Even before coming to college, most of the Gators tried to build up a tolerance for playing games on short rest.
Junior center Patric Young said he once had six AAU games in one day during high school. Sophomore guard Scottie Wilbekin’s most in a 24-hour period is four.
Still, running through a marathon-like day of summer league doesn’t really compare to the gauntlet most Southeastern Conference teams have experienced since the league’s TV deal with ESPN went into effect two years ago. There are now SEC games on ESPN five days per week, which creates scheduling concerns.
“It’s different, because in AAU the games are a little bit shorter, and the defense isn’t as good,” Young said. “You really don’t have to play defense in AAU, just get in that zone and sit in the back.”
UF coach Billy Donovan spoke Monday on the inconsistent SEC scheduling process that has Florida and Ole Miss playing two games in three days multiple times, while other teams like Auburn, Kentucky and LSU escape the regular season without ever having to play on one day of rest.
“My problem with it is if you want to get more teams in the NCAA tournament and you want to do more with your non-conference schedule, our league should not put teams at a disadvantage competitively,” Donovan said.
The Gators will begin two consecutive weeks of Thursday-Saturday games when they travel to play the Rebels at 7 p.m. on Thursday and then return home Saturday to take on Mississippi State at 1:30 p.m.
Next week, Florida plays two home games against South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
“I heard the argument, ‘Well, it’s like that in the NCAA tournament. You’ve got to play Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday.’ Great, but so does the other team you’re playing against. You know?” Donovan said. “That’s where we’ve got to try to figure out a better way to make it work.”
Young Injury: After being left out of the starting lineup for the first time this season against South Carolina and LSU, the 6-foot-9 Young wanted to clear the air Monday that the tendinitis in his right ankle didn’t ruin another one of his streaks.
“I’ve never had a sprained ankle before,” Young said. “I don’t know; that’s God watching over me and protecting me from harm.”
While tendinitis does not qualify as an ankle sprain, the injury has still cut into his playing time recently. After a season-low 13-minute showing against the Gamecocks, Young played 24 minutes Saturday against LSU. He averaged 32 minutes in both of Florida’s previous SEC games.
“I think he’s fine now. I don’t expect him to miss practice. He’s not complaining of anything. It could flare up,” Donovan said.
“There may be some discomfort in his foot, but certainly we’re never going to put any player in a position where they could further hurt themselves by being out on the court.”
Young said he feels ready to get back in the Gators’ starting lineup ahead of Thursday’s away game, but the decision will ultimately be made by Donovan.
With sophomore forward Will Yeguete starting in his place the last two weeks, Young said the one thing he has missed the most has been taking the opening tip — a responsibility that has been delegated to junior forward Erik Murphy.
“Murph looks kind of awkward when he’s out there doing it; I’m not going to lie,” Young said. “I don’t think he knows how to stand the right way.”
Moving on up: Fresh off a 76-64 home win against LSU, the Gators climbed three spots to No. 14 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll.
As one of three SEC teams currently ranked, Florida (15-4, 3-1 SEC) had previously tumbled down to No. 19 after opening league play with a loss to Tennessee but has rebounded in the last two weeks with three straight SEC wins.
Mississippi State (16-4, 3-2 SEC), who UF plays on Saturday, checked in at No. 18, while No. 1 Kentucky (19-1, 5-0 SEC) assumed the top spot in the poll after No. 2 Syracuse lost its first game of the season to Notre Dame.
Contact John Boothe at jboothe@alligator.org.
Florida center Patric Young said the injured ankle that has limited his minutes recently is healthy enough for him to return to the starting lineup Thursday night against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss.
