After inconsistency, missed practices and a lack of accountability put a damper on his junior year, Mike Rosario knew he had to change in the offseason.
Coach Billy Donovan knew it, too. Although he didn’t call it an ultimatum, Donovan sent Rosario a clear message: The ball is in your court.
“It was pretty clear. You need to practice every day, you need to play the right way, and you need to take care of your responsibilities off the court,” Donovan said, imitating his discussions with Rosario. “If you can’t do those three things, I’m not going to play you.”
Rosario has played by Donovan’s rules successfully this season.
The redshirt senior guard ranks second on the team with 12.5 points per game this year after averaging 6.6 points last season. His 46.1 percent shooting clip is a career best.
Rosario didn’t earn a start in 2011-12 but has started 15 games this season. His playing time has more than doubled from 14.4 minutes per game to 29.3 minutes per contest.
The New Jersey native has also stayed relatively healthy this year. After missing six games and 25 practices last season with back, leg and hip injuries, Rosario has missed only one contest, due to a left ankle sprain.
“I knew that something was going to have to change in order for me to play the way my teammates need me to perform,” Rosario said. “I felt like, by me taking on that challenge, that [Donovan] basically put my back against the wall. I feel like I’ve been doing a great job responding to it.”
Before transferring to Florida following his sophomore season, Rosario was Rutgers’ go-to option on offense. From 2008-10 with the Scarlet Knights, Rosario led his team in scoring with 16.4 points per game but shot only 38.4 percent. He averaged almost 15 field goal attempts per game.
“If you looked at his statistics at Rutgers, yes, he scored a lot of points, but he was really a high-volume shooter,” Donovan said. “When he plays the right way, he has really good vision (and) is a really good passer. When he makes simple, really good plays, it makes our team better. It makes him a much better, more effective player on the offensive floor.”
After sitting out 2010-11 because of NCAA transfer rules, Rosario lacked decision-making skills on offense during his junior year. But the 6-foot-3 guard has finally cleaned up his habits.
According to KenPom.com, Rosario’s offensive rating ranked outside of the nation’s top 500 during each of his first three seasons. This year, it is 117.2, which ranks 183rd in the country.
Although Rosario still struggles with ball security, Donovan said the guard has made strides on defense.
“Last year, he was really a weak defender and wasn’t really committed to or saw the value in it,” Donovan said.
“He continues to impress and continues to get better. But I’m not sure Mike has ever done this for an entire year in college. So we obviously have a long way to go, and I want him to embrace that.”
Rosario’s mental approach in practice has also improved.
“He just comes in every day and works,” senior forward Erik Murphy said. “He hasn’t had any lapses, especially recently. ... He’s in the weight room a little extra, trying to get his body right.”
With No. 8 Florida (14-2, 4-0 SEC) heading into Athens, Ga., to face Georgia tonight at 8, Rosario hopes to stay hot from the field. In his past four games, he has averaged 15 points on 51.2 percent shooting.
As he continues to experience success, Rosario can finally put his junior season behind him.
“Last year, I felt like in my play I didn’t really bring nothing to the team,” Rosario said.
“This is my chance to really sit and listen to what [Donovan] has to say and give myself to [Donovan], because something special can happen out of this.”
Mike Rosario (3) attempts a shot during Florida’s 83-52 win against Missouri on Saturday in the O’Connell Center.
