On a night when UF coach Billy Donovan tinkered and toyed with seemingly every lineup under the sun, Alex Tyus stole the show.
The sophomore scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in No. 19 UF's 108-49 rout of Warner University Monday night at the O'Connell Center.
In his first game as the Gators' starting center,Tyus showed the ability to score in the low post and play with his back to the basket - something he struggled with last season.
"I'm more comfortable down there now," Tyus said. "I've spent a lot of time working on my post moves."
Tyus led the Gators in rebounding and was a force defensively against the undersized Royals.
Though he played well in his debut, Donovan said he isn't sure Tyus has found a home in the paint.
"He's our center, but he's not really a center," Donovan said. "We need another formidable frontcourt player to go along with him."
That player could be freshman Kenny Kadji. But if Monday night was any indication, it may be a while before Kadji is ready to contribute substantial minutes.
He completed his first game as a Gator with almost as many fouls (four) as points (6).
Of all the new faces, freshman Erving Walker shined the brightest.
The point guard poured in 13 points and dished out six assists on the night.
He dazzled the crowd with his ball handling and left more than one Royals' player looking foolish after crossing them up with his quick moves.
"To me, Erv is just a basketball player. He just fits in," Donovan said. "He was more calm than some of those other (young) guys."
Walker seems to have developed a connection with fellow freshman Ray Shipman.
The pair hooked up for several baskets including a no-look pass from Walker late in the second half that ended with a soft lay-up from Shipman.
"Erv got me the pass, and I finished," Shipman said. "My mind was going crazy. I didn't know what to do. It was like the first game of high school all over again."
Shipman, tagged by many early on as a defensive specialist, showed he could be an offensive weapon.
He bounced back to finish the game with 10 points after air balling his first shot of the game.
"It was just the jitters," he said.
Walker outplayed starter Jai Lucas, who had a rough start to the season. He finished with 4 points on a night where he only shot 1-9 from the field.
Donovan elected to leave Walter Hodge out of the starting lineup.
"I really think that him coming off the bench would be best for our team," Donovan said.
It was a move he discussed with Hodge before the game, and that the senior volunteered to make.
"Whenever you're talking about a team sport, in one form or another, selfishness has a way of creeping itself in," Donovan said. "Here was an act of total unselfishness. I'm proud of the way he handled it."
Hodge started all 36 games for the Gators last season. UF's next game is Thursday night against Rollins in the O'Connell Center at 7.
