Dealing with the growing pains
Youthful Gators facing huge road challenge vs. No. 24 Butler
GAINESVILLE — UF coach Mike White’s team shook off a slow start to the season and then failed to build on the momentum from winning the Charleston Classic.
What’s next for the Gators is anyone’s guess entering Saturday’s visit to No. 24 Butler.
Virtually every day has been a new adventure and another learning experience this season for White, his staff and his retooled team. A trip to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse — famous for its cameo in the 1986 classic film “Hoosiers” — will be the latest test for a group of players experiencing its share of growing pains.
“We’ve got babies out there,” White said. “We’ve got five freshmen and three sophomores and nine new guys.”
Given his team’s youth and an overhauled roster, White was dubious of the Gators’ No. 6 ranking to open the season. At the same time, White has been impressed with the work ethic and competitive fire of his players, even in the aftermath of losses to Florida State and UConn during UF’s disappointing 2-2 start.
Now White is wondering where his team’s practice habits have gone. Since winning three games in four days two weeks ago in Charleston, S.C., the Gators (6-2) have struggled to improve.
A 73-67 nail-biter against 19.5-point underdog Marshall five days after the tournament almost felt like a loss for the Gators, who went from No. 24 in the nation to once again out of the rankings.
“This whole thing since we got back from Charleston has been different,” White said.
After a handful of lackluster practices, Wednesday was the first time White felt his squad had taken positive steps on the court.
White can pinpoint some reasons: the team’s first taste of success, the demands of final exams at UF and the large gaps on the schedule between games.
Saturday’s visit to Butler (8-0) will be the Gators’ first game in nine days and last one until a Dec. 17 date against Providence during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Gators aim to capitalize on the chance to beat a ranked team on the road and get back on track.
“It’s a huge opportunity to grow and get better,” sophomore point guard Andrew Nembhard said.
Butler is sure to test the Gators’ ability to execute consistently on offense, a key issue all season. The Bulldogs allow an average of just 55.5 points per game, eighth among the nation’s 350 Division I teams.
Even the Gators’ best win this season, a 70-65 decision against Xavier to win the Charleston event, was overshadowed by a slew offensive miscues. UF failed to score a field goal and committed five turnovers during the game’s final six minutes.
“We’d better go up there and space and execute and cut and share it or points are going to be very hard to come by,” White said.
White generally has been pleased with his team’s defensive effort, but Butler guard Kamar Baldwin could be the most complete player UF has faced this season. He averages 17.5 points while shooting 41.9% from 3-point range, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
“I would argue there’s not a better guard in college basketball,” White said.
Few players the Gators face might be as motivated. During UF’s 77-43 rout of Butler last December in Gainesville, Baldwin managed just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting after racking up 19 points, six rebounds and five assists a few weeks earlier to help the Bulldogs beat the Gators in the Bahamas.
“I feel like they’re going to come out with a chip on their shoulder of what happened last year at our place,” UF sophomore guard Noah Locke said. “It’s something we need to prepare for mentally and I feel like we should be good.”
White believes the best from the Gators.
Win or lose on Saturday, UF’s coach is confident in his team’s long-range prospects as long as it continues to make steady progress and avoids the extreme highs and lows of the season’s first four weeks.
“We maintain optimism that we can be a lot better in a couple months as long as we do what we did yesterday: we come to work, and we come to improve,” White said. “And we deal with successes and failures, and understand the big picture is growth.” is yet to come