With one of the most dominant frontcourts in college basketball, Florida has received the brunt of its criticism regarding the play of its guards.
After a resounding 41-point win over Saint Francis on Wednesday, the No. 23 Gators (7-4) will play their penultimate non-conference game on Sunday afternoon when Colgate visits Gainesville, Fla.
The two key figures in Florida coach Todd Golden’s new backcourt are Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland, and both had a hard time at the start of the season living up to the legacy left by Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard — crucial players in their NCAA title-winning season that culminated last April with a two-point victory over Houston.
The Gators pasted the Northeastern Conference’s Red Flash 102-61 on Wednesday, and Lee scored 18 points — his third straight game leading in scoring.
The Toronto native said he and Fland, a top recruit from the Bronx, are learning how to play together as the season goes on.
“We both have a multi-faceted skill set,” said Lee, who averaged 20.3 points in the past three wins. “We’re getting used to playing with each other. We’re getting better the past couple of weeks especially. It takes time.
“I think it’s shaping up nicely, and having good synergy on the court, it’s almost impossible to guard both of us together.”
Thomas Haugh tops Florida with an average of 17.4 points per game, though the swingman netted a season-low five points against Saint Francis in his first single-digit showing.
Alex Condon averages 13.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and a team-best 3.7 assists per outing, while Fland (11.9 points) and Lee (11.6) check in at third and fourth in scoring, respectively.
After recording his fifth double-double on Wednesday, center Rueben Chinyelu averages 10 points and 10.7 rebounds on 61.3% field-goal shooting.
The Gators’ final non-conference tune-up will be Dec. 29 when they host Dartmouth of the Ivy League ahead of their SEC opener at Missouri on Jan. 3.
A member of the Patriot League, the Raiders (6-5) enter the contest in the Sunshine State after an 85-77 loss against St. Bonaventure on Dec. 10 but have won four of their past five games.
Colgate has a track record of playing ranked competition. It lost 84-65 at then-No. 14 Illinois on Nov. 14 after opening the season with an 80-69 defeat at then-No. 22 Michigan State.
Coach Matt Langel’s squad played in a tough environment against the Bonnies, but he said the experience of playing on the road against the Atlantic 10 club, plus the time off, would be helpful.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to get healthy and have a full complement of players to go down there,” Langel said after the setback to St. Bonaventure. “It’ll be another great environment against as good a team as there is in the country. It’ll be a great experience and challenge ahead.”
Jalen Cox is a do-everything guard for Colgate. The junior from Los Angeles averages 16 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game while draining 55.6% of his shots from the field. Andrew Alekseyenko averages 14.9 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Sam Wright nets 12.3 points.
–Field Level Media
