Jeff Goodman's posts tagged Florida Gators

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• Florida's Backcourt: Couldn't be Trusted

  March 27, 2011 by JeffGoodman

  I never trusted Florida’s backcourt.
  
  Sure, Erving Walker had made some big shots earlier this year, but Walker and Kenny Boynton are poor decision-makers.
  
  And it wound up costing the Gators a Final Four berth.
  
  First came Walker’s long 3-point attempt at the end of regulation with the score tied.
  
  How about trying to get into the lane for a high-percentage shot?
  
  Then came Boynton’s extremely ill-advised 3-pointer with 19 seconds left on the clock in overtime.
  
  ``I would have probably have liked to have seen Kenny drive the ball when we were down one,” Donovan said after the loss.
  
  Vernon Macklin had his way with Butler in the first half, but the Gator guards basically forgot about him in the second half. The same was true for senior Chandler Parsons, clearly the team’s most adept passer.
  
  But Donovan has given Walker and Boynton free reign virtually all season – and it came back to bite him in the you-know-what.
  
  Now Parsons, Macklin and fellow senior Alex Tyus depart Gainesville. They all had their issues, but now it leaves Donovan with the core of Walker, Boynton and defensive-minded big man Patric Young.
  
  But shot selection, believe it or not, could get even worse next season.
  
  That’s when Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario becomes eligible. He’s a talented scorer, but is yet another guy who never met a shot he didn’t like.
  
  The only silver lining is the arrival of freshman guard Bradley Beal, who will immediately become Donovan’s most talented guard. He’s in the Ray Allen-mold, but there’s still just one ball. 

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• Parsons Returns, Gators Clinch Share of SEC East Crown

  February 25, 2011 by JeffGoodman

  Chandler Parsons locked up at least a share of an SEC East title, but he’s hoping for more.
  
  ``I want a ring,” Florida’s senior forward said after the Gators held off Georgia in Gainesville last night.
  
  The way he’ll get one of those is if Parsons and the Gators finish strong and hold off SEC west leader Alabama – which is also 11-2 in league play.
  
  Florida has a tough three-game slate to finish, though. First it’s off to Lexington for a game at Kentucky on Saturday, then comes Senior Night against Alabama on Tuesday before finishing at Vanderbilt.
  
  Parsons said he was sore after the game and felt about 80-85 percent. He returned from a layoff due to the deep thigh bruise.
  
  ``It’s something I’ll probably have to deal with because it’s probably not going to go away,” Parsons said. ``But I’m not going to miss any more games.”
  
  Parsons had been terrific prior to the injury he suffered early against Tennessee, averaging 13 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc.
  
  He finished with 16 points, seven assists and three assists in the win over the Bulldogs last night.
  
  But next up is trying to knock off Kentucky in Rupp – which is no easy task.
  
  ``It’s definitely difficult,” Parsons said. ``Going on, you know you have to be tough.”
  
  Parsons said that Kentucky and Tennessee are the two toughest places he’s played in his career.
  
  ``Tennessee’s fans are ruthless,” he said. ``Kentucky is just so big.”
  
  - In other Florida news, congrats are in order to assistant athletics director for communications Fred Demarest, who has taken a job as the NCAA’s associate director of public/media relations. Demarest is one of the best in the business and was exceptional – especially during the Gators run in 2006 and 2007. 

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• FLORIDA LOSES TO JACKSONVILLE IN MONDAY MATINEE

  December 20, 2010 by JeffGoodman

  It’s fine to get smacked – even on your home floor – to Ohio State.
  
  Then came the loss to Central Florida, which doesn’t look quite so bad after the Knights took care of Miami.
  
  Then, days after everything started to fall back into place with a defensive-minded win over Kansas State, Billy Donovan’s team suffered a loss in a Monday afternoon matinee to Jacksonville.
  
  I hate to keep harping on it, because it’s probably not going to change, but it’s all about guard play in Gainesville.
  
  It’s alright to have one shot-hunter in the backcourt, but you can’t have both guys looking for their own – and that’s what Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker are about.
  
  It’s not necessarily their fault. Growing up, everyone told them to score first - and last.
  
  But the issue here is that Chandler Parsons is the team’s best player and Vernon Macklin may be second – and those guys don’t get nearly enough touches.
  
  Parsons took just six shots in the loss to Jacksonville while Boynton and Walker launched a combined 25.
  
  Now the Gators, who were once regarded as SEC favorites, are 8-3 going into a stretch in which they have Radford and Fairfield on tap at home.
  
  

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• PARSONS: ``I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE A TOP 10 TEAM"

  November 17, 2010 by JeffGoodman

  <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Chandler Parsons was dejected following the home loss to Ohio State.
  
  This was supposed to be the day when the Florida Gators made the statement that the program is back.
  
  Or at least getting closer to what they were prior to Parsons’ arrival in Gainesville in 2007.
  
  ``I don’t know if we’re a Top 10 team,” Parsons admitted. ``But it’s just one game.”
  
  ``The positive is that only November 16<sup>th</sup>,” he added. ``We’ve got a long season ahead of us.”
  
  One in which Parsons needs to become more assertive and more involved on both ends of the court.
  
  The 6-foot-9 senior only attempted six field goals.
  
  Florida won’t win many games – against anyone – if that happens.
  
  

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• TOP ASSISTANTS RUNDOWN CONTINUES WITH SEC

  November 06, 2010 by JeffGoodman

  We’re running through the top assistants in each league and now it’s time to look at the top assistants in the SEC– as voted upon by at least 75 percent of the coaches in the league:
  
  TOP SEC ASSISTANTS
  
  1) Larry Shyatt, Florida – Joined Billy Donovan’s staff in 2004 and was a key component in the Gators back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007. Shyatt has been a head coach at Clemson (1998-2003) and Wyoming (1997-98) and also been an assistant at Utah, Cleveland State, New Mexico, Providence and Clemson.
  
  ``Shy is incredibly loyal. He’s always looking to find ways to serve the players and coaches and he’s one of the most selfless people I’ve ever been around. His knowledge of the game and ability to read and relate to people makes him an invaluable member of our program.” – Florida coach Billy Donovan
  
  2) Dan Muller, Vanderbilt
  
  3) Rob Lanier, Florida
  
  4) Torrey Ward, Mississippi
  
  5) Steve Forbes, Tennessee

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