After 37 consecutive games, the Gators took the court for the first time Thursday night without point guard Jai Lucas.
Lucas, who UF coach Billy Donovan announced Wednesday would be transferring from the program at the end of the semester, did not attend the game.
His absence was hardly noticed, though, as No. 19 UF rolled over Rollins College 82-53 at the O'Connell Center in its final exhibition game of the season.
Lucas was replaced in the starting lineup by Walter Hodge, who finished the game with only 3 points. The senior was 1 for 6 from the field.
Freshman Erving Walker is already seeing an expanded role. The point guard played 27 minutes against the Tars, dropping in 11 points and four assists in the process.
He once again showed his range, sinking 3 three-pointers on the night.
"I'm just trying to help the team the best way that I can," Walker said.
Walker, however, played most of his minutes off the ball.
As expected, sophomore Nick Calathes assumed the majority of the point guard duties.
Calathes dished out six assists - including a rim-rocking alley-oop pass to Alex Tyus with just under six minutes left in the first half - to go along with a team-high 16 points.
"It's different without Jai on the court," Calathes said. "Jai was a great leader on our team and with him gone, I have to step up and lead the team like he did."
Ray Shipman continues to show flashes of brilliance. For the second straight game the freshman scored in double figures (12) and nabbed two steals.
"I was more relaxed tonight," said Shipman, who was admittedly nervous during his first game.
Donovan said after watching Walker and Shipman in two exhibition games, he is confident both will play big roles during the season.
"Ray and Erving, I have a level of confidence in," Donovan said. "Both of them give us a deeper backcourt."
Shipman said he and Walker know Lucas' departure has left them with more responsibility.
"It's something me and Erv talked about last night," Shipman said. "Jai told us that we needed to step up now that he's gone. We know what we have to do."
The early season woes continued for Kenny Kadji. The freshman big man struggled to control the ball in the post and only managed 4 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of play.
With a little more than three minutes to go in the game, a frustrated Kadji had an inbounds pass picked off by a Rollins guard and put in for a layup.
"He had some bad plays offensively where he got some shots blocked," Donovan said. "Both him and Allan (Chaney) got exposed to some degree."
The poor play of UF's young post players was highlighted by the Gatorsstruggle on the glass, where they were out-rebounded by the undersized Tars (37-36).
"Rebounding is going to be an issue all year long," Donovan said. "It is what it is. I don't think we're going to cure that problem."
