| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida coach Billy Donovan won't make
excuses for an early season schedule that includes games against
overmatched opponents like Florida A&M.
The Gators (No. 10 ESPN/USA Today, No. 11 AP) opened with four games in six days
sandwiched around a trip to Hawaii. The fourth-year coach said the
drawback was his young players faced major competition, but didn't
get a chance to grow on the practice floor.
"We were tested very early and we found out some things about
ourselves," Donovan said after Saturday's 96-44 rout of Florida
A&M. "Now we've had a little bit of room to work and get better as
a team, to focus on the things we need to get better at."
And, he added, to be ready when Southeastern Conference play
begins next month. Not that he and players are taking anybody for
granted, now.
"New Hampshire and Florida A&M are not SEC-type teams. But the
first thing our guys have to understand is that it doesn't mean a
thing that these teams don't have national rankings," Donovan
said. "They still have to go out there and play."
Kenyan Weaks had 23 points on perfect shooting for the Gators
(5-1).
The lone senior on a team featuring 11 freshmen and sophomores
hit all eight of his field goal attempts, including three from
behind the 3-point line. He added four free throws and also had an
assist, four steals, two blocked shots and five rebounds.
"The team did a great job of getting the ball to me when I was
open," Weaks said.
The only negative number on the 6-foot-4 guard's stat line was
three turnovers as 12 of 13 players who suited up for the Gators
scored at least two points.
"He's a guy who if he's not making shots I can keep on the
floor because he does so many other things," Donovan said.
"He's not a very vocal leader. But he leads by example. When
he's out there playing as hard as he's playing, he really sets the
stage for the rest of the team."
Weaks was joined in double figures by Donnell Harvey with 14
points and Udonis Haslem with 10. Harvey also led Florida with nine
rebounds.
Florida A&M (1-4) shot 32 percent (17-of-53) and had more
turnovers (29) than points (27) with nine minutes to go. Reserve
Kendric Green led the Rattlers with 11 points.
Florida scored the first 13 points of the game and led 37-19 at
halftime, holding FAMU to just 26 percent shooting (6-of-23).
The Rattlers struggled against the Gators' fullcourt pressure
defense, turning the ball over 17 times in the first 20 minutes.
They finished with 35 turnovers and were outscored 59-25 in the
second half.
"We knew what they were going to do," Florida A&M coach Mickey
Clayton said. "Now, being able to handle it is a horse of another
color. Obviously, we didn't handle it well."
Weaks, the Gators' second-leading scorer at a little more than
12 points per game, was 6-for-6 in the first half to equal the
field goal total for the entire Florida A&M team.
While the senior was 3-for-3 from 3-point range, the rest of the
Gators were 1-for-11. Fouls became a problem for FAMU as the game
progressed and the Rattlers were outscored 32-10 from the foul
line.
The victory was the third straight for Florida since the Gators
lost to Purdue in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational.
| |
ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Florida A&M Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
|
