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UF Opens With 80-58 Rout Of Toledo

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By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: November 15, 2008

GAINESVILLE - How convenient.

The Florida Gators, a basketball team determined to improve on last season's uninspired defensive play, opened their season Friday night against the Toledo Rockets, a team that a year ago averaged less than 60 points per game.

Problem cured.

The Gators, after missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years, returned to action in the O'Connell Center with an 80-58 victory over the Rockets. Florida pressed, trapped and pestered the Rockets into 25 turnovers - two of them 10-second violations - while grabbing 12 steals and blocking four shots.

"We have to be somewhat disruptive," Gators coach Billy Donovan said. "I don't think we can go back and just play straight man-to-man. Playing man-to-man defense, sometimes there are going to be matchups that are very, very difficult. So we played some zone, pressed ... did a lot of different things.

"The press tonight happened to be the part of our defense that was very good."

The Gators were very much on the defensive.

Earlier in the day, Internet site Yahoo Sports reported that the university was investigating allegations that sophomore guard Nick Calathes had run up a $600 debt playing online poker.

Just before game time, Athletic Director Jeremy Foley issued a statement saying Calathes, who admits losing money, had done nothing wrong.

There was no suggestion that Calathes or any other Florida player bet on sporting events, which would be an NCAA rules violation.

"We became aware of certain allegations over the weekend and immediately looked into it," Foley said. "We reviewed everything very thoroughly and are satisfied with our results. We have no eligibility issues and are very comfortable that this issue is resolved based on our review."

Calathes scored 16 points against the Rockets, joining forward Dan Werner (19), center Alex Tyus (11) and guard Walter Hodge (10) in double figures.

"I have played online poker," Calathes said after the game. "I talked to Coach Donovan. I talked to the school. I did nothing wrong. I did nothing illegal. I'll be here for the whole season."

The Gators got off to a slow start, hitting only one of their first six shots from the field and were 0-for-8 from 3-point range before Allen Chaney nailed one with 2:25 left in the half. After that the Gators hit four in a row and finished 5-for-13.

TOLEDO (0-1) - Kent 5-9 1-3 13, Tubbs 0-2 0-0 0, Anyijong 4-7 3-3 11, Amos 8-16 5-8 22, Byrd 2-6 0-0 5, Bastfield 1-3 0-0 2, Sterling 1-2 0-0 3, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Lo 0-1 2-4 2, Okafor Jr. 0-0 0-0 0, Salter 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-48 11-18 58.

FLORIDA (1-0) - Werner 8-14 2-4 19, Parsons 3-6 2-3 8, Tyus 4-5 3-3 11, Hodge 4-7 0-0 10, Calathes 4-7 6-9 16, Shipman 2-4 2-2 7, McClanahan 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-4 2-2 2, Chaney 2-3 1-2 6, Kadji 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 27-51 19-27 80.

Halftime-Florida 39-27. 3-Point Goals-Toledo 5-13 (Kent 2-4, Amos 1-1, Sterling 1-2, Byrd 1-4, Bastfield 0-2), Florida 7-19 (Calathes 2-2, Hodge 2-4, Shipman 1-2, Chaney 1-2, Werner 1-4, Parsons 0-2, Walker 0-3). Fouled Out-Bastfield. Rebounds-Toledo 30 (Amos, Anyijong 6), Florida 32 (Chaney, Werner 5). Assists-Toledo 10 (Amos 5), Florida 21 (Calathes, Walker 7). Total Fouls-Toledo 25, Florida 19. A-10,992.

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