Florida Gators
Overall Rank: #26
Conference Rank: #7 SEC
The first round upset at the hands of Albany ended Florida’s NCAA Tournament much quicker than expected. The Gators return five players who started at least 13 games and this team should be poised to make a better tournament run in 2017. Senior forward Ronni Williams returns after leading the Gators with 11.1 points and 7.8 rebounds. The frontcourt also boasts Haley Lorenzen, who averaged 9.3 points and 5.5 rebounds and Tyshara Fleming, a senior center, who is not a major scoring threat, but she is a very good shot blocker and rebounder.
2015-16 Record: 22-9, 10-6
2015-16 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Amanda Butler
Coach Record: 175-121 at Florida, 215-143 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Carlie Needles, Guard, 6.9 ppg
Cassie Peoples, Guard, 8.8 ppg
January Miller, Guard, 5.9 ppg
Carla Batchelor, Guard, 5.2 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Ronni Williams, Senior, Forward, 11.1 ppg
Eleanna Christinaki, Sophomore, Guard, 10.4 ppg
Haley Lorenzen, Junior, Forward, 9.3 ppg
Simone Westbrook, Senior, Guard, 8.0 ppg
Dyandria Anderson, Junior, Guard, 4.9 ppg
Tyshara Fleming, Senior, Center, 5.0 ppg
Brooke Copeland, Junior, Forward, 1.4 ppg
Key New Players
Sydney Morang, Freshman, Guard
Elif Portakal, Freshman, Guard
Sydney Searcy, Freshman, Guard
Delicia Washington, Freshman, Guard
Funda Nakkasoglu, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Utah State, not eligible
Projection
On the perimeter, Florida returns Eleanna Christinaki, Simone Westbrook and Dyandria Anderson. Christianki was second on the team in scoring last season with 10.4 points per game and dished out a team high 3.4 assists. Westbrook may have to pick up more of the shooting slack with the departure of Carlie Needles and Cassie Peoples. She connected on 27-of-88 from beyond the arc. Anderson is a solid defender and could turn into a decent scoring threat as well, given the opportunity. Coach Amanda Butler went ten deep least season. Six of those players are back, but Florida may need some production from their four freshmen on the perimeter.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 77.4 (16th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 69.0 (274, 14)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.0 (49, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.0 (244, 12)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.8 (135, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.0 (175, 6)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.9 (254, 9)
Rebound Margin: 3.0 (85, 9)
Assists Per Game: 14.9 (58, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 21.5 (342, 14)
