GatorBait.net - Boynton has solid opener for Gators

November 2, 2009

Adam Gorney
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor

Not much can be learned about Florida's basketball team from its exhibition opener against Division II Saint Leo University but two things are for sure: Kenny Boynton is a player and the Gators' backcourt is more athletic and will be exciting to watch.

Boynton, a former five-star guard by Rivals.com, finished with a game-high 22 points and three steals and sophomore guard Erving Walker added 16 points and nine assists with no turnovers as Florida won, 95-46, Monday in front of 8,804 at the O'Connell Center.

Junior forward Alex Tyus (game-high nine rebounds) and sophomore guard/forward Ray Shipman each scored 10. Chandler Parsons had seven rebounds and Erik Murphy, both forwards, had nine points.

Even though he was Florida's best player, Boynton admitted he was nervous coming into his first college game.

"Every kid is nervous," coach Billy Donovan said. "Vernon Macklin was nervous. You're playing against St. Leo and it's hard to imagine here in January and coming up soon we're playing against all these different teams but there are a lot of guys in our program that are really in new roles."

The jury is still out on Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin (seven points, four rebounds) and Florida's frontcourt. Is the group markedly better than last season?

So hard to tell because St. Leo had no legitimate forwards or centers but still grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, 11 in the first half. Donovan said Florida's press hurt its chances on the boards.

More will be determined about Florida, which missed the last two NCAA Tournaments, later this month and in December against Florida State, Michigan State, Syracuse and other quality programs. The early list includes pushovers Stetson, Georgia Southern and Troy.

Unlike last season when Florida didn't have a bull's-eye shooter, Boynton might become that guy. He showed a good stroke against Saint Leo and is athletic enough to create his own shot - another problem the Gators had in the backcourt last season.

"I can't say (if he has to be the main scorer) because the team wasn't that good, I don't know how it will be for a team that has to be tough," Boynton said. "That will be the setup probably."

Boynton made 5 of 9 3-point shots and the rest of the team hit only 3 of 11. Walker's penetration helped Boynton spot up and get open behind the 3-point line. Boynton's ability to get to the basket kept defenders honest. The Gators are faster in the backcourt which will lead to a more up-tempo style.

"That's coach D's style, Billy Ball, that's why we worked extra hard this summer getting in condition to play his style," Walker said. "We still have a long way to go but I'd say a good start.

"(Boynton) is a great player and it's always fun to play with a great player. He's going to make plays for himself and when you make plays for him he's going to knock down a shot so that's all you can ask for."

Florida jumped out to a 26-5 lead when Boynton had a 4-point play with 11:28 left before halftime. The lead continued to stay in comfortable margins as Saint Leo shot 15 of 66 from the field and 1 of 21 from 3-point range.


Official Basketball Box Score
Saint Leo vs Florida
11/02/09 7 p.m. at Stephen C. O'Connell Center

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VISITORS: Saint Leo 0-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
01 VAZQUEZ, Josue...... f  1-8    0-2    2-2    0  3  3   1   4  1  1  0  1  25
20 PRAIS, Jordan....... f  3-10   0-3    5-7    3  4  7   4  11  0  0  0  1  31
03 THOMPSON, Jamal..... g  5-13   1-5    0-0    2  2  4   3  11  1  2  0  0  21
10 OLIVER, Daniel...... g  1-5    0-1    2-2    1  2  3   3   4  1  4  0  2  21
42 SHARPER, Eric....... *  1-2    0-0    1-2    2  0  2   2   3  1  1  0  0  19
02 POWELL, Brandon.....    0-4    0-2    3-4    0  1  1   2   3  2  1  0  0  12
05 JACKSON, Jeremy.....    0-5    0-1    0-0    2  2  4   0   0  1  1  0  1  12
11 ROBINSON, Dominick..    1-7    0-3    2-4    0  1  1   2   4  0  2  0  0  19
24 SALAY, Matt.........    0-3    0-3    0-0    1  0  1   2   0  0  2  0  1  11
32 PERKINS, Walter.....    1-4    0-0    0-4    3  0  3   2   2  0  0  0  0  13
33 DEWBERRY, Saladeem..    2-3    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   4  0  1  0  0  11
34 YOUNG, Allen........    0-2    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   5
   TEAM................                         3  5  8
   Totals..............   15-66   1-21  15-25  17 21 38  21  46  7 15  0  6 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  7-31 22.6%   2nd Half:  8-35 22.9%   Game: 22.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-11  9.1%   2nd Half:  0-10  0.0%   Game:  4.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  8-15 53.3%   2nd Half:  7-10 70.0%   Game: 60.0%    4


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HOME TEAM: Florida 0-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
21 Werner, Dan......... f  2-4    0-2    2-2    1  2  3   2   6  1  2  0  1  18
23 Tyus, Alex.......... f  5-11   0-0    0-0    1  8  9   3  10  1  3  1  1  24
32 Macklin, Vernon..... c  3-3    0-0    1-2    0  4  4   3   7  0  1  0  0  23
01 Boynton, Kenny...... g  7-14   5-9    3-3    0  6  6   3  22  2  1  0  3  26
11 Walker, Erving...... g  5-9    2-4    4-4    0  2  2   2  16  9  0  0  0  29
03 Shipman, Ray........    3-7    0-1    4-6    2  1  3   0  10  3  1  1  0  18
25 Parsons, Chandler...    3-7    0-1    0-0    2  5  7   2   6  3  3  1  1  20
30 Kadji, Kenny........    3-3    0-0    0-1    3  2  5   4   6  0  3  3  0  14
33 Murphy, Erik........    3-4    0-0    3-4    1  5  6   2   9  1  1  0  0  17
42 Tishman, Rod........    1-4    1-3    0-0    0  0  0   0   3  0  0  0  0  11
   TEAM................                         2  4  6
   Totals..............   35-66   8-20  17-22  12 39 51  21  95 20 15  6  6 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 18-30 60.0%   2nd Half: 17-36 47.2%   Game: 53.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-9  33.3%   2nd Half:  5-11 45.5%   Game: 40.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 15-16 93.8%   2nd Half:  2-6  33.3%   Game: 77.3%   3,1


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Officials: Mike Stuart, Bert Smith, Patrick Evans
Technical fouls: Saint Leo-None. Florida-None.
Attendance: 8804
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Saint Leo.....................   23   23  -   46
Florida.......................   54   41  -   95
ID-859262

Points in the paint-SLM 22,UF 50. Points off turnovers-SLM 6,UF 23.
2nd chance points-SLM 9,UF 17. Fast break points-SLM 6,UF 10.
Bench points-SLM 13,UF 34. Score tied-0 times. Lead changed-0 times.
Last FG-SLM 2nd-00:04, UF 2nd-00:01.
Largest lead-SLM None, UF by 50 2nd-01:25.