No. 8 Florida has a lot it can learn after falling to unranked Miami 69-67 on Monday.
One challenge the Gators (1-1) faced is its shorthanded roster, with three players out of commission against the Hurricanes (2-0).
Sophomore Dillon Graham is no longer available to the Gators since he’s opted to transfer.
Redshirt junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith is nursing two hairline fractures in his left hand and sophomore forward Chris Walker sat out for the last of his three-game suspension.
"I was really proud of our guys being so shorthanded," coach Billy Donovan said. "Especially in the frontcourt where we really had to play some kind of makeshift lineups."
But Walker’s return will give Florida a more familiar look in its lineup on Friday against Louisiana-Monroe.
"I thought we really played great defense in the first half. Guys did a really good job," Donovan said. "You can’t give up what we gave up in the second half."
Donovan doesn’t have much time to work with Florida before it heads into the Battle for Atlantis Tournament during Thanksgiving Break. The Gators could face top-ranked opponents such as No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 6 North Carolina and Georgetown in the tournament.
"Our defense was not at the level that it needed to be, and how much of that was fatigue, I can’t put my finger on it," Donovan said. " I don’t know if the right word is lazy, or careless, or easy way out. I don’t know how we could do it in the first half, not do it in the second half, and that’s why I think fatigue was potentially a factor."
Whatever the common denominator was, it’s been a consistent presence in Florida’s performance. Including Florida’s exhibition against Barry, the Gators have averaged 1.21 points per possession in the first half of games.
But in the second half, that number drops to 0.869 points per possession.
Transfer center Jon Horford offers Florida some leadership where it’s lacking. With three seasons at Michigan, one as team captain, Horford has experienced early season growing pains in his career.
"Guys have to get over it quickly and get on to the next (one). We have to listen to the coaches, they know what they are talking about and have a lot of great teaching points," Horford said. "It’s the beginning of the season, (we will) keep getting better every day and everything will work out".
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Kasey Hill (left), Lexx Edwards and Dorian Finney-Smith walk off the O'Connell Center floor following Florida's 69-67 loss to Miami on Monday.
