Billy Donovan has experience managing expectations, but the return of suspended sophomore forward Chris Walker tonight against Louisiana-Monroe will be another test of Donovan’s management skills this season.
When the No. 8 Gators (1-1) host the Warhawks (2-0) for the first time in program history at 8 p.m., these expectations will come to fruition.
Walker is not unfamiliar with highly anticipated debuts. Though Florida fans had to wait significantly longer for Walker’s collegiate debut, it seems to be a trend for Walker to make a late but impactful start with the Gators.
Florida fans had to wait only three games this season, as compared to 23 games last season. In his freshman year, the 2013 McDonald’s All-American sat out the entire fall semester and all of January for academic eligibility issues. His three-game suspension this year was brought after he broke team rules.
Donovan said he believes Walker has done a better job of managing others’ expectations.
"I really think that sometimes when there’s expectations on a player, a player can get really weighed on those expectations or a player can say, ‘There’s no way I can reach that expectation of what’s expected of me.’ I think for Chris, maybe early in the year he was wrapped up in those things," Donovan said. "Now, I’ve seen a growth in him where he’s gotten back down to (the) reality of, ‘I need to get better. I need to improve. I need to figure out a way to help our team.’ My thing for him tomorrow is just to go out there and to have both feet in a circle and to do the things we need him to do, to help us be a better team."
In 2014, Walker played 18 games, including postseason play, after his midseason debut against Missouri on Feb. 4. Last season, he averaged 1.9 points and 1.3 rebounds. Walker’s postseason performance was a large part in building up expectations for this season. The then-freshman achieved a career-best seven points during just six minutes of play in Florida’s 79-68 win over UCLA in the NCAA Sweet 16.
Though Walker isn’t projected to start, Donovan said that could change depending on Thursday afternoon’s practice.
"He’s gotten away from this idea that he needs to be this scorer," Donovan said. "I think he’s playing closer to his strengths and I think we as a coaching staff have tried to help him see that."
Walk-on senior forward Jacob Kurtz, who is still listed as a starter for tonight’s game, said he’s seen Walker improve during this three-game suspension.
"I mean he’s been practicing hard, he’s been in here every day, he’s been at the games, just watching film. So he’s been trying to learn and understand what he has to do so he can come in tomorrow and help us out," Kurtz said. "He can’t go out and try to do too much, I know all this hype, obviously he’s gonna be very excited to play but he has to stay to what his job is."
One player who won’t play against Louisiana-Monroe is junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Donovan said Finney-Smith, who fracture two bones his left hand against William & Mary, will not play tonight. Although Finney-Smith has been medically cleared to play, he is still dealing with swelling and pain, Donovan said.
"So I’m not focused on putting him out there where he’s just trying to protect himself because he’s really uncomfortable," Donovan said. "How much longer this will go on, I’m not sure, but definitely going to be out for (tonight’s) game."
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Chris Walker attempts a layup during Florida's 72-49 win against Missouri on March 14 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
