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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Nobody said this weekend would be easy
for Florida on the basketball court, either.
|  | | Florida's Justin Hamilton, left, charges into Delvon Arrington for a turnover. Hamilton scored two points for the Gators. |
Playing in their traditional opener against Florida State the
night before the big football game, the No. 11 Gators needed a
career-high 27 points from Teddy Dupay and had to fight to the
finish for an 85-70 victory Friday.
Coming off a trip to the NCAA final last season, and with
memories of last year's 35-point romp over the Seminoles still
fresh, Florida had reason to believe it might coast through its
season opener.
But these are not the same Gators, and that surely wasn't the same Seminoles team that went 12-17 last season.
Dupay, coming off offseason surgery on his left shoulder,
combined with Udonis Haslem (16 points) to make up for some of the
scoring the Gators lost when Mike Miller and Donnell Harvey left as
underclassmen.
"To a certain extent, we've got guys in new roles, guys who are
inexperienced," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "There are a
lot of things we still need to iron out with this team. The guys
who played well tonight and carried us were the guys who were
comfortable in their roles."
Actually, Dupay's role is new this season. Instead of
alternating between point and shooting guard, he's Florida's
designated gunner. He undertook the role with relish in the opener,
going 5-for-12 from 3-point range.
"It's huge, it's great for my confidence," Dupay said. "Coming back and playing healthy is a big thing for me. It was great to come back, my first game back, pretty emotional. Now, I just have to suit back up, come back to practice and work out some of the kinks."
So does the rest of the team.
Florida took lots of quick shots, wasn't patient enough in
getting the ball inside to Haslem, and struggled to make its
pressure defense work early, as the Seminoles shot 59 percent in
the first half.
Not until Dupay sandwiched two 3-pointers around a basket by
Haslem, and Brent Wright followed with four free throws, did the
Gators have a lead they could feel comfortable with, 69-56 with
five minutes left.
Florida State got it down to single digits a few times after
that, but never made a serious challenge. Still, Seminoles coach
Steve Robinson seemed pleased with the opening-night performance.
"We've gotten some things done in practice," Robinson said.
"I just wasn't sure how we'd respond once they turned the big
lights on. I'm certainly happy with the kids' effort. I think they
fought hard. There were just a couple stretches where we didn't
make the plays we needed."
For all the talk of Florida's continued great recruiting
classes, the best freshman on the floor was Florida State's Michael
Joiner. The forward from Fayetteville, N.C., scored 18 points on
7-for-8 shooting and kept the Seminoles within striking range.
"Not bad for a freshman," Robinson said.
It wasn't just his shooting that was impressive. Joiner came
from behind to swat away Justin Hamilton's dunk attempt early in
the second half, sending a charge through the crowd and giving the
Seminoles an apparent boost of momentum.
Just seconds later, however, Haslem hit a short jumper and Dupay
nailed a 3-pointer, his third of five from long range, and the
Gators were ahead 55-47.
With football on everyone's mind, it seemed fitting that Florida State's lineman-sized center, Nigel Dixon, had a good game. The 350-pound sophomore ate up space inside and scored all 11 of his points in the second half.
"You can't get caught behind him, because if you do, it's two
points," Haslem said.
Still, Haslem held his own on offense. Considered one of the top
big men in the nation, thanks in part to his 27-point performance
in last year's final-round loss to Michigan State, Haslem shot
7-for-9 and grabbed eight rebounds.
Florida freshman Orien Greene played eight minutes and didn't
score. The Gators' other top freshman, Bonell Colas, didn't play.
Wright finished with 15 points and Matt Bonner had 16 for Florida.
Florida State's only returning starter, Delvon Arrington,
finished with four points and five assists, as the Seminoles lost
their first season opener ever in Tallahassee, breaking a 37-game
streak.
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ALSO SEE
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Florida State Clubhouse
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