Sports | Men's Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Billy Donovan looks down the court during Florida's win against Missouri during the 2014 SEC Tournament in Atlanta.

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Florida begins season tonight with exhibition against Barry

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Nov. 5, 2014

The Gators have a tough test ahead of them.

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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Gators work on communicating as exhibition game against Barry nears

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Nov. 4, 2014

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.

Devin Robinson poses during the Florida men's basketball team's media day

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Freshmen showing promise, still have room for improvement

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Oct. 30, 2014

With eight underclassmen listed on Florida basketball’s current 17-man roster, the Gators will rely greatly on young talent in the wake of losing four starting seniors to the class of 2014.

Lexx Edwards poses during the UF men's basketball team media day.

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Sixx Questions with Lexx Edwards

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Oct. 23, 2014

Lexx Edwards is on the heels of his first year of actually playing with the Gators.

Chris Chiozza (11) speaks with Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun during the 2014 UF men's basketball media day on Oct. 15.

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Six questions with Florida freshman Chris Chiozza

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Oct. 21, 2014

Chris Chiozza is just one of many new faces to the Gators’ 17-man 2014-2015 men’s basketball roster.

Kasey Hill poses during UF men's basketball's 2014 team media day.

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UF has room to grow as practice begins

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Oct. 20, 2014

No. 7 Florida has exactly 24 days until its first official game against William & Mary on Nov. 14.

Michael Frazier II drives the ball during Florida’s 61-45 win against Pittsburgh during the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

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Five questions with returning starter Michael Frazier II

Oct. 16, 2014

Michael Frazier II is Florida’s lone returning starter from last season’s Final Four run. The junior shooting guard connected on 46.1 percent of his three-point attempts during the 2013-14 season and set a school record for three-point baskets in a season (118) and in a game (11 vs. South Carolina). Frazier finished the season on the All-Southeastern Conference Tournament and NCAA All-South Region Tournament teams.

Coach Billy Donovan addresses media during the 2014 men's basketball team media day.

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UF men's basketball gears up for season, replacing four seniors

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Oct. 15, 2014

Billy Donovan knows he has to rebuild.

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Basketball team still bound for success despite losing four seniors

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Aug. 18, 2014

Florida men’s basketball achieved greatness last season.

Patric Young (4) goes after a loose ball during the second half of Florida’s 63-53 loss to Connecticut in the NCAA Final Four tournament on April 4 in Arlington, Texas. UF will face UConn on Jan. 3.

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UConn, Kansas, Bahamas highlight Florida men's basketball non-conference schedule

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | July 30, 2014

UF still has a bone to pick with UConn.

Houston Rockets’ Chandler Parsons (25) shoots a three-point shot as Memphis Grizzlies’ Tayshaun Prince watches on Jan. 24 in Houston.

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Gators in the NBA: Parsons gets paid, Miller rejoins LeBron

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | July 23, 2014

Of all the NBA offseason activities occurring this summer regarding former Florida basketball players, Chandler Parsons’ new deal stands above all.

DeVon Walker defends Kentucky’s Andrew Harrison during the Gators’ 61-60 win against the Wildcats on March 16 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Walker will likely seek a medical redshirt for the 2014-15 season after tearing his ACL.

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DeVon Walker tears ACL, will miss 2014-2015 season

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | July 21, 2014

DeVon Walker’s season is over before it even started.

Patric Young drives in the paint during Florida’s 56-49 win against Tennessee on March 15 in the Georgia Dome.

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Patric Young signs two-year deal with New Orleans Pelicans

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | July 21, 2014

Despite failing to be selected during the NBA Draft, Patric Young still managed to make his dream of playing in the NBA come true.

Patric Young (right) boxes out Tennessee's Jarnell Stokes during the Gators' 56-49 win against the Volunteers in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

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Young impresses in Summer League debut

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | July 14, 2014

The last time Patric Young, Scottie Wilbekin and Casey Prather played together, they were fighting for their lives in the Final Four. Now, they’re battling individually for an NBA roster spot.

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Donovan ranked best coach by ESPN

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | July 7, 2014

On June 2, ESPN.com began a five-week unveiling of the top-50 coaches in college basketball.

Scottie Wilbekin drives down the court during Florida’s 79-68 win in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament against UCLA on March 27 inside the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.

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Former Gators point guard starts NBA summer-league play

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | July 7, 2014

Despite everything Scottie Wilbekin has accomplished throughout his basketball career, none of it guarantees him an NBA roster spot.

The University of Florida announced Tuesday that the team of Davis Architects, CPPI Construction Management and TLC Engineering will begin meeting to discuss the renovation of the O’Connell Center, which will occur after the 2014-2015 season.

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Design and build team announced for O’Dome

By RICHARD JOHNSON | July 2, 2014

With the heavily anticipated renovation to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center coming soon, there were bound to be leaks of the new additions.

Scottie Wilbekin calls out a play to his teammates during Florida’s 62-52 win against Dayton on Saturday in FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn. Wilbekin went undrafted along with fellow Florida teammates Patric Young, Casey Prather and Will Yeguete. Yeguete is the only one of the four Gators to have not signed with an NBA summer league team.

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Gators shutout in NBA draft, set to play in summer league

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 30, 2014

When the 2014 NBA Draft was all said and done on Thursday, not one Gator was selected.

Patric Young attempts a shot during Florida’s 72-49 win against Missouri on March 14 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta during the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Young was the 2014 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 6.4 rebounds per game on the season.

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NBA Draft Preview: Young expected to be first Gator taken

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 18, 2014

The 2014 NBA Draft is a week away and the top of the draft board is beginning to take shape.

LeBron James, left, and Dwyane Wade speak to the media after the Miami Heat’s 104-87 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA finals on Sunday night.

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Rally: What will happen to the Miami Heat’s “Big Three” this summer?

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | June 16, 2014

The Miami Heat lost 4-1 in the NBA finals against the San Antonio Spurs, which leaves Miami with a 2-2 record in the Finals over the past four seasons. LeBron James now has the opportunity to leave town to pursue greener pastures after earning two rings in South Beach while Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh attempt to recover from an ugly championship series. Today, alligatorSports editor Jonathan Czupryn and assistant editor Richard Johnson debate what will become of the Heat going into the offseason.