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Gators slip by Stetson during top-ranked Florida’s final preseason tuneup
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- Gators slip by Stetson during top-ranked Florida’s final preseason tuneup
(Edgar Thompson/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
GAINESVILLE — Florida's final tuneup before Monday's season opener against Miami was shaping up to be a no-show by the top-ranked Gators against Stetson.
But Todd Golden's squad shook off a sluggish first half, quickly turned a two-point halftime lead into a double-digit advantage and kept the Hatters at bay during an 85-68 win Tuesday night in the O'Connell Center.
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Starting guards Denzel Aberdeen and Urban Klavzar combined for 45 points to offset a lackluster night from one of the nation's top frontcourts. The duo combined for 10 3-pointers after the Gators managed just four during an an 82-76 overtime loss to Baylor Oct. 18 in Jacksonville.
"I told somebody, we're not gonna miss like that again," Aberdeen said. "We're gonna step up and hit shots, but it just comes down to the defensive side. We gotta step it up on defense, and we'll be fine this year."
The Gators were without starting point guard and defensive leader Boogie Fland, who sat out with an illness. Without Fland hounding the ball, Stetson found its offensive rhythm, shot 47% during the first half and trailed 42-40 at intermission.
"Not having him out there hurt us," Golden said. "His length and his size really bothers smaller guards. We just didn't have that pressure at the point."
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A season after leading the nation in rebounding, Florida held a meager 22-19 advantage on the glass.
Golden had a stern message for his players in the locker room.
"He just told us it's simply not good enough," Klavzar said. "Just felt like we carried the Baylor game into to the first half."
The Gators held the Hatters to 32.3% shooting after intermission, but ended with just a 40-36 edge on the glass.
"I though we lost some one-on-ones battles were usually win," Golden said.
Florida backcourt picked up the slack.
Aberdeen moved over from shooting guard, assumed Fland's role and delivered a stellar all-around performance in his first game in the O'Dome since he transferred back to UF after a season at Kentucky. He finished with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
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"I'm glad to hear cheers instead of boos this time," the former Dr. Phillips standout said.
Klavzar, the SEC's reigning Sixth Man of the Year, came off the bench to join Aberdeen in the backcourt.
The 6-foot-1 senior from Slovenia provided the outside scoring punch glaringly missing against Baylor. He scored a team-high 24 points and made six 3-pointers.
Florida opened the second half with an 8-2 run, featuring a pair of Klavzar 3-pointers, and outscored Stetson 17-8 to pull ahead 59-48, leading to a timeout by coach Donnie Jones, a former Gators' assistant under Hall of Fame coach Billy Donovan .
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The Hatters didn't go away. A 3-pointer by forward Collin Kuhl cut Florida's lead to five points, at 61-56. But Klavzar answered with a 3 of his own.
Kuhl and Co. hung around, but never were closer than six points.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Klavzar and Aberdeen pushed Florida's lead to 83-68. Alex Condon provided the final points on a putback, giving the senior power forward 15 points — one more than small forward Thomas Haugh, a preseason first-team All-American.
But Florida's reserves contributed just four points after managing just three against Baylor.
"Our bench was clearly not good enough," Golden said.
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Another scoreless performance by shooting guard Isaiah Brown of Orlando is particularly worrisome, given he's expected to have a vital role after he worked his way into the rotation last season.
"We have a lot of expectation and pressure on us this year, being the preseason No. 1 team in America," Golden said. "I think he's just struggling with that a little bit. I told him and told the team we need him to step up. I still have great confidence in him.
"I think he's going to turn it around, but we need it to happen sooner than later."
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up next ….
No. 1 Florida (0-0) vs. No. 14 Miami (0-0)
When:6 p.m., Monday
Where:Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
TV:ESPN2
