Last year, college basketball was too low scoring for the NCAA’s taste.
After teams averaged just 67.6 points per game last season, the lowest average since the 1952 season (63.3 ppg), the NCAA decided to implement rule changes in June.
The shot clock has been reduced from 35 to 30 seconds, referees have been instructed to limit physicality in the post and allow players greater freedom of movement, and the arc of the restricted area has increased from three to four feet.
"They don’t want the game to be won in the weight room," forward Alex Murphy said the referees have told UF.
Through Florida’s pre-season practices, the team has struggled to adjust to some of the changes.
"Defensively, we have to stop fouling so much," coach Mike White said.
A large part of Florida’s scheme is built around pressuring the ball handler. But with the NCAA aiming to decrease contact along the perimeter, Florida is trying to find a healthy medium between pressing and playing within the new rules.
"We’re asking our guys to extend pressure and do that for extended periods of time," White said. "We just have to be very intelligent with our pressure."
Lineup still in flux: Although White has a general idea of who will start to open the season, the coach said the lineup is "really flexible."
"I’ve told these guys since our first team meeting … I don’t care who starts," White said. "And I hope, at least to a certain extent, that they don’t care."
UF will likely start some combination of John Egbunu at center, Dorian Finney-Smith/Devin Robinson/DeVon Walker at the forwards, and Kasey Hill/KeVaughn Allen/Chris Chiozza in the backcourt for its exhibition game against Palm Beach Atlantic on Thursday.
The closest competition during camp has been at small forward and guard. Sophomore forward Robinson has improved his shooting (25.6 percent from three last year), but coaches have praised Walker’s consistency, defensive effort and leadership in the preseason after returning from a torn ACL.
White has also been high on guards Brandone Francis-Ramirez and Allen, two offensively gifted freshmen who can handle the ball.
"There will be things we can draw from Thursday night, perhaps the biggest being we have room for improvement in different areas," White said. "We’re definitely not there, and we’re far from it, but we have the potential to get there."
Egbunu ready for debut: Based on the compliments he’s received from White and teammates during preseason practices, Florida’s big man is expected to have a large impact on the success of this year’s team on both ends of the court.
In one year at USF, Egbunu became the Bulls’ all-time rebounding leader for a freshman while averaging 7.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
"I think I’ve gotten better in all areas. I’ve changed my body, worked really hard with the strength coach," the 6-foot-11 transfer said. "I can’t wait to get out there."
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UF center John Egbunu walks onto the O'Connell Center court during Gators Madness on Oct. 2, 2015.
