Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Gators ready to chomp



By Trevor Hass


(AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Last season the Florida Gators finished with the best record in the SEC at 29-8, including a 13-3 mark in-conference. PF Chandler Parsons, PF Alex Tyus, PF/C Vernon Macklin, G Erving Walker, and G Kenny Boynton fueled the well-balanced Gators, all averaging over 10 points per game.
     Though Parsons, Macklin, and Tyus graduated, Walker and Boynton are back to fill the void and carry the Gators this season.
      Florida won back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2006 and 2007. Despite failing to qualify in 2008 and 2009, head coach Billy Donovan led the Gators to the Elite Eight this past season.
      While most programs would be satisfied with two titles in the past six years, the University of Florida has high expectations. The Gators are eager to chomp away at SEC foes and devour opponents en route to another championship.

      The Gators have a menacing out-of-conference schedule this upcoming season, filled with the likes of Ohio State, Syracuse, Texas A&M, and Florida State.
      Last year, SEC rival Kentucky got the best of the Gators in two out of three meetings, but this year Florida will look to regain dominance. Kentucky and Florida are the favorites in the SEC and will square off in February, as well as on March 4th, the final day of the regular season.
      To defeat Kentucky and make a strong push in the NCAA tourney, the Gators will rely heavily on Kenny Boynton. Boynton averaged 14 points per game in each of his first two seasons, yet his shooting percentage was a lowly .381. Shooting a higher percentage will open up other facets of Boynton’s game. Once defenders respect his three point shot, he can utilize his quick first step to slash toward the basket and convert on easy layups.
      Jackson State travels to Gainesville to kick off Florida’s season on November 11th and the Gators commence their quest for a third national championship in seven years.

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