Now four days removed from Florida’s upset win over then-No. 6 Florida State, the credit for the unexpected victory has been shared among many parties.
There’s Amanda Butler, who achieved one of the greatest coaching feats of her 8+ year tenure with the Gators on Monday night.
There’s the new (and old) assistant coaches, who were brought in to re-vitalize the program and have put the team on the path to do just that so far.
There’s Ronni Williams, who reigned in her play enough to keep from fouling out against FSU en-route to a 21-point performance.
There’s newcomers Simone Westbrook and Eleanna Christinaki, who both scored in double-figures against the Seminoles and hit clutch shots when needed.
And then there’s one group that isn’t (and won’t ever be) getting any of the credit. And that group is the team’s practice squad.
Many people don’t know that basketball teams play against scout players rather than against each other, but the women’s basketball team here at UF has an entire unit of predominantly male players whose only role is to prepare the Gator’s for their next game.
Player imitation is harder than a lot of people realize. It can include anything from playing a less aggressive style of basketball to forcing a right-handed player to shoot left-handed.
Against FSU, for example, one player was tasked with imitating star Seminole point guard Leticia Romero.
“Last week, Max played as Romero, FSU’s point guard, and pretty much did everything that we assumed that she would do, sophomore guard Dyandria Anderson said.
“So that made us, like, ten times more prepared than had he just been his normal self.”
And players like Anderson certainly appreciate the advantages that the practice squad gives them.
“They come in here and work hard for us every day, they give us great competition -- it’s just a great atmosphere in here when they’re going hard and making us better every day,” she said.
They may not get to directly share in the thrill of victory, as they sit in the student section along with the rest of the fans. But that’s fine, because they’re certainly not doing it for any kind of recognition.
They come from different corners of campus, needing to be currently-enrolled undergraduate students in order to participate. Some met current team members playing pickup games at Southwest Recreation Center over the summer. Some got brought in by friends.
Regardless of how they get there, the players are all united by a love for basketball and the willingness to make their school’s women’s team better.
“I never actually played organized basketball, you know, (but) I’ve always been a big fan of it,” 22-year-old anthropology senior Evan Abella, who is currently in his third year with the team, said.
“I was always a baseball guy because I was always a lot smaller, but I’ve learned so much just from being around the program -- just the terminology and everything so that’s really benefitted me to better my IQ of the game.”
Cole Norman is a 22-year-old accounting senior in his first year with the team. He, unlike Abella, played all throughout high school.
“Once I got to college I was almost depressed not being able to play basketball because I had played all my life,” he said.
“Coming here was really exciting because of the up-tempo, high-intensity level, like high school was. I just had a lot of good memories from that and was seeing it again here.”
As for what they literally get out of it, the practice squad players get free Nike basketball shoes and other apparel on occasion. In the past, squad members have even accompanied the team on road trips.
But that’s not why they keep playing.
“Getting the opportunity to play with a girls D-I team is pretty exciting,” Norman said.
Abella echoes that sentiment.
“Just being around the program is cool, you know.
“Especially like when you see the win that we just had against Florida State, it was awesome just to be a part of that.”
Follow Ethan Bauer on Twitter @ebaueri
The UF women's basketball team celebrates after defeating No. 6 Florida State 82-72 on Nov. 16, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.
After enduring its first losing season under head coach Amanda Butler, the Gators are now playing one of the best seasons in program history. The Gators finished their non-conference schedule 12-1, highlighted by an upset victory over then-No. 6 Florida State in their home opener. Ethan Bauer has the breakdown for you (http://www.alligator.org/sports/basketball_-_women/article_1912e32e-a1f3-11e5-a1bc-130df0cb9bf1.html)
