I know this is just a lot of fluff.
But, I feel better about the team after reading it.
I hope Mike White is the man.
No, Canyon Barry is not my nephew.
He's my cousin.
Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI
Real Estate Broker
PARKS
305B Indian Lake Blvd
Suite 220
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Phone: 615-826-4040
Mobile: 615-972-4239
From: gatornews@googlegroups.com [mailto:gatornews@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Shane Ford
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2016 7:05 AM
To: GatorNews
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: White has history of Year 2 improvement
White has history of Year 2 improvement
Guard Canyon Barry poses for photos during basketball media day Thursday at the UF Basketball Complex. Chris Totzke/Correspondent
By Kevin Brockway
Gainesville SUN Staff writer
Published: Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 7:35 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 7:35 p.m.
Mike White spent his first season at Florida learning about the strengths and weaknesses of his team.
Still, White managed to guide the Gators to 21 wins, matching Tommy Bartlett for the most wins for a first-year UF basketball coach.
There's reason for optimism in White's second season, based on a roster that returns four starters. In addition, the Gators added graduate transfer swingman Canyon Barry, who averaged 19.7 points per game last season at College of Charleston.
There's also White's track record as a second-year coach. At Louisiana Tech, White went 27-7 in his second year, a nine-win improvement over his first season.
"If you could promise that we'd win 30 this year, I'd take it right now," White said at Florida basketball media day Thursday. "I guess there are some similarities … we returned a bunch that second year (at Louisiana Tech) and this year we return a bunch. There are some differences too in terms of the level and the schedule and the non-conference schedule specific to our predicament."
That predicament is Florida playing its first 11 non-conference games away from campus due to the ongoing renovation of the O'Connell Center. The Gators will play their first game in the newly renovated building Dec. 21 against Arkansas Little-Rock. Before that, Florida will play at a number of different locations throughout the state, including Jacksonville, Lakeland, Tampa and Orlando.
That's plenty of miles on the bus. But it should give the Gators a chance to bond.
"I like where we are chemistry-wise," said Florida senior point guard Kasey Hill, the last link to UF's Final Four team. "I think more guys are more bought into what Coach White wants us to do instead of having Coach D (Billy Donovan) in the back of their head. More guys are bought into what he wants and that's what needs to happen."
Offensively, Florida will look to improve on a team that struggled to shoot the ball throughout the season. The Gators finished 12th in the SEC in free-throw shooting percentage (64.7 percent), and 13th in 3-point shooting percentage (31.9 percent).
"I don't think we're going to jump to first," White said. "But I think we can make a pretty good jump in both areas. I'd be surprised if we weren't a little closer toward the middle of the pack."
Defensively, White said his goal is for Florida to finish in the top 10 in the nation. White said he felt Florida slipped on the defensive side of the ball late last season due to not taking enough off days.
"When you emphasize defense as much as we did last year out of necessity, we had to be really good night-in and night-out with the way we struggled shooting the basketball," White said. "I think we got a little bit worn down."
The Gators held their first practice Monday, and through the first three practices, White said he's seen some positive signs. Florida will play its lone official exhibition game Oct. 27 against Eckerd College in Jacksonville before opening Nov. 11 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena against Florida Gulf Coast.
"Very competitive, very balanced practices," White said. "Probably had the best two or three players in terms of production each day were probably a little bit different during the three, so that could be good, could be not so good. Making free throws at a higher rate right now. Lights aren't on bright yet, but that's a positive. Attitude has been good. So, yeah, pleased to this point for sure."
Returning players view their familiarity with White as a plus heading into the 2016-17 season.
"It's always good to be on the same page," Florida sophomore center Kevarrius Hayes said. "And if the whole team can be on the same page as the coaches and the staff, then great things can happen."
— Contact Kevin Brockway at 352-374-5054 or kevin.brockway@gvillesun.com. Also check out Brockway's blog at Gatorsports.com.
Sent From Shane's iPhone
Go Gators! & Skål Vikes!
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1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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