After Florida’s (3-3) loss against Miami by just two points on Nov. 17, coach Billy Donovan knew he had to find a way to help starting point guard Kasey Hill.
"He’s got to make better decisions and better choices," Donovan said after the game.
In the game against the Hurricanes, the sophomore’s struggles on the court officially began.
He made one of nine field goals and missed the only three-point shot he took in the 33 minutes he played.
Things got worse for Hill in Florida’s next game against Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 21.
Though Florida managed a 61-56 overtime win against the Warhawks, Hill was 2-of-12 from the field and he again missed the only three-point shot he took in 37 minutes.
In Florida’s first three games of the season, Hill was 3 for 24 from the field and 0 of 2 in three-pointers.
"I think he’s got to finish a lot better, especially at the basket," Donovan said before the team left to the Bahamas.In practice and in individual workouts, he can make 15-, 17-foot jump shots. He has proven to be able to do that, and he’s able to prove he can finish in the lane, but he’s got to be a better finisher when he gets in there. He’s had some drives where he has gotten to the front of the rim. He’s got to be able to make those plays. He’s got to be able to put the ball in the basket."
At the start of the season, Donovan praised Hill for his increased focus from freshman to sophomore year.
Having taken a back seat to Florida’s four seniors, the young point guard had some strides to make up for a team lacking established leadership.
"I thought a lot of times his effort and his energy was really up and down and he’s such a great kid and he’s so laid back sometimes, it’s not a good disposition as a 6-foot-1 point guard," Donovan said."And I would say that since we’ve practiced, I have not seen any of that."
Hill managed a .407 field goal percentage in 32 games played in the 2013-14 season.
He ended the season ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).
On the flip side of the Gators’ Bahamas trip, the team returned defeated.
But Hill found his fix.
"I was really, at least coming out of the Bahamas, really proud of him for a couple of reasons," Donovan said on Wednesday. "I really was impressed with the way he battled, the way he thought. There was some things he learned through those games of how people were defending him and how he could kind of play better and utilize the way he was being defended and I think he’s done a much, much better job of that. I was really proud of his fight, his competitiveness in those games. I thought he from a resiliency and a toughness standpoint really grew up in a lot of ways there."
In the Bahamas, Hill shot 11 of 26 from the field and 1 of 2 from 3-point range.
A chipper, easy-go-lucky Hill met with media on Wednesday — his 21st birthday.
His first comment was that no, he had not received the 21 punches teammate Michael Frazier was planning on giving him.
Where once silence filled the void of Hill’s waning confidence, the Florida native now turned to honesty.
"Coach told me the truth that I was playing terrible and I wanted to play as good as I could and I listened to him," Hill said. "It’s the truth, I mean I like hearing the truth and coach Donovan’s always tells you the truth so you’ve gotta be a man and respond."
Though he hadn’t yet reached his milestone 21st birthday while competing in the Bahamas, Hill responded and manned up.
Hill’s best performance so far this season came in the Gators’ last game on Paradise Island.
He scored a career-high 20 points and was 10 of 12 from the charity stripe in Florida’s 75-64 loss to North Carolina.
Donovan said the key to helping Hill get to this point was in the technicalities.
"Getting him to understand how he needs to play and what he needs to do and letting him see himself on film making decision and choices on the fast break, you know getting in the lane, shots he was taking," Donovan said. "And think I think he really took those things into the Bahamas and they helped him. I think they gave him a sense of a plan. It gave him a sense of, ‘OK I know what I need to do now and how to handle this.’"
Follow Erica Hernandez on Twitter @EricaAlyssa
Kasey Hill attempts a layup during Florida's loss to Miami.
