If you ask Florida's players what they like about playing for the Gators, their answer will probably sound a lot like senior Justin Leon’s.
“Our rowdy fans,” the forward said. “They just support us no matter what, and I guess that’s my favorite part.”
Leon’s favorite part will fall victim to an unfavorable schedule this season.
The O’Connell Center — following an ongoing $64.5 million overhaul which began in March — won’t be ready to host any basketball games until Dec. 21, according to the University Athletic Association. In the meantime, Florida’s designated home games will be played at satellite locations in Jacksonville, Lakeland and Sunrise.
As a result, Florida’s basketball players will play 11 games, or one third of the season, before stepping foot in their own arena.
“I guess we’ll worry about that when it comes,” Leon said. “But I know that’ll be a big challenge."
Last season, UF performed well in the O’Connell Center. Florida went 12-4 on its home court and 6-9 on the road.
Leon said multiple factors can make road games difficult.
“The atmosphere, the fans, the big stage, all the heckling. It’s not your gym, so you gotta kind of get used to the goals, or they may use different balls than you use,” Leon said.
“It’s a lot of small stuff that may affect your game.”
Junior point guard Chris Chiozza said he isn’t as affected by away trips. Individually, he played better on the road last season, shooting 39.2 percent when away compared to 31.4 percent at home last season.
“We travel so much that it’s not gonna make a difference for the veterans,” Chiozza said. “But I think the younger guys are really going to find it’s harder than they think to travel consistently, come back, go to school, practice, then get right back on a plane (and) go somewhere else.
“I think it’s going to take a toll on them.”
Keith Stone, a redshirt freshman, will take the court for the first time this season and says the team can handle the 11-game tour.
“We just (have) always been through adversity,” he said. “We’re used to it.”
But he said he likes the challenge of playing in a hostile environment.
“You go into somebody’s place and just make them quiet,” Stone said.
Like Stone, UF coach Mike White is making the best out of the situation.
“Optimistically thinking, we hope that it gives us added experience on the road away from home,” he said Thursday. “I know when we get back in the O'Dome, that place will be rocking, and it will be a significant home-court advantage for us.”
To help the players acclimate to the constant travel to start the season, White said his staff will be giving players more rest, especially around exam time late in the fall.
“We can sit here and complain about having to play on the road,” White said.
“I’m pretty happy we get to play on the road in the Fall because that means we’re about to move into a beautiful facility.”
Contact Matt Brannon at mbrannon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @MattB_727.
UF’s Justin Leon soars for a dunk during Florida’s 95-63 win against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.
