| | By Jay Bilas
Special to ESPN.com
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Friday, Oct. 13
Billy Donovan did last season what Rick Pitino and many others thought was impossible at Florida: He turned around a program that had peaked with the 1994 Final Four and did it again, coming within one game of
winning the national title.
While Donovan lost Mike Miller and Donnell Harvey to the NBA draft, he has reloaded for a promising 2000-01 season. And
with an incoming class that will be rated among the best in the country, things are getting even better. Florida will have its most
experienced team under Donovan, and the Gators will be competitive with anyone in the SEC this season and for as long as Donovan stays in Gainesville.
Even though Florida's season almost ended early in the NCAA Tournament at the hands of Butler, the Gators made the most of the second chance. Florida made the tough play to win the Butler game, then toughed it
out against the experience of Duke and Oklahoma State to advance to
Indianapolis.
The Gators will employ the same style as last season, but expectations will never be the same.
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Frontcourt
Udonis Haslem will again man the center position. If he plays like he did in the championship game, the Gators will be just fine up front.
Haslem was absolutely brilliant against Michigan State in
the title game with 27 points. He shot 15 for 19 combined in the Final Four,
and his 79 percent field goal accuracy for the tournament ranks third all-time.
Haslem might be undersized at 6-foot-7, but he is strong and is a very good low post
scorer and rebounder (11.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg). Haslem shot 58 percent on the season and has a great feel for the low block. He catches the ball and then uses his body as well as any big man in the SEC.
Haslem's problem continues to be foul trouble, and he must learn to play aggressively without fouling. When he is in great condition, Haslem is as good as any big man in the league.
Brent Wright, who plays as hard as anyone on the Gator squad, is a good passer, scorer and rebounder. He averaged 8.3 points and 4.2 rebounds last season, playing his best in SEC games. Wright is another good defender who should be prepared to play with a sense of urgency as a senior.
Major Parker is perhaps the most versatile defender on the team. He can play anywhere on
the court. Matt Bonner has improved his post play and averaged more than 18
points per game on the Gators trip to Europe this summer. Bonner is a skilled 6-8 player who has a quick release to a good perimeter shot.
Bonnell Colas is a 6-8 inside player who will find time in the post but must adjust to Donovan's up-tempo system.
|  | | A healthy Ted Dupay should put up even better numbers this season. |
Backcourt
Head coach Billy Donovan has a very deep, versatile and talented
backcourt filled with shooters who can handle the ball and defend on the other end.
Junior point guard Ted Dupay has recovered from offseason shoulder surgery. He averaged a team-high 21 points on the European trip. A crafty ball-handler, Dupay can shoot from deep range. But the 5-10 sharpshooter has to improve on last year's numbers (8.6 ppg, 39 percent FGs). He might do so now that he's healthy.
Brett Nelson had an up and down freshman season but certainly finished strong. Nelson (8.1 ppg, 2.9 apg, 43 percent 3pt) will pick up the point from the first day of practice and could have a big year. He should prove to be a very good passer who sees the floor, and he sees the game a pass ahead.
Nelson also can score. He can make the spectacular play as well as the routine play, and he can
create openings for himself and others. But, best of all, Nelson is fearless and can be a truly outstanding college point guard.
Justin Hamilton (4.7 ppg) is a long and athletic defender who can step in and play the point if Nelson struggles or just needs a rest. With his size and long arms, Hamilton can be one of the best defenders in the SEC. He has showed that he has the ability to play the role of stopper.
LaDarius Halton missed all of last season with a degenerative cartilage condition in his knee, but he was able to work out with the Gators before the Europe trip. Halton was an explosive athlete before the injury and looked confident in practice. If he can get back to his former self, he will put up some numbers with his ability to run the floor, attack the basket and finish.
Helping to make up for the loss of Mike Miller will be 6-5 freshman guard Orien Greene, a consensus top-40 player who was Mr. Basketball in Florida. Greene is a fluid and athletic player on the wing who will provide scoring ability and versatility.
Bottom Line
The Gators were just one play away from disaster in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. They were also just one game from euphoria. Although there have been significant losses from last season, this will be a very good team, and it will only get better. If the Gators listen to Donovan and learn to play fast without playing carelessly on offense, this will be a very good team. | |
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