Sports | Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Kayla Lewis attempts a free-throw shot during Florida’s 75-67 win against Alabama on Jan. 30 in the O’Connell Center. Lewis notched a double-double against Arkansas.

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Fouls, turnovers doom Florida in road loss against Arkansas

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 6, 2014

hursday night in Arkansas.

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Florida looks to keep streak alive on road against Arkansas

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 5, 2014

For the second time this season, Arkansas is going to face a streaking Florida team.

Freshman forward Chris Walker looks for a pass during Florida’s 68-58 win against Missouri on Tuesday in the O’Connell Center.

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Walker stars despite short-lived debut

By LANDON WATNICK< | Feb. 4, 2014

The big story leading into Tuesday night was Chris Walker’s much-awaited debut, but Gators fans got only a small dose of the freshman forward during No. 3 Florida’s 68-58 win against Missouri in the O’Connell Center.

Chris Walker (middle) watches from the bench during Florida’s 74-58 win against South Carolina on Jan. 8 in the O’Connell Center. Walker is expected to make his college debut against Missouri tonight at 9 p.m.

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Walker to make highly anticipated debut tonight against Mizzou

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Feb. 3, 2014

In the 52 days since Chris Walker was admitted to Florida, he has been his own entity — isolated from the team and helpless to do anything about it.

Carlie Needles defends against Alabama on Thursday during Florida’s 75-67 win in the O’Connell Center. UF is fourth in the Southeastern Conference in turnover margin.

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Florida exceeding expectations during tough conference slate

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 3, 2014

In the early stages of the season, the new, fluid offense was supposed to be Florida’s strong point.

Antoinette Bannister drives toward the net during Florida’s 75-67 win against Alabama on Thursday in the O’Connell Center. Bannister scored 18 points — a career high — while shooting better than 50 percent from the field against Ole Miss on Sunday.

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Gators overcome rebounding drought, cruise past Rebels

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 2, 2014

Successful rebounding was ubiquitous in Florida’s 81-60 win at Ole Miss on Sunday.

Patric Young drives into the paint against Texas A&M on Saturday. Young’s career-high 14 rebounds helped Florida win its 13th straight Southeastern Conference home game. Young fell short of a double-double, notching nine points against the Aggies.

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Young leads UF to blowout win against TAMU

By LANDON WATNICK< | Feb. 1, 2014

On the afternoon of his 22nd birthday Saturday, Patric Young blew out Texas A&M’s candles.

Patric Young (4) looks for an opening while Mississippi State’s Colin Borchert defends during UF’s 62-51 win in Starkville, Miss., Thursday.

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UF grinds out ugly win against MSU

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 30, 2014

The Gators were battered bloodied Thursday night in Starkville, Miss., but coach Billy Donovan and company escaped with their 12th straight win despite an ugly first half, defeating Mississippi State 62-51.

Lily Svete drives toward the net during Florida’s 75-67 win against Alabama on Thursday in the O’Connell Center. Svete scored 14 points against the Crimson Tide.

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Strong shooting gives Gators edge over Crimson Tide

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 30, 2014

The Gators stopped the Crimson Tide from extending its winning streak to three while making threes of their own.

Amanda Butler calls a play during Florida’s 68-62 loss against Georgia on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center.

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Gators look to win rebounding battle against evenly matched Tide

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 29, 2014

The surging Crimson Tide is rolling into the O’Connell Center tonight.

Chris Walker stands on the sideline as the Gators warm up during Florida’s win against Tennessee on Saturday in the O’Connell Center.

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Walker cleared by NCAA, will make debut Tuesday against Missouri

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 29, 2014

Chris Walker has finally been freed.

Damontre Harris poses at media day on Oct. 10, 2012. Harris, who left the team in December 2013, has practiced with the Gators after re-joining the team. Coach Billy Donovan said Harris will not play for Florida until next season.

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Harris practicing with UF

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 28, 2014

Since Damontre Harris re-enrolled at Florida at the start of the semester, he has so far been successful in his attempts to work his way back into coach Billy Donovan’s good graces.

Kayla Lewis drives toward the net during Florida’s win against Georgia on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center.

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Forward racking up boards

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 28, 2014

The Gators are one of the smallest teams in the Southeastern Conference.

Florida point guard Kasey Hill shoots over Kansas guard Naadir Tharpe during No. 19 Florida's 67-61 win against No. 13 Kansas on Dec. 10 in the O'Connell Center.

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Freshman point guard shooting poorly from three

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 28, 2014

Throughout his freshman campaign, point guard Kasey Hill’s shooting touch from beyond the arc has not been the smoothest.

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Donovan optimistic about Walker ruling

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 27, 2014

From the day Patric Young stepped on Florida’s campus as a freshman in 2010, the 6-foot-9 center immediately drew comparisons to some of the NBA’s biggest stars, such as Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire.

Ronni Williams shoots the ball during Florida’s 87-69 win against Auburn on Sunday in the O’Connell Center. Williams scored 10 points against the Tigers.

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Three-pointers carry Gators

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 27, 2014

Rebounds are not an issue if you are sinking threes at will. Florida showed that on Sunday against Auburn.

Houston Rockets’ Chandler Parsons (25) shoots a three-point shot as Memphis Grizzlies’ Tayshaun Prince watches on Jan. 24 in Houston.

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Gators in the NBA: Parsons holding Rockets together as team’s ‘glue guy’

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 27, 2014

Throughout the 2013-14 season, the Houston Rockets have called Chandler Parsons their “glue guy.”

Michael Frazier II drives the ball down the court during Florida’s 67-41 win against Tennessee on Saturday in the O’Connell Center. Frazier led the Gators with 17 points against the Volunteers.

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Florida offense finding balance during conference play

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 26, 2014

For the first three games of the season, the Gators’ offense went through Casey Prather. Nearly a third of the team’s total points scored came from the senior forward.

Jaterra Bonds drives the ball down the court during Florida’s 87-69 win against Auburn on Sunday in the O’Connell Center. Bonds scored eight free throws as the Gators went 21-of-26 at the line on Sunday.

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UF snaps losing streak

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 26, 2014

The Gators snapped their three-game skid with authority Sunday afternoon in the O’Connell Center.

Will Yeguete (middle) and Patric Young (right) cover Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes during Florida’s 67-41 win against Tennessee on Saturday in the O’Connell Center.

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Gators shut down McRae, Volunteers in 67-41 home win

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 25, 2014

Throughout the past few seasons, Florida has earned a reputation as one of the best defensive teams in the country. And Saturday afternoon against Tennessee, coach Billy Donovan’s call for desperation motivated UF to live up to that billing.