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Friday, March 29, 2024
<p>Billy Donovan talks to his players during a timeout in Florida’s 61-60 win against Kentucky on March 16 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.</p>

Billy Donovan talks to his players during a timeout in Florida’s 61-60 win against Kentucky on March 16 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

While Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan maintains his team is not having issues with chemistry, he said on Tuesday that the loss of four starting seniors has created a void and a bit of confusion with the young and new players.

"When they look at the fact that we lost four seniors that kinda had a lot of experience, they look at it from the standpoint of what do I need to do to replace that stuff? We don’t need that right now. We really don’t. That happened last year organically," Donovan said. "They just need to be connected where, I say this all the time, when you get in the huddle and have this feeling of ‘I don’t want to let down the guy next to me.’ They’re not at that place."

The Gators don’t have too long to get to that place.

Florida will host Barry University on Thursday at 7 p.m. for their first exhibition game of the 2014-15 season.

Florida’s first official game of the season will be against William & Mary on Nov. 14. Donovan said he wants the team to communicate better on the court.

"They’ve got to get more cohesive in the fact that, like, Michael Frazier may be out there worrying about three or four other guys. He needs to worry about himself. Kasey Hill’s trying to lead, but he needs to worry about himself," Donovan said. "And I think it all comes out and stems from a really, really good place, but I think it needs to be more of myself doing that because there’s almost like too many voices."

Donovan and the rest of his coaching staff have spent the last two weeks of practice doing some heavy coaching. So much so that even veteran players have been biting their tongues. Transfer center Jon Horford said he "absolutely" has felt the need to hold back a bit during huddles in the first few weeks of practice.

"Coach is big right now on allowing the coaches to coach," Horford said. "If we see something that’s glaring, yeah, point it out. But mostly just get in there, play and allow them to direct."

With about four years of experience from his time at Michigan, Horford has wisdom to contribute as a team and huddle leader but for now he said he’s fine taking a more silent role and teaching by example.

"What we do sets an example for younger players. If we’re not doing our jobs, that’s not a very good example for them," Horford said. "We have to make sure we’re doing what we know and it’s the right thing to do at all times."

Follow Erica Hernandez on Twitter @EricaAlyssa 

Billy Donovan talks to his players during a timeout in Florida’s 61-60 win against Kentucky on March 16 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

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