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Gators Cruise Again In Tune-Up

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 20, 2007

GAINESVILLE - The University of Florida has devoured all the cupcakes. Now comes the meat of its basketball schedule.

Wednesday at the O'Connell Center, Florida whipped hot-shooting but overmatched Charleston Southern 89-64. In two days, the young Gators (11-1) play their first true road game against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Next week, they'll face Temple in a neutral-site game. After a breather against High Point on Jan. 2, the Gators open Southeastern Conference play.

The rematch with the Buckeyes will bear no resemblance to last season's national title game, when five future NBA draft picks led Florida to an 84-75 win against soon-to-be No. 1 pick Greg Oden and Ohio State. The Gators are untested, while new-look Ohio State (7-3) has beaten the patsies but struggled against better competition.

"We're a completely different team. They're a completely different team," Florida freshman forward Chandler Parsons said. "All the games both teams have played in the past few years - like the national championships in football and basketball - it feels like that wasn't even our team."

These Gators seem to learn something new every game. Wednesday, they learned that if they don't guard the 3-point line on every possession, even the lowliest of opponents can keep the game competitive. After falling behind by 18 early, the Buccaneers (5-6) rained eight first-half 3-pointers on the Gators.

They would have had nine, but officials waved off the half-court bank shot Giedrius Knysas made at the end of the first half after determining he didn't quite beat the buzzer.

"Every day," a hoarse Florida coach Billy Donovan said, "is an adventure with these guys."

Charleston Southern outrebounded Florida 29-28, but the Gators maintained their lead by shooting 57.6 percent. Guard Nick Calathes led Florida with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

So after 12 games - each with a new lesson, it seemed - are the Gators ready for what they'll face in Columbus? Donovan doesn't know. Neither do the players. The adventure continues.

"We're a group right now," Donovan said, "that has no clue of what's coming."

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Charleston Southern freshman F Omar Carter scored 20 points, making six of nine 3-point attempts.

STAT OF THE GAME: Charleston Southern's first six made baskets were 3-pointers.

TURNING POINT: Florida raced to an 18-0 lead.

UP NEXT: Florida plays at Ohio State on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.

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