Florida

Observations and Notes from Florida Gators 2022-23 Preseason Practice

Published

2 years ago

October 18, 2022

Observations and Notes from Florida Gators 2022-23 Preseason Practice

Photograph: Denzel Aberdeen; Credit score: Jordan McKendrick – College Athletic Affiliation

Florida Gators basketball is nearing the closing stretch of their preseason practices with their season-opening matchup with Stony Brook, scheduled for Nov. 7, 20 days from now.

With Florida getting wholesome, the offensive set up and simulated scrimmage periods have turn into a big a part of the follow durations the Gators conduct every day. There’s solely a lot we are able to study from gamers and coaches in follow, however with a bevy of recent faces, seeing how guys function now could be helpful for followers seeking to bounce into the 2022-23 season, already feeling a powerful reference to the squad.

Because of this, All Gators gives observations and notes from the UF hoops follow session on Tuesday.

Trace: The brand new guys in Gainesville — whether or not that be from the switch portal or the prep stage — are shining.

Observations and Notes from the Florida Gators’ 10/11 Basketball Follow

Observations and Notes From Gators Basketball Preseason Follow No. 5

Observations

Will Richard isn’t afraid to take probabilities defensively

Final week, we mentioned Will Richard’s return to Gators follow following an almost three-week absence because of a knee damage he suffered simply earlier than the primary preseason follow.

He shined in his particular person exercise previous to that follow as a shooter — a ability that leads assistant coach Kevin Hovde to credit score him as among the best pure shooters on the unit — however didn’t carry out at a full participation degree. Richard returned to the ground in an infinite capability on Monday the place he started to shine as a two-way participant. His functionality on the offensive finish — scoring in any respect three ranges with ease — is the staple of his sport.

Nevertheless, Tuesday’s follow offered extra than simply his abilities on the offensive facet of the ball. On high of that, Richard has the potential to be an opportunistic defender.

Following a chase-down block of guard Trey Bonham on Monday, Richard adopted up that efficiency by being a menace on the defensive finish for the primary group unit he labored towards on Tuesday. Specifically, his instincts and energetic arms gained him a plethora of disruptive performs on his report card.

Enjoying wonderful off-ball protection to wreak havoc on opposing massive males together with his size and quickness, Richard performs with supreme hustle and grit as he makes an attempt to create turnovers frequently.

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There are occasions when his instincts are extra hazardous than useful.

At factors on Tuesday, his propensity to leap for steals pushed him out of place, giving the offense the flexibility to hurry up and never enable him to recuperate. When he does take these dangers, nonetheless, he’s successful extra reps than he loses. That’s making that aggressiveness simpler for Florida to reside with, given the added possessions he creates.

If he can discover the comfortable medium between his ultra-aggressiveness and the choice of taking part in timid to stay in entrance of his project, then Richard can add to an already proficient group of defenders the Florida roster holds.

Denzel Aberdeen is placing it collectively

Because the preseason portion of the yr continues, the Florida Gators freshmen proceed to regulate to the pace of play on the collegiate degree.

Level guard Denzel Aberdeen took the following step in that course of on Tuesday.

Scoring on two straight possessions in a scrimmage setting, Aberdeen dealt with the ball nicely and performed nicely with ahead C.J. Felder in choose and roll on the high of the important thing to attain on the basket off of a drive down the correct facet of the lane.

Along with his offensive surge, the freshman made an amazing play on sideline inbound play to set himself up with a transition slam. He used his size to disrupt the passing lane, tipping the ball into the backcourt the place he gained possession and went unimpeded to the rim.

He nonetheless made errors at factors, most notably permitting Alex Fudge to obtain a straightforward back-door bucket as he obtained caught ball-watching, however he answered with a nook three on the following possession.

Nevertheless, Tuesday proved to be considered one of his higher days in follow general. From what All Gators has seen — though we haven’t attended each follow — it was his best day of the preseason.

The event will not equate to taking part in time within the brief time period because of the inflow of expertise and depth in entrance of him, however the quicker Aberdeen progresses, the higher for Todd Golden and his employees past the upcoming season.

Notes

Kyle Lofton returned to follow Tuesday in a non-contact capability. He labored by means of drills early within the day and within the dummy offense portion of the day. He seemed fluid in his motion as he ramps up from the groin damage he suffered over two weeks in the past.
Trey Bonham continues to profit from Lofton’s absence as he’s compelled to study the offense from a number of spots. He knocked down a number of triples on Tuesday and made spectacular entry passes to massive males to arrange scoring alternatives. He’s the silent killer for the Gators squad this season, successful together with his uncanny effectivity as a scorer.
C.J. Felder seems wholesome and explosive after an injury-riddled 2021. He continues to impress together with his elevated affect on the 4.
Director of Participant Improvement Taurean Inexperienced examined the place his expertise have been at on Tuesday within the early portion of follow. The previous Gators guard and multi-year professional offered a special look to the primary group on protection in a ball-handling function. The fellows who lined up towards him faired nicely, permitting little room for him to work and even compelled a missed shot and turnover. Even then, he proved to possibly nonetheless be the quickest participant on the court docket at any given time.
Aleks Szymczyk performed nicely on the within with a number of good strikes on the block offensively. Coaches searching for extra selection from his pick-and-roll sport as he has the need to choose and come out to the three-point line constantly.

Keep tuned to All Gators for steady protection of Florida Gators soccer, basketball and recruiting. Observe alongside on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports activities Illustrated on Fb.

Get your Gators soccer, basketball and different sporting occasions tickets from SI Tickets right here.

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Early look at Florida State football’s season opener opponent Georgia Tech

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

Early look at Florida State football’s season opener opponent Georgia Tech

Before you renew your passport and book your flight to Dublin, Ireland, lets take a dive in Florida State’s football ACC opponent Georgia Tech.

The 2024 football season is only about a month away.

Florida State football will soon start fall camp to prepare for its season opener against Georgia Tech in the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, at Aviva Stadium.

The game is set for Aug. 24 at noon EST on ESPN.

It is the second time two ACC teams face off in Dublin. For FSU, it will be the first time in program history that Seminoles participate in an international game.

Georgia Tech will be the second time it has played at Aviva Stadium. The last time the Yellow Jackets played in Ireland was in 2016, when they lost to Boston College, 17-16.

The ACC opener can set the bar for either side.

FSU is coming off a 13-1 season, missing the College Football Playoff. Its only loss was to Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

This season will be a clean slate for Mike Norvell, who is entering his fifth season as head coach of the Seminoles.

So, what does Georgia Tech look like? We take an early look.

Who is Georgia Tech’s head coach

Brent Key will be entering his second season with Georgia Tech. In his first year, the Yellow Jackets went 7-6 (5-3 in the ACC).

FSU-GT all-time record

15-11-1, FSU

Last meeting between FSU and Georgia Tech

FSU defeated Georgia Tech 41-16 in the last meeting on Oct. 29, 2022.

Georgia Tech’s top players

Offense:

QB Haynes King (2,842 passing yards, 27 TDs, 737 rushing yards, 10 TDs), RB Jamal Haynes (174 carries, 1,059 yards, 7 TDs), OG Joe Fusile

Defense:

DL Zeek Biggers (40 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT), LB Kyle Efford (81 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)

Georgia Tech’s key losses, additions

Key losses:

S Jaylon King, DL Eddie Kelly,

Key additions:

TE Ryland Goede, TE Jackson Hawes, OL Keylan Rutledge, DL Thomas Gore, DL Jordan van den Berg, DE Romello Height, DB Warren Burrell, DB Syeed Gibbs,

Remember former FSU QB and Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke?

Of course, FSU fans certainly remember Weinke.

Weinke is in his third year as Georgia Tech’s quarterbacks coach, his second year as the Yellow Jackets’ co-offensive coordinator and his first year as Tech’s assistant head coach.

As a player, Weinke won the 2000 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at FSU and led the Seminoles to a national championship in 1999. He went on to be selected in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft and enjoyed a seven-year career with the Carolina Panthers (2001-06) and San Francisco 49ers (2007)

Outlook on Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech was young last season but with great potential.

The Yellow Jackets played in tight ballgames and can open the season with an ACC upset. For the Seminoles, it will be an opportunity to pick up where they left off and make a statement as playoff contenders.

Florida State Seminoles 2024 Football Schedule

Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
Sept. 21 vs. California
Sept. 28 at SMU
Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
Oct. 18 at Duke
Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
Nov. 30: Florida
Dec. 7: ACC Championship

BOLD = ACC

* = Neutral Site

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

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You’re a Grand Old Flag – Bonita Springs Florida Weekly

Published

11 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

You’re a Grand Old Flag – Bonita Springs Florida Weekly

July 4th is here and it’s time to be patriotic, if only for a day. It’s time to celebrate being an American, proud of our country with all of its faults.

Independence Day marks the beginning – the day in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. It marks the beginning of freedom with all of its benefits and responsibilities, the beginning of a grand journey.

And it’s a day with important symbols, things like the Pledge of Allegiance, the American flag and the National Anthem.

Last week, I attended a meeting that started, as always, with the Pledge of Allegiance: “… to the flag … and to the republic for which it stands…” We tend to just mouth the words; it’s almost a reflex. Something at the beginning of meetings to get out of the way.

The symbol of the flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, is more substantive. It’s celebrated with statues (the flag planting on Iwo Jima) and paintings (Betsy Ross sewing the flag). Although the history is uncertain, we know that a flag design similar to the one used today was approved by the Continental Congress in 1777.

TRECKER

Today the flag is ubiquitous. It flies on homes, in yards, and on public and private buildings. And it’s apolitical. Both parties embrace it. Jasper Johns made a living painting different versions of it. Today the flag finds its way onto coins, stamps, tee shirts, even tattoos.

Then there’s the National Anthem. It, too, is everywhere. It’s sung before convention openings and sporting events, and it’s played whenever athletes win gold medals. I always expect to see a flyover right after “ … and the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” Unlike the flag, the anthem leaves room for interpretation. My wife always cringes when a vocalist jazzes it up.

The pledge, the flag, the anthem. They’re symbols and they’re important. But there’s more to patriotism than that.

Do woke masses on the left care less about their country than traditionalists on the right? I doubt it. Is the soccer team that disses the National Anthem less patriotic than we old-timers who revere the music? Not really. They just have a different vision of the country. Are the political lefties who want bigger government and more spending less patriotic than those on the right who want smaller government and less debt? Not at all. They just see patriotism in a different way. They pay their taxes and supply soldiers to fight just like the rest of us.

As the economists say, patriotism is fungible.

If you want the old-fashioned version, you should hearken back to the early 1900s when music made Americans proud of their heritage. George M. Cohan, the first “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” was an early practitioner. Few remember the names of his wonderful Broadway shows, but many over a certain age remember his music: “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “Over There,” “Harrigan,” “Forty-five Minutes from Broadway” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

Memories fade. I don’t remember what I had for breakfast today, but I’ll never forget the first time I heard the Cohan lyrics.

“You’re a grand old flag,
“You’re a high-flying flag
“And forever in peace may you wave.

“You’re the emblem of
“The land I love,
“The home of the free and the brave.

“Ev’ry heart beats true
“’neath the red, white and blue,
“Where there’s never a boast or brag.

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
“Keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag.”

Happy Fourth of July!

Dave Trecker is a chemist and retired Pfizer executive living in Florida.

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