GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The first game is still a month away, but the Florida basketball team's first practice is Friday. Heck, the team's preseason media day is set for Wednesday afternoon.
In other words, it's basketball season.
Coach Billy Donovan and the Gators are coming off an historic 36-3 run that ended in the Final Four and along the way saw UF rampage through the Southeastern Conference in record fashion, becoming the first team in league history to go unbeaten in an 18-game season, then added a sweep to the SEC Tournament title, too.
But make no mistake: That team is gone, along the smothering defense it played and decisive way it handled games down the stretch.
Goodbye Patric. Goodbye Scottie. Goodbye Will. Goodbye Casey. The winningest senior class ever to come through UF never will be forgotten. In fact, there could many a moment in the 2014-15 season where Rowdy Reptiles wonder what "WWWD?"
"What would Wilbekin do?"
But this new group of Gators figures to be pretty good, too. And, oh by the way, the head coach is still around, which has a lot to do with how Florida is being projected as a preseason top-10 team despite losing four senior starters who combined to account for 61 percent of the team's scoring and 53 percent of its rebounding last season.
So consider this a brushstroke preseason primer, with much more coverage to come as roles are defined, storylines materialize and Donovan weaves his 19th Florida team through what he calls "the process."
LONE STARTER BACK: MICHAEL FRAZIER II
Michael Frazier II.
Frazier was the team's No. 3 scorer last season at 12.4 points per game and one of the best 3-point shooters in the country at 44.7 percent, breaking Lee Humphrey's single-season school mark by hitting 118 from long distance. But here's the rub: Everybody knows that's what Frazier does and he will be one of the first guys opposing coaches put an "X" on in their scouting reports. So where his first two seasons have been as a sharp-shooting weapon that reared itself within the confines of the offense (and in transition, where he's really good), now Frazier will need to expand his game to make some things happen off the dribble and with moves to the rim that could get him to the free-throw line (where he's also really good). In that way, Frazier's role may be the second-most (see below) significantly altered on a team where zero roles will be the same as last season.
PRESSURE-PACKED ROLE CHANGE: KASEY HILL
Kasey Hill.
As the backup and oftentimes sidekick to SEC Player of the Year Scottie Wilbekin, Hill scored 5.5 points per game and carded a solid 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (100 assists, 50 turnovers) in 32 games his freshman season. In a win over UCLA in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament, Hill had a career-high 10 assists. He was terrific. But now he needs to be much, much better -- and for much longer stretches. Hill played 22 minutes per game last year. Assuming he can stay out of foul trouble, that number likely will increase by at least 10 minutes as a sophomore. And in addition to the weight of running the offense, Hill absolutely has to shoot the ball better than a year ago, when he made 40.7 percent from the floor and was a woeful 5-for-35 (14.3 percent) from the 3-point line. The Gators did not need his long ball last year. They'll need it some this year to spread the floor and, in turn, use his electrifying quickness to get in the lane and finish strong at the rim or find other guys on kick-outs. Not to put any additional pressure on the kid, but Hill looms as the most important player on the court for the Gators this season.
A CALL FOR CONSISTENCY: DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH
Dorian Finney-Smith.
In his first season after transferring from Virginia Tech, the one known as "Doe-Doe" not only averaged 8.7 points and led the Gators in rebounding at 6.7, he also garnered SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors. He was an ideal, big-minute fill-in for Young, Prather and Yeguete up front, averaging 25.8 minutes per game, but Finney-Smith not only has to elevate his across-the-board productivity, but level out his consistency and be on the court longer if the Gators are to have another big season. Finney-Smith gets big props for his work on the glass, but he's too athletic and skilled as an offensive player to have hit just 37 percent from the floor -- with wayyyyy too many missed layups (and even some dunks) -- and just 29.3 percent from 3-point range, including 21 straight misses over eight games. Finney-Smith has star potential. Now he has to reach it.
BEST NBA PROSPECT: CHRIS WALKER
Chris Walker.
This time last year, Walker was taking on-line courses and trying to rally his high school transcripts to become academically eligible to join the Gators for the second semester of his freshman year. Also, at the time, he was projected by some NBA scouting services as a lottery pick. Fast forward to sophomore year. Walker still shows up in some lottery conversations -- certainly in almost every first-round scenarios -- despite averaging just 1.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and less than five minutes per game last season. Expect those numbers to swell drastically this season, but don't expect the 6-foot-10, 220-pound center to be a polished offensively player. Walker will be at his best when he's using his athleticism and wingspan, be it attacking the glass in the halfcourt or running the floor in transition. He will need to be much better on the defensive end, which includes proper positioning and staying out of foul trouble. Walker's mere length makes him a wicked shot-blocker and help-side deterrent, but Patric Young was a great defender because he understood how to play pick-and-roll and how to set the post. UF figures to take a big step back defensively, but if Walker takes big steps forward on that end that could be a season-changer.
IMPACT TRANSFER: JON HORFORD
Jon Horford.
Like Walker, his previous numbers belie the impact he could have on this team. Horford averaged just 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds during three years (and 107 games) at Michigan, while playing a defined, complimentary role in a system full of eventual NBA draft picks. Jon Horford, everybody should understand now, is not Al Horford. They are different players. But don't expect the UF Jon Horford to be the same one as the UM version. Oh, he'll compete inside, fight for rebounds, set screens, guard and as a fifth-year player try to be a positive influence and self-imposed leader for a team in need of that. But offensively, Horford could bring something totally unexpected given his track record. At Michigan, he was 1-for-10 for his career from 3-point range and yet Horford has shown in individual workouts and pickup games to be one of the team's best spot-up guys from beyond the arc. He was just never asked to do it for the Wolverines. He will be for the Gators. Billy D loves when big men -- "stretch 4s," like Erik Murphy -- that can fire away from deep and open the floor.
DELAYED IMPACT TRANSFER: ALEX MURPHY
Alex Murphy.
Erik Murphy's younger brother arrived after the first semester last year by way of Duke, where he saw very little action over 2 1/2 seasons (including a redshirt 2011-12 season), averaging 1.9 points and 1.0 rebound in 35 games. The 6-8, 225-pound forward will miss the first nine games per NCAA transfer rules and make his debut Dec. 14 against Jacksonville, once the first semester ends. Alex Murphy is not the sharpshooter Erik was, but he's far more athletic and well-versed off the dribble -- and he can finish in transition. With authority, sometimes. Excellent basketball IQ and good defensive player, too.
MYSTERY GUY: ELI CARTER
Eli Carter.
He scored 799 points in two seasons at Rutgers, including 31 in a huge upset of the Gators three years ago. But the broken leg that ended Carter's 2012-13 season derailed his career, spinning him off into an expected rehab phase that basically prevented him from running, much less practicing, basketball all last year. Carter played 53 minutes over seven games last season before it became apparent he was not going to be healthy. A medical reshirt was granted by the NCAA, so Carter is a fourth-year junior. He's also a more slimmed down version (6-2, 200) after rededicating himself to the conditioning program. What that all means for Carter's role with this team -- he's not a great shooter, but can be a streaky scorer and is a savvy player in the halfcourt -- likely will be something that plays out through his performance.
FRESH(MAN) FACE TO WATCH: DEVIN ROBINSON
Of the three-man freshman class, the 6-8, 180-pounder from Virginia looms as best candidate to make an instant impact. A five-star and top-20 prospect, Robinson did a year in prep school where he averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Though rangy and railish, Robinson has a nice stroke from 3 and will get much, much better at it, along with all other facets of his game, as he matures physically, mentally and emotionally while learning the UF system.
