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Gators Learn Lesson

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

GAINESVILLE - Billy Donovan knows his young University of Florida basketball team has more to learn than he can teach in three weeks of preseason practice. That's why Donovan was grateful Monday that the Gators could learn a valuable lesson in a game that didn't count.

After Division II Lynn hit its fifth of seven first-half 3-pointers to close Florida's lead to three with 11 minutes remaining before intermission, Donovan knew he would need to raise the decibel level in the locker room at halftime. After a rather harsh lesson about the defense of the 3-point line, the Gators didn't allow a second-half trey and cruised to a 101-65 win in their final tuneup before the season begins Friday against North Dakota State.

"We could have very easily in the first half been down," Donovan said, "if we didn't shoot ourselves a high percentage."

Center Marreese Speights led UF with 18 points on seven of nine shooting. Forward Adam Allen scored 13 on 5-for-5 shooting.

The Gators only outrebounded the much smaller Knights, 36-35, and Donovan said some of his freshmen may not be physically mature enough to compete against older, stronger players on the backboard.

"There's just some physical limitations because of youthfulness," Donovan said. "There are some issues there."

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