By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Chandler Parsons will have his parents, grandparents, three brothers, some cousins and several high school friends on hand for his home finale.
He doesn't want to disappoint them -- again.
Parsons endured his worst game of the season in his hometown of Orlando in December. He scored two points on 1-for-9 shooting and missed all six free throws in a humbling loss to Central Florida. Now, Parsons gets a chance to redeem himself.
His family members and friends will be in Gainesville on Tuesday for "Senior Night" against Alabama (19-9, 11-3 Southeastern Conference). The game means everything to Parsons, Florida's most versatile player, and even more to the No. 14 Gators (22-6, 11-3).
The winner clinches at least a share of the conference title and regains some momentum after losing over the weekend.
"With what's at stake in the game, I couldn't ask for anything better than to get the win on Senior Night, my last game ever at the O'Dome and get a share of the SEC championship," Parsons said. "It'd be really special if I could end it with a bang and with us cutting down the nets."
Even if the Gators win, the net-cutting ceremony will have to wait. Coach Billy Donovan said Monday his team would not celebrate wrapping up a share of the league title. The Gators have more important goals ahead, like winning the SEC tournament and advancing in the NCAA tournament for the first time since claiming the second of back-to-back national championships in 2007.
Parsons had a lot to do with getting Florida in this position.
A 6-foot-10 forward, Parsons was once considered a recruiting throw-in with high school teammate Nick Calathes. Parsons was mostly a role player in his first two seasons, but emerged into a big-time playmaker last season as he became the first player in school history to hit two buzzer-beaters.
He drained a 75-footer to beat North Carolina State, then drilled a 3-pointer from the wing to knock off South Carolina three weeks later.
This year, he's developed into one of the best all-around players in the league.
Parsons leads Florida in assists (3.8 per game) and rebounds (7.7 per game), and has been at his best in SEC play. He hit double-digit rebounds in six consecutive conference games -- four of those ended with double-doubles -- before sustaining a deep thigh bruise Feb. 12 against Tennessee.
He missed Florida's next game, but returned last week and showed little rust. He had 16 points and seven rebounds against Georgia, then had one of the best games of his career against Kentucky. He finished with 15 points, eight boards and seven assists.
"Off the top of my head, I can't think of anybody quite as diverse as him (in the SEC)," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said. "With his shot, being able to shoot the ball as well as he can, and his passing, his ability to pass the ball. He's doing a great job rebounding, too.
"He impacts the game in a lot of different ways."
That wasn't always the case. It took Parsons several years to find his comfort zone.
"He's just matured so much," teammate Adam Allen said. "When he came in here, he came in here with the wrong mindset. Over the years, he's just learned the game. He treats it as a job. He thought he was going to be one-and-done as a freshman. He was so clueless. Now, he just knows what's going on and he's turned into a great player."
Parsons is averaging 11.1 points on 49 percent shooting, and has improved his 3-point shooting to 39 percent. He runs the floor like a guard, finishes like a big man and has steadily improved his defense.
"I think this is the greatest compliment you can give any player: Chandler Parsons has never, ever had a bad day in practice or in a game," Donovan said. "He maybe hasn't always shot the ball well or played well or done everything I've asked him to do. But ... he has given me incredible effort all the time and really plays his heart out."
Now, Parsons has a chance to end with a title.
"It's crazy just how things can happen," Parsons said. "We have an opportunity to end it the right way and get some championships."
Received 02/28/11 05:32 pm ET
