Graham did not crack the rotation during Florida’s 59-53 loss to Wisconsin on Tuesday and is battling some hip issues. He sprained his ankle during the preseason and is still trying to reach 100 percent with both injuries.
“It’s shown in practice some," Donovan said. "For him, there’s some things he wants to do physically that’s he’s having a hard time doing. His confidence, no question, has been impacted by it.”
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Dorian Finney-Smith poses for a photo during Florida’s basketball media day.
