Florida Gators
Overall Rank: #35
Conference Rank: #8 SEC
Florida Team Page
Just when it looked like the Florida women’s basketball team was out of gas, along came a big run in postseason play that propelled the team to a strong finish and set the stage for what could be a good season to follow. Three of the top five scorers return to the Gators, including the team’s leading scorer, so that should be enough to form a cohesive unit that can withstand the rigors of the Southeastern Conference.
2012-13 Record: 22-15, 11-5
2012-13 Postseason: WNIT (lost to Drexel in national semifinals, 67-57)
Coach: Amanda Butler
Coach Record: 120-82 at Florida, 160-104 overall
Strengths:
Paced in part by leading scorer Jaterra Bonds, who returns to the team this season, Florida boasted one of the nation’s more explosive scoring offenses. The Gators were 25th overall with 70.6 points per game, and its 43.2 field goal percentage was good for 28th overall. Kayla Lewis is one of the reasons why the Gators’ rebounding was one of the stronger teams in the SEC, and Carlie Needles is easily the team’s strongest perimeter shooting. With these three on the floor, that should help the Gators achieve success in 2013-14.
Weaknesses:
Although three of the top five scorers return, two scorers, Sydney Moss and Jennifer George, are gone and with them goes 23 of the team’s 70 points per game. Moss and George were also two of the team’s leading rebounders, and that will cause problems in the scoring and rebounding department until other people come to the forefront. Florida’s scoring defense and free-throw percentage were also toward the bottom third of Division I college basketball. The Gators need to adjust those if they hope to make an impact.
Final Projection:
The return of Bonds at the top of the scoring column will help Florida to do well, but Florida needs to have more luck finding two people to go with Bonds, Lewis and Needles. If the Gators can find two players to form a strong starting five, Florida could be a team to watch in 2013-14. A stretch of seven games in December at Gainesville should help Florida find its legs at home. An easier non-conference schedule will be an assistance.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Jaterra Bonds, Senior, Guard, 13.1 points per game
Kayla Lewis, Junior, Guard, 5.5 rebounds per game
Carlie Needles, Sophomore, Guard, 34.1 percent 3-point shooting
Christin Mercer, Sophomore, Forward, 6.5 points per game
Lily Svete, Senior, Forward, 40 percent 3-point shooting
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 70.6 (25th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.2 (250, 12)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.2 (28, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.0 (194, 11)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.9 (172, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.8 (71, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.2 (257, 11)
Rebound Margin: 3.2 (86, 7)
Assists Per Game: 13.0 (146, 10)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.8 (166, 9)
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