For Chandler Parsons, the key to stuffing the stat sheet appears to be clearing his head.
The senior forward entered the season surrounded by hype, and his game suffered under the weight of all the expectations.
But now, Parsons has unclouded his mind, and the results have been staggering. He has recorded a double-double in three straight games and will have a chance to extend that streak when No. 17 Florida (19-5, 8-2 Southeastern Conference) faces Tennessee (15-9, 5-4 SEC) on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the O’Connell Center.
“You hear all that stuff, and you try to block it out and not listen to it, but maybe it did get to my head a little bit,” Parsons said. “But I know I’m doing my best to block out all that stuff, even right now.”
Parsons was a Preseason First-Team All-SEC selection, and there were even some rumblings that he would contend for SEC Player of the Year.
The expectations many placed on the senior were boosted even further by his personality, as people fell in love with the architect of last season’s two memorable buzzer-beaters.
Parsons even received attention from the national media, as he appeared in ESPN’s top 10 plays of the year and was selected as its “Voice of the Conference.”
“A lot of times what happens is when you’re a good player in today’s day and age, there’s a maturity that you have to have to deal with the expectations,” Donovan said. “There’s so much stuff that distracts these guys and can be around these guys and can get in their heads.”
Parsons has recently made great strides to block out all of those outside factors and is “playing with a clear head,” according to Donovan.
UF’s coach cites Parsons’ shot selection as one sign of his improvement. The senior is now taking shots he might have passed up earlier in the season.
Where he may have previously tried to force an extra pass or a drive to the basket, Parsons is currently taking everything in stride.
“I realized just let the game come to me,” Parsons said. “I’m going to take what the defense gives me, but at the same time, I’m being aggressive.”
DONOVAN OPEN TO USING BRISSETT: Donovan said Thursday he would consider giving a spot on the UF basketball roster to Jacoby Brissett, a four-star quarterback signee from Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer High.
Although Donovan acknowledged it would be difficult for Brissett to learn the system after missing five months of practice and workouts, he said the two-sport star has the talent to contribute at Florida if he were to focus on basketball.
“As far as I’m concerned, and talking to (UF football coach) Will (Muschamp), if he wants to be a part of our team, he’s more than welcome to do that,” Donovan said.
