First impressions are important in a relationship.
Sure, they're often misleading, shallow or even outright wrong, but it always helps to get off on the right foot.
The new members of Florida's men's basketball program introduced themselves to Gators fans Monday in the first exhibition game against Saint Leo, with mixed impressions left for their future relationships in Gainesville.
Freshman guard Kenny Boynton looked every bit the scorer he was touted as coming out of Plantation American Heritage High. He was quick to get out and run, knocked down five of his nine 3-point shots and led the team with 22 points.
There's a lot of pressure on Boynton's shoulders to elevate his new teammates' level of play, and while he showed nothing to suggest he will be a relentless defensive stopper, the guy can flat-out rip the net. And his teammates trust him already.
"He always does that, so it was nothing really unexpected for us," junior power forward Alex Tyus said. "He's a great player."
In addition to Boynton, freshman Erik Murphy was rock solid in his debut in the Orange and Blue. The 6-foot-9 power forward looks a lot bigger than the 217 pounds the team's Web site lists him at - in a good way. He gave UF solid minutes off the bench and was comfortable banging down low, pulling down six rebounds in 17 minutes.
Boynton stole the crowd's heart with his dynamic play, but Murphy sure appears to be a much-needed reliable post player starting now.
"Kenny Boynton, a freshman, and Erik Murphy, a freshman, they're ready," starting point guard Erving Walker said. "They're prepared."
The last first-year player to get in the game was "Hot" Rod Tishman, the 6-foot-5 Israeli point guard.
He's obviously not going to get significant minutes right away as he adjusts to the American style of play and coach Billy Donovan's system - if you looked hard enough, you could see him think in between dribbles. Still, his size is a plus, and he might be able to develop into a facilitator off the bench for Boynton and Tyus.
The trio of freshmen were impressive, but not everyone left a good taste in the collective mouth of the O'Connell Center faithful.
Redshirt junior transfer Vernon Macklin is going to have to make up for a lackluster first showing.
The 6-foot-10 center played soft and was anything but the monster in the middle Florida was hoping for.
He didn't block a single shot against the much smaller Lions and pulled down only four rebounds in 23 minutes. The 6-foot-2 Boynton had six.
"There was a lot of hype that this guy was going to cure all of our center problems because we were playing guys at different positions," Donovan said. "You could see tonight, that's not the case."
If Macklin can develop into a steady rebounder and shot-changer in the lane, he will do wonders for this team.
UF doesn't need him to score 15 points per game, especially with Boynton in the lineup.
The Gators only need Macklin to be good enough to provide some tough, defensive-minded minutes at the center position, along with Murphy and sophomore Kenny Kadji.
Regardless of the perceptions the four new guys may have created in only 40 minutes of play, they will have plenty of time to change Gainesville's mind in the coming weeks.
For better or worse.
