GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Billy Donovan believes his roster turnover might be good thing.
After all, the players he had the last two years struggled to play defense and failed to make the NCAA tournament.
So Donovan didn’t seem to mind losing forward Alex Tyus, the team’s second-leading scorer last season who announced Friday he will transfer.
The move leaves the Gators short-handed in the frontcourt heading into next season, because freshman Allan Chaney already decided to transfer and incoming freshman DeShawn Painter asked to be released from his scholarship.
“We lost a player or two players off two NIT teams,” Donovan said.
Florida also could be without guard Nick Calathes, who declared for the NBA draft but didn’t hire an agent and could return to school. Donovan said Calathes “could go either way,” adding that the 6-foot-6 point guard probably won’t make a decision until June.
Regardless of what happens with Calathes, Donovan made it clear that he needed to “change the culture” of his program. If it takes overhauling the roster, Donovan already has a strong start.
Considering center Marreese Speights left school early for the NBA last spring, forward Jonathan Mitchell transferred and then guard Jai Lucas left the program just a week before this past season, Donovan could lose as many as seven players in about a year.
Tyus, a sophomore from St. Louis, averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds last season. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder played out of position all year, having to line up at center on an undersized team, and really felt like he could be more effective as a small forward.
But since Joakim Noah and Al Horford aren’t walking through Donovan’s door this summer, it was clear Tyus would be stuck down low for at least another season. So Tyus figured it would be better to play elsewhere, and Donovan agreed.
“Sometimes guys want something different,” Donovan said. “You know there’s a certain vision, a certain path and a certain commitment necessary for the team going forward that you want to have. For Alex, that’s not really what he wanted to do. I respect that and understand that and wish him luck and hopefully he can get what he’s looking for.”
Donovan said Tyus’ departure means the offseason will be an important one for Kenny Kadji, a 6-10 freshman from Cameroon who had an up-and-down first season. It also could mean more playing time for 6-10 forward Vernon Macklin, who sat out last season after transferring from Georgetown, and 6-10 incoming freshmen Erik Murphy.
Donovan does have highly touted guard Kenny Boynton coming to town this summer and has made a late recruiting push to land fellow guard John Wall.
Whatever the roster looks like this fall, Donovan expects change.
“This puts us in a situation that we’ve got to try to create that kind of (winning) culture and have more of that culture,” he said. “We have great kids, but there’s certain things on the floor that really need to be changed and guys need to be committed to trying to change those things. And I think there’s certain guys that say, ‘I really don’t want to do that.’ I understand that and that’s not a problem.”
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Comments » 31
golfballs03 writes:
Things are falling apart down there.
KENVOL writes:
BYE BYE GATOR.
KENVOL writes:
BYE BYE GATORS.
Hudro writes:
Sooooo sad for the Gators and the Eddie Munster look alike contest winner. Looks like the NIT will be hard to reach this year.
golfballs03 writes:
They still have a lot of talent, and a McDonalds all american coming in this coming year. Now, John Wall is looking at Florida. If Calathes is gone, Wall would start at point, and Florida would be just as dangerous.
Ironcity writes:
You got that right
kman29 writes:
funny how some of these players were the same guys who most of you said were not all that good. Now some of them transfer and Florida is falling apart. Granted it is a disturbing situation if Donovan has recruited some of these kids and now both are realizing they do not fit, while others are leaving early for the NBA, but to think that Donovan is going to let things fall apart is hilarious. At this moment Donovan is with the #1 bball prospect in the country according to rivals in PG John Wall who is down to Kentucky and Florida. Additionally incoming UK signee Daniel Orton is rumored to want out of his LOI after signing with Gillespie and interested in Oklahoma and Florida. IF Donovan gets those two, losing guys like Tyus wont cause too many gator fans to lose that much sleep. But I understand as Vol fans you all want to attempt to cheer for any possible negative news regarding UF.
orngbluded writes:
maybe Donovan should of taking the Kentucky job.
kman29 writes:
If they get John Wall to partner with Boynton not many Gator fans will be caring too much about losing some of those players.
auttat writes:
Well, 1-9 looks better and better.
kman29 writes:
Of course there are "if's" but before jumping on and saying the UF bball program is falling apart lets see what Donovan is able to do with these available scholarships. Donovan has the easiest sell right now with Wall. Calathes is not coming back and you will be the starting PG. I wouldn't say everything is peachy, but I certainly will allow a 2 time national champion coach an opportunity to fix missing pieces before thinking everything is a disaster because a couple guys leave.
kman29 writes:
I think Donovan has a decade of credibility to be able to make a statement such as we lost a player or two off NIT teams. Those players did not win a national title. Those players did not play in a NCAA tournament. Donovan didn't just one day wake up and not know how to coach. He had consistant tournament teams from 98-07. I know UT fan wants to see Gator fan squirm over this news, but most reports out of UF are that Donovan was very frustrated with some "me" players that didn't want to listen to coaches. Didn't want to realize the importance of playing defense. Is this the case with Tyus? Only Donovan and Tyus know, but every report I read was it was a mutal agreement that it was best for Tyus to leave. And if Donovan feels its only a couple players from NIT teams...well, is that not the truth?
suPEARLman writes:
NIT NIT NIT!!!!!
Good luck even making that tourney from now on.......
pastorlee#372395 writes:
Unreal. A Florida fan is using a UT website to say goodbye to a former gator. Do you guys have a website that you can go to?
TommyJack writes:
Real sorry to hear this news.
Pacemaker writes:
Pearl 7-1 v/s Fathead!
Shut up! With less talent in the first 2 years!
chrisw2967 writes:
these gayfer interlopers will spin this to their advantage and this is not a big lost and they didnt run a 4.2 40 and all that phooey. looks like pearl will be 9-1 vs lil ediie after this season.too funny.
dont worry they will still tell us that eddie will have the gayfers in the final 4 before pearl has us back to the sweet 16.right now they dont have enough players to play 5 on 5.
VAvolfanRON writes:
well, at least uf has 2 NCs....they wont see one for awhile!..
the thermometer has popped out of the turkey.....he's done
VOLMAN40 writes:
I hope Billy boy stays at florduh for 20 more years......so does his daddy Bruce!
VAvolfanRON writes:
only a gator would think the none and done is better the one and done!!....math hasn't migrated down there yet
smokyredbone writes:
A glimpse of what your football team will look like next year!!! Enjoy, you got one more year then back to the bottom like a big ugly catfish! GO VOLS! Your basketball will never be heard of again!! hahahahaha! Chumps!
kman29 writes:
A glimpse of what the football team will look like next year? Well we know what they will look like next year. The year after? Sorry but it doesnt get any easier.
Probable 2010 UF line up:
Offense:
QB: John Brantely JR.
RB: Emmanuel Moody SR
WR: Deonte Thompson JR
WR: Andre Dubose SO
WR: Frankie Hammond SO
TE: Aaron Hernandez SR
LT: Carl Johnson SR
LG: James Wilson JR
C: Maurkice Pouncy SR
RG: Mike Pouncy SR
RT: Matt Patchan JR
Defense:
DE: Carlos Dunlap SR
DE: William Green JR
DT: Lawrence Marsh SR
DT: Omar Hunter JR
OLB: Jelani Jenkins SO
MLB: Brendan Beal SO
OLB: Brandon Hicks SR
CB: Janoris Jenkins JR
CB: Joe Haden SR
FS: Will Hill JR
SS: Dee Finley JR
Sorry but thats a line up that will compete for an SEC title.
I understand as a Vol fan that you truely believe once Tebow is gone Florida will fall. Well anyone who thinks that is in for a rude awakening. The name John Brantley means nothing to most of you at this point, but I assure you, your hatred for him will grow like it did with Leak and Tebow.
kman29 writes:
Thats going to be their frame of mind until they see differently on the field. They do not see QBs like Brantley running the first team offense in practice against the first team defense hitting target after target with his accuracy. They dont see in practice how the backup guys are pushing the starters daily to take their position because they are just as talented. They simply hope that once Tebow leaves, Meyer will too. Otherwise the monster that Meyer is creating will continue to be fed.
VAvolfanRON writes:
and we are supposed to be impressed with a list of names!!!!.....OOOOOOOOOOO....
ever heard of:
tyrone jackson
keith falous
tyshon caulos
byron taylor
neshawn brown
anthem powler
B.B. cooter
well, me either.....they were had at home with ol miss.....take the blinders off!!!
tennezz writes:
Rats always jump off a sinking ship!
Voluvr writes:
Well, there's the border test. When you lift the gates, are more people coming in or going out?
This is probably related to the shower story with Kiffin's picture up all over the locker room and showers. Kiffin's good looks are reportedly causing some issues down there they didn't expect.
kman29 writes:
take the blinders off? lol! Disregard everything the Gator fans have said and simply read and listen to what experts and neutral parties who follow college football say about the future of Florida. Which is they are stacked with 2 and even some cases 3 deep talent at every position. 4 and 5 star players have had to redshirt because of the sheer numbers. The only people who don't want to recognize that fact are Vol fans. So who needs to take the blinders off?
old_number1 writes:
I'm really surprised by this defection. It does seem that the Fla. program is going down for the count. I hate that because U.T. always got a boost after beating them over and over. Best of luck, Billy D. Have you considered show business?
kman29 writes:
sorry but it takes 6 wins to win the national title in the tournament, not 2 or 3. Your assumption that Tennessee would have won the national title if they won their sweet 16 game is pretty hilarious. Still would have had to win 3 more games and we all know how hard it is for Pearl to win 3 games period in the tournament, much less have to win 3 more after already winning 3.
jeremy78tn writes:
Pardon me if I don't immediately click on a link to a gator web site.
illinoisvolfan writes:
From some of his comments that have already been removed, I think he'll be able to get banned again all by himself.
As always, Go Big Orange!
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