Instant Analysis: Easy victory
No. 10 Florida (1-0) cruised to an 84-35 win against Alabama State (0-2) of the Southwestern Athletic Conference to officially open the 2012-2013 season after Friday night's game aboard the USS Bataan was called at halftime. Instant Analysis takes a look at what went right for the Gators.
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IT WAS OVER WHEN: After Alabama State made two free throws at the 14:48 mark of the first half to make it a 10-point game, Florida went on a 21-0 run the restated just how big of a mismatch the game was. The Hornets would go on to enter the half shooting 8 percent in comparison to the Gators' 60 percent.
HE STOLE THE SHOW: In his first full game at point guard with junior Scottie Wilbekin suspended, Florida senior Kenny Boynton couldn't miss. The Gators had a clear advantage over the Hornets at guard and Boynton turned that advantage into 22 points, going 4 of 4 from beyond the arc and 8 of 10 from the field. He also added six rebounds and a team-high five assists.
THIS STAT DOESN'T LIE: Pretty simple - Florida could shoot and Alabama State couldn't. Stats became skewed in the second half when the Gators put in reserves and freshmen, but in the first half, Florida out-shot Alabama State 60 percent to 8 percent.
OH WHAT A PLAY: There has been plenty of talk about how much junior forward Will Yeguete's offensive play has improved heading into this season. Spectators got a taste of it at the 9:36 mark in the first half when he took a Boynton pass on the perimeter and slashed to the basket, capped off by an emphatic dunk. It was Yeguete's only field goal of the game.
THIS MATCHUP PROVED KEY: Florida was better than Alabama State everywhere but it showed through the most at guard. Boynton's day has already been discussed, but the Gators also got a big game from oft-maligned redshirt senior Mike Rosario, who had 14 points and looked improved defensively as well as in his rebounding.
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