GAINESVILLE — Senior Night signals an end for four Florida Gators, but also a beginning.
The month of March is when top teams find their stride. Yet coach Mike White’s team enters Wednesday’s visit from Arkansas looking to regain its footing after losing at Kentucky.
Based on Monday’s practice, White is optimistic his team will bounce back; the question is how far.
“We were as sharp as we’ve been,” White said Tuesday. “This team continues to do things that impress you from a work ethic and character standpoint.”
Based on UF’s 76-66 loss Saturday to Kentucky, White realizes the biggest challenges lie ahead.
The No. 12 Gators (23-6, 13-3 SEC) have not been the same team since center John Egbunu’s season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.
Kentucky drove home the point.
The Wildcats outrebounded the Gators 48-30 overall and shot 64 percent during the second half behind the inside-outside game of center Edrice “Bam” Adebayo and guard Malik Monk. Monk scored 30 of his 33 points after intermission while the 6-foot-10, 260-pound Adebayo was 5-of-5 shooting. He finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
When UF handed Kentucky an 88-66 loss Feb. 4, Egbunu finished with eight points and seven rebounds while Abedayo had nine points and seven rebounds.
“I came to the conclusion after the [last Kentucky] game that a huge part of that discrepancy was John Egbunu,” White said. “It’s a big factor, a big factor.”
Mike Bianchi credits University of Florida athletic director for not hiring Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze
Mike Bianchi credits University of Florida athletic director for not hiring Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze
Mike Bianchi credits University of Florida athletic director for not hiring Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze
Mike Bianchi credits University of Florida athletic director for not hiring Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze
The Gators are ranked No. 15 and riding a seven-game winning streak. But coach Mike White's team suffered a major blow Tuesday at Auburn when center John Egbunu tore his left ACL to end his season.
The Gators are ranked No. 15 and riding a seven-game winning streak. But coach Mike White's team suffered a major blow Tuesday at Auburn when center John Egbunu tore his left ACL to end his season.
UF men's golf coach J.C. Deacon had high hopes entering the 2016 postseason. But the Gators fizzled. Deacon and his players feel like they are a closer and better team because of this experiences.
UF men's golf coach J.C. Deacon had high hopes entering the 2016 postseason. But the Gators fizzled. Deacon and his players feel like they are a closer and better team because of this experiences.
UF PG Kasey Hill's improvement and consistency has been a big key to the Gators' success. Hill looks to bounce back from an uncharacteristically poor outing vs. Texas A&M (three points, five turnovers).
UF's five-game winning streak was in jeopardy. But following a timeout the Gators came alive against Texas A&M and rode the play of some of the team's veteran players to a 71-62 victory.
Egbunu is out for at least 10 months, forcing sophomore Kevarrius Hayes to assume starter’s minutes, senior Schuyler Rimmer to be prepared for more than spot duty and redshirt freshman forward Keith Stone to play out of position.
“We’ve got to move on,” White said. “We can be, if all of these things happen, we can be just as good. We just need to be different.”
Two key seniors need to regain their form, too.
Senior point guard Kasey Hill of Umatilla enters his final home game amid a redemptive season.
“He’s been a great example of perseverance — of character, of work ethic, of filtering out the noise — and continuing to do your job and focusing on getting better every day,” White said. “He’s had a really solid season.”
But the past three games Hill has committed 10 turnovers and shot 10 of 28 to resemble the erratic player of previous seasons.
Meanwhile, dependable senior forward Canyon Barry has been a shell of himself after suffering a sprained ankle Feb. 18 at Mississippi State. Barry scored a career-high 30 points at Auburn during the previous game, but since the injury has three points and is 1-of-8 shooting.
“He’s not 100 percent,” White said. “Athletically, he’s just not the same right now, but working hard to get back.”
The Gators hope to get back to a team that came at opponents in waves and wore them down.
During an 81-72 win Dec. 29 at Arkansas, nine Gators played at least 10 minutes and eight scored at least five points.
Riding a five-game winning streak, the Razorbacks (22-7, 11-5) now might be the deeper team.
“This is a different Arkansas team,” White said.
Even so, Hill believes the Gators will be back to their old selves soon enough and when it matters most.
“We know that we can beat anybody as long as we come ready to play,” he said. “We’ll be fine.”
egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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