Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Billy Donovan Court
Gainesville, Fla. | Nov. 7, 2022 | 8 p.m.
Streaming
SEC+/ESPN+ | ESPN App
PxP: Kyle Crooks | Analyst: Mark Wise
Radio
Gators Sports Network from LEARFIELD | SiriusXM 380/SXM App 970
PxP: Sean Kelley | Analyst: Lee Humphrey
Gators at a Glance
* Florida welcomes new head coach Todd Golden, who comes to the Gators after three seasons as head coach at San Francisco, where he compiled a 57-36 record and led the Dons to their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998 and their first at-large selection since 1982.
* In the midst of the coaching transition, the Gators kept a substantial core of returners in the fold with Colin Castleton, CJ Felder, Jason Jitoboh, Myreon Jones, Niels Lane and Kowacie Reeves all back in Gainesville.
* Two-time All-SEC frontcourt man Colin Castleton returns to UF, opting to exercise his fifth year of eligibility following offseason shoulder surgery. Also utilizing his fifth collegiate season, Myreon Jones started 21 games last season and averaged 8.5 points per game, dropping a career-high 23 points in the home win vs. Georgia.
* Kowacie Reeves turned in a strong postseason, averaging 16.3 points over the Gators’ three tournament games, including a career-best 21 vs. Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament.
* Jason Jitoboh emerged for the Gators filling in for Castleton last season before suffering a season-ending eye injury at Tennessee. Jitoboh was coming off a career-best 12-point outing at Ole Miss when he was hurt.
* Niels Lane came on late in the season and had a career game in the SEC Tournament, posting 16 points and nine rebounds vs. Texas A&M. CJ Felder had three double-figure scoring games early and shot well from 3-point range but was limited down the stretch by injury.
* The Gators added grad point guard Kyle Lofton (Saint Bonaventure), a three-time All-A-10 player who scored 1,613 points in four seasons with the Bonnies. UF also brings in a trio of transfers who all have three years of eligibility remaining: junior Trey Bonham (VMI), sophomore Alex Fudge (LSU) and sophomore Will Richard (Belmont).
* Bonham averaged 11.3 points over two seasons at VMI, and Richard averaged 12.1 per game during his freshman campaign at Belmont. Jacksonville native Alex Fudge looks to make a jump after limited opportunities during his freshman season at LSU
* UF also added a pair of freshmen who shared a backcourt at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips High School in Denzel Aberdeen and Riley Kugel. The duo led Dr. Phillips to its first state championship in 2021. The Gators also signed big man Aleks Szymczyk, who comes from Frankfurt, Germany.
* Carlin Hartman joins the Florida staff as associate head coach, bringing 22 years of collegiate coaching experience including five seasons on Lon Kruger’s staff at Oklahoma. Korey McCray also comes to UF as associate head coach, bringing experience at Mississippi State, LSU and UCLA to the Gators. Assistant coach Kevin Hovde rounds out the coaching staff, coming from his alma mater Richmond after coaching five seasons with Golden at San Francisco.
* The Gators’ support staff includes new faces Jonathan Safir (director of basketball strategy and analytics), Victor Lopez (strength & conditioning), Gator great Taurean Green (director of player development), Jordan Talley (player development assistant) and Kevin Olsen (video coordinator).
* Associate AD for Sports Health Dave Werner, UF’s longtime athletic trainer, returns for his 19th season with the program and his 29th at Florida.
