Florida comes up clutch once again; no call costs Vanderbilt?

For the third time in SEC play, Florida as taken to overtime.

And for the third time, the Gators made enough plays late in the game to pull out a 65-61 victory over Vanderbilt.

Impressive for a team that doesn't have a go-to scorer, right?

Tonight it was Kenny Boynton's turn. With 1:04 left in overtime, Boynton -- who may be the most clutch sub-30% three point shooter in the country -- buried a three from the corner to give Florida a 63-61 lead. After a controversial no call on a John Jenkins three (more on that in a second), Chandler Parsons grabbed an offensive rebound off of his own miss with 15 seconds left. He hit two free throws that all but sealed the game.


Parsons has been terrific since the turn of the calender. In nine games (eight in SEC play), he is averaging 12.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 3.7 apg. That includes his 18-point, 11-rebound performance tonight.

Florida has played 11 games this season decided by six points or less (if you include their double overtime win against Georgia). They are 8-3 in those games, winning six of the last seven. Four of those wins -- Florida State, Xavier, Tennessee, Georgia -- came against quality competition on the road. Its the reason that Florida has vaulted into sole possession of first place in the SEC East, two games ahead of Tennessee in the win column.

Vanderbilt, on the other hand, drops to 3-4 in the SEC East and dangerously close to the edge of the bubble. Tonight's game was one that the Commodores desperately needed, which is why head coach Kevin Stallings was so upset about the no call on Jenkins' airballed three pointer.

"He doesn't shoot many air balls," Vandy coach Kevin Stallings said. "I've watched him play for a long time and I haven't seen many air balls come off that kid's hand."

Kenny Boynton had this to say about the no-call: "I think I got him, but I think on the other end they missed some fouls, too. If they called it, they called it. I think I jumped too high and he kind of tried to draw it. It was a foul, but they missed it."

To be fair, if there was a foul, it would have drastically changed the outcome of the game. Instead of Florida having possession, up two, with 45 seconds left, Jenkins would have been headed to the line for a chance to give Vandy the lead. Boynton, on the replay, didn't make contact with Jenkins arms, but his left hand gave the shooter a bit of a shove.

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Kenny Boynton tries to prove himself right

Kenny Boynton may have been a little to cocky for his own good this summer.

You see, before he ever donned Florida's blue and orange, Boynton made himself a target for Big Blue by getting a little too candid in an interview with SLAM:

I think we matchup with them. I think we have a better team. Its going to be a real good game when we play, but I don't think they are as good as everyone says they are.

that quote was in reference to Kentucky, who it just so happens heads to Gainesville tonight.

And the Wildcats probably couldn't have asked for a better start, as they are 16-0 and, along with Texas, one of just two undefeated teams left.

Florida?

Well, they have struggled a bit since starting the season 8-0 and climbing into the top 15. After dropping their SEC opener to Vanderbilt, the Gators are 11-4 on the year and look to be a team with more questions than answers. They have two guards that shoot too much, and don't shoot well enough the justify the number of shots they take. They have athletes up and down their front line, but lack the strength up front. They don't play well enough defensively to utilize their athleticism in transition.

Kentucky is, well, pretty darn good.

We'll see if Boynton can back up his words tonight.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Freshman

In the one-and-done era of college basketball, the role of freshman has begun to change. No longer are they brought in to school to develop into superstars. Instead, many of the best are expected to star for and carry their respective programs from day one.

Think Greg Oden and Mike Conley, or Michael Beasley, or Kevin Durant.

But there are still plenty of coaches who recruit to fill a hole in their line-upor simply have enough talent on their roster that the freshman are not going to be asked to do more play a role, regardless of their talent level.

These are the Jrue Holidays and the Ed Davis's of the world.

Who will be this season's freshman stars? Which freshman will play the most important role's for their teams?

IMPACT FRESHMAN:

• John Wall, Kentucky: Everyone in the country should know by now what John Wall is capable of (Jerry Stackhouse sure does). Wall is a big, athletic point guard with the ability to get by just about any defender on the perimeter and finish above the rim. Wall also has the ability to find an open man if he draws an extra defender. He isn't the greatest shooter in the world, but he is effective enough that it deserves respect. Wall is the perfect fit as a guard in John Calipari's dribble-drive offense, and while he may not be the best player on Kentucky (that honor goes to Patrick Patterson until further notice), he will arguably be their most important.

John Wall will be a star from day one.
(photo credit: WUOG)

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech: Many people (including myself) are predicting the Yellow Jackets to be much improved over last season's 2-14 team. Favors is the main reason for that. He could use some polish on his offensive game, but his athleticism and strength will allow him to succeed at this level. Teaming with Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech will have a front line that few teams will be able to match-up with.
• Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton, Texas: Texas will have one of the biggest and best front lines in the country this season, but with the departure of AJ Abrams, the biggest question for Rick Barnes team is going to be where they get their perimeter scoring from. Bradley and Hamilton were two of the most highly sought after recruits in the nation, and their ability to create points (and make shots) from the perimeter will go a long way in determining whether Texas is going to be a good team or a great team.
• Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati: Stephenson's high school troubles were well-documented over the past year. From an overbearing father to questions regarding his eligibility to an arrest for allegedly groping a female classmate, "Born Ready" became the pariah of the 2009 recruiting class. He ended up at Cincinnati, which is happens to be a great fit for him. Stephenson may be the best all-around scorer in the class of '09, and when paired with senior Deonta Vaughn, he gives Mick Cronin arguably the best 1-2 punch in the Big East.
• Abdul Gaddy, Washington: Gaddy, like Stephenson, had a roller-coaster recruitment. Many originally thought he was destined for Memphis, but after a booster (who happened to be the CEO of FedEx) placed a call to Gaddy's mother (who is a customer service rep for FedEx), the Tigers seemed to back off his recruitment a bit. Gaddy then committed to Arizona, but backed out as a result of the changeover that program is going through. He ended up at U-Dub, where he will thrive in the uptempo system Lorenzo Romar runs. More importantly, his addition will allow Isaiah Thomas to get more minutes playing off the ball where is more effective.

Gaddy may be the best guard in the Pac-10 this year.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• Kenny Boynton, Florida: Billy Donovan's team lost Nick Calathes to Greece during the off-season, which left a gaping hole at the lead guard spot. While Boynton has a very different skill set than Calathes, he should come in and provide the Gators with a dominant perimeter scorer that can pay either guard spot.

MOST IMPORTANT FRESHMAN

• Keith "Tiny" Gallon and Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma: Both of these freshman will play very important roles for Jeff Capel. Gallon is a big body that will be relied upon to replace some of the production the Sooners lost with the Brothers Griffin leaving. Mason-Griffin is a tough point guard that can run a team, lead a break, and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Oklahoma's biggest deficiency last season was their lack of a true point guard, and this addition will allow Willie Warren to slide over to the off-guard spot where he can focus on being a scorer.
• Andre Dawkins, Duke: Dawkins may actually be the most important freshman in the country. Duke was looking at coming into this season with just two guards on their roster, but Dawkins, who was originally committed to the Blue Devils for the class of '10, was heading into his fifth year as a high schooler. By taking summer school classes, Dawkins was able to graduate a year early and enroll at Duke. Not only will he provide some much needed back court depth, Dawkins can play. A big time athlete, he is able to provide a scoring punch on the perimeter for Coach K. His size may be his most important tool, as he will be able to play the two, allowing Jon Scheyer to slide over to the point, where he was more effectice this past season. If Dawkins lives up to his hype, Duke should be able to compete for the ACC crown.
• Dante Taylor, Pitt: Taylor will be instrumental in keeping Pitt's streak on NCAA Tournament appearances intact. After losing their entire starting front line (Sam Young, DeJuan Blair, and Tyrell Biggs), there are going to be plenty of minutes and shots available for Taylor. Coming into a program known for their grit in the paint, Taylor will have a lot of pressure on him to produce immediately. The McDonald's all-american should be up to the task.
• Alex Oriakhi, UConn: Like Taylor, Oriakhi is going to have some big shoes to fill along UConn's front line. Oriakhi is not the prototypical UConn center we have become accostomed to. Much less athletic and no where near as good of a shot blocker as guys like Emeka Okafor, Hasheem Thabeet, or Josh Boone, Oriakhi is more of a Jeff Adrien - a workhorse in the paint that will be a load to handle on the glass. He should see minutes right away as UConn's front court will be wide open this season, and if he is able to handle the rigors of a Big East schedule, the Huskies should not experience the drop-off they usually do after a Final Four run.
• John Jenkins, Vanderbilt: While Vanderbilt did not have a great season in '08-'09, they do return everyone off of that team. One of their biggest issues last season, however, was the lack of a scoring punch on the perimeter. Jenkins will provide that, as he may already be the best shooter in the country. Adding Jenkins to a team with AJ Ogilvy, Jeff Taylor, and Jermaine Beal makes the Commodores a sleeper in the loaded SEC East.

John Jenkins will be one of the best shooters in the country as a freshman.
(photo credit: Station Camp Basketball)

• Noel Johnson, Clemson: Clemson will begin this season without a proven scorer or shooter on their perimeter as KC Rivers graduated and Terrence Oglesby has left to play pro ball in Norway. Johnson, who originally committed to USC before the Trojans meltdown, will be the guy Oliver Purnell looks to as a replacement. He is a shooter with deep range and has shown the ability to create for himself when he puts the ball on the floor. The biggest question mark thus far will be his ability to play Clemson's full court press, but given his length and athleticism that should not be a problem if he commits himself
• Peyton Siva, Louisville: With Terrence Williams and Earl Clark leaving, Edgar Sosa is left as the only kid on the Cardinals roster with the ability to create offensively in the half court. As you know, Sosa has been wildly inconsistent during his three seasons in Louisville, which is why Siva is so important. Siva joins Pitino's program with a reputation for being able to ceate scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. If Sosa is unable to handle his role as the lead playmaker on this team, look for Siva to slide in and play a major role.
  
• Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson, Illinois: The Illini leaned so heavily on seniors Chester Frazier and Trent Meachem last season. Not so much in their ability to score, as big men Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale both developed into solid scoring threats. It was the little things. Those two defended, they knocked down open shots, and most importantly they were leaders. It is the little things that Bruce Weber will be looking for from Paul and Richardson. While Paul is probably a better offensive player at this point in their respective careers, it is Richardson's defense and toughness that Weber will covet. If these two can effectively replace the departed Illini back court, it will go a long way towards keeping Illinois out of the middle of the pack in a very good Big Ten.
  

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2009-2010 Team Preview: Florida Gators

2008-2009 Record: 25-11, 9-7 SEC (5th)

Key Losses: Nick Calathes (17.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.2 apg), Walter Hodge (8.9 ppg, 2.3 apg)

Key Returners: Alex Tyus (12.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Erving Walker (10.1 ppg, 2.4 apg), Chandler Parsons (9.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

Newcomers: Kenny Boynton, Vernon Macklin, Erik Murphy, Nimrod Tishman

Junior Alex Tyus will be the Gators leading returning scorer.
(photo credit: daylife)

The biggest change for the Gators this off season was the loss of point guard Nick Calathes to Greece. Calathes will be difficult to replace, not only because of the amount of points he produced (17.2 ppg and 6.4 apg is a huge chunk of offense) but because of how instrumental he was in Billy Donovan's offense. Everything ran through Calathes, especially the Gator's transition game as Calathes was as good as anyone in the country leading the break.

But even with the loss of their starting back court (Walter Hodge is gone too), the Gators will still be able to field a talented roster full of potential. The issue will be whether or not that potential will manifest itself in wins. It starts with the Gators front court, which is overloaded with length and athleticism. Alex Tyus is probably their best returner up front, coming off of a season where he averaged 12.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg. But Tyus has not always seemed happy playing in Florida (he came very close to transferring out of Gainesville around the NBA Draft). Tyus' game is all about energy, as he is a slender 6'8". He is never going to out muscle someone in the post, but he is bouncy and very aggressive going to the offensive glass.

The two guys that are going to make or break this season for Florida are Chandler Parsons and Vernon Macklin. Parsons, who was a top 20 recruit in 2007, has all the makings to be a star. As a 6'8", athletic small forward with the ability to hit the three, he has the tools to make scouts drool. But Parsons has yet to be able to put together a consistent offensive performance over the course of his first two seasons. Macklin, who was a McDonalds all-american in high school before struggling through two seasons at Georgetown, is another guy who has yet to live up to his potential. Macklin is a big, strong body with excellent athleticism, but he struggled to get time at Georgetown. Macklin's doesn't have the polish on his offensive game to succeed in an offense like the one the Hoyas run. As a result, he never really was able to build his confidence or the confidence of John Thompson III. I expect him to have a much better year playing in a more open and fast-paced system in Florida.

Dan Werner and Adam Allen will both play an important role for Donovan. They are, for the most part, the same player - a strong 6'8" forward that can play either the 3 or the 4 with the ability to knock down perimeter jumpers. They will both be needed to help spread the floor as Florida is not a great perimeter shooting team. Werner is the lone holdover from Florida's 2006 title team and who has started 71 of the last 72 games. The other two Gator big men that could see time this season are sophomore Kenny Kadji and freshman Erik Murphy.

While the front court is full of x-factors, the kid that will be the star of this team is freshman guard Kenny Boynton. Boynton might be the best scorer in the incoming freshman class (he averaged over 30 ppg in high school) and will be counted on to help fill the scoring void left by Calathes. Listed at just 6'2", Boynton has been focusing this summer on his ability to play the point as well. Boynton's back court mate will be Erving Walker. Walker is just 5'8", but he is quick with the ball. He also showed an excellent shooting touch last year as he was forced to play off the ball much of the season. Coming into last season with a lot of hype as a distributor, Walker seemed to be more effective as a scorer and a shooter (although much of that had to do with the fact that Calathes dominated the ball). Regardless, with two talented guards that are able to move between the point and the two, Florida's back court looks pretty solid.

While Walker and Boynton are talented, the Florida bench does not have a ton of depth. Sophomore Ray Shipman will see a lot of time at the two, but he is much more of a three than a guard (think Paul Harris from Syracuse) as he is at his best when he is defending and attacking the rim, either off the dribble or for a board. The x-factor for this team could be Israeli freshman Nimrod Tishman. Tishman is a big point guard (listed at 6'5") that has drawn rave reviews after his performance at the U-18 World Championship (18.6 ppg 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 53.3% 3's). Draft Express even compared him to Calathes given his size. Tishman, however, was rated just a three star recruit, so how much of an impact he truly has will be seen. Most importantly, he is another body in a back court that would otherwise go just three deep.

Outlook: The SEC is going to be much better than it was last season, when Florida went just 9-7 in the eastern division and failed to make the NCAA's. The Gators also lost their best player to pro ball in Greece. That said, this line-up has a ton of talent and potential. If Parsons and Macklin develop into above-average players at this level, Boynton turns out to be as good as advertised, and guys like Walker, Werner, and Tyus continue to improve, Florida could make some noise in the SEC. I'd expect 10 league wins and a tournament trip from this group.

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Kenny Boynton will need protective custody in Lexington

SLAMOnline has a nice profile up of Kenny Boynton, the latest Mickey D's all-american to head to Florida to play for Billy Donovan.

All things considered, this kid seems like he has his head screwed on straight. During high school, he would get to the gym at 6am every morning to get an extra work out in with his coach. He would work out between the end of school and the start of practice. And the whole time, Boynton (who played off the ball at American Heritage High School) was working on his point guard skills in order to better transition to that spot at Florida.

Kenny Boynton, one of the best shooting guards in the country, is headed to Florida.
(photo credit: High School Hoop)

Keep in mind, this is a kid that was a top 15 recruit, a McDonald's all-american, averaged over 30 ppg as a senior, and finished his career as the third leading scorer in Florida basketball history.

Talented and a hard-worker. That's a great combination to have.

But Boynton may need to learn a thing or two about being humble. Towards the end of the article, Boynton reels off this locker room gem:

To tell you the truth, I’ve thought about it and on paper they look good, but I think we match up with them. I think we have a better team. It’s going to be a real good game when we play, but I don’t think they’re as good as everyone says they are.

There is nothing wrong with feeling this way. In fact, it is a good thing if Boynton feels that Florida is a better team than Kentucky. Having confidence in one's self and in one's team is a necessary trait in a "winner".

But do you really think it is a good idea to spout off in an interview with SLAM?

John Calipari is arguably the best motivator in college basketball. When Kentucky is good and Rupp is packed, it is one of the toughest places to play in the country. And Big Blue Nation is as passionate, vicious, and blood thirsty as any fan base for any team (pro or college) in the US (the thread on CatsPause.com has already reached 127 replies).

Why make it easy for them?

Ashley Judd is one of Big Blue's most famous and most faithful.
(photo credit: Sparty and Friends)

Boynton is correct about one thing - Florida looks pretty good on paper this year. Take a look:

• G - Erving Walker
• G - Kenny Boynton
• F - Chandler Parson/Dan Werner
• F - Alex Tyus
• F - Vernon Macklin
• Bench - Ray Shipman, Kenny Kadji, Erik Murphy
  

That could end up being a top 25 team. I love Walker in the back court. Both he and Boynton are combo guards - meaning they can play on or off the ball, play as a scorer or a playmaker - and should complement each other well. Tyus should get a little more help on the interior with the addition of Georgetown transfer Macklin (another former Mickey D's all-american) and freshman Murphy (what's the over-under on Entourage jokes he hears this season?) and the development of Kadji. If Parsons develops into a legitimate inside-outside scoring threat, don't be surprised to see Florida in the mix with Kentucky and Tennessee atop the SEC East down the stretch.

Anyway, we'll send you into the night with a nice Boynton mixtape:



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