15th March 2012

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What Patric Young returning means for Florida… In case you missed it, Patric Young, Florida’s starting center, announced he will be returning to UF for his junior season. This is huge for Florida. Let’s take a look at the roster with and without Young. What it would’ve looked like without Young, assuming no one else leaves: PG: Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze SG: Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham SF: Brad Beal, Casey Prather PF: Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford C: Erik Murphy, Cody Larson Losing Young would force Florida to move either Murphy or Yeguete (most likely Murphy) from power forward to center, where he’d be undersized in nearly every game. Plus, there’d be a huge drop-off in production when he’d go to the bench. Unless Larson makes a huge jump between this season and next, he won’t get serious minutes unless he has to. Like, if Young wasn’t returning. Same with Yeguete and Pitchford at power forward. Yeguete has typically been the first player off the bench this year, usually in relief of Murphy. With Murphy now at center and Yeguete having to start, Pitchford and Prather would have to come in for Yeguete. Huge drop-off in production there, too. What it will look like with Young, assuming no one else leaves: PG: Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze SG: Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham SF: Brad Beal, Casey Prather PF: Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford C: Patric Young, Cody Larson In this scenario, Young’s presence gives Florida a force in the paint (Young) and a stretch-four (Murphy), exactly like the Gators had this season, except with one more year of experience. Yeguete can come in off the bench for either Young or Murphy. Larson and Pitchford won’t be forced into a role they’re not ready for. Prather can come in and do whatever it is Prather does. The team pretty much stays the same. What it will look like with Young, without Beal, and if Florida adds Anthony Bennett: PG: Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze SG: Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham SF: Anthony Bennett, Casey Prather PF: Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford C: Patric Young, Cody Larson This is a likely scenario. Beal’s projected as a top-10 draft pick, and five-star forward Anthony Bennett has Florida in the lead. Bennett is 6-foot-7, 230, and can play small and power forward. With Murphy not quick enough to cover most teams’ small forward, one would think Bennett would play SF and Murphy would stay at PF. But with Bennett at SF as opposed to the 6-foot-3 Beal, Florida has so much more flexibility in the frontcourt. Florida can go big with Bennett/Murphy/Young or small with Yeguete/Bennett/Murphy. So many ways for Billy Donovan to tinker with that frontcourt. And that’s not to say Beal isn’t a great player. He is. It’s just the way Florida’s lineup is, there’s no versatility. Beal’s a true shooting guard — he should be playing Kenny Boynton’s position — but Florida has no choice but to put Beal at the 3. And the above lineup is a lineup I think Florida can contend for a title with. That mix of elite talent and experience would likely be the best roster since the Oh-Fours. Now, here’s a really interesting scenario… What it will look like with Young, Beal and Bennett: PG: Kenny Boynton, Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze SG: Brad Beal, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham SF: Anthony Bennett, Casey Prather PF: Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford C: Patric Young, Cody Larson This is a crazy lineup. First, four of the five starters would have been rated five-star prospects by Rivals. Second, I have Boynton at point guard, something I’m not sure he’d want to do, even though it could improve his value in the draft. Third, there’s 14 scholarship players on that roster. You can only have 13. Don’t worry; the numbers always work themselves out. Plus, I think Graham has the option to use an academic scholarship and that would free up a space. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better roster than that. That’s easily a title contender. Reality: Young’s coming back; we’ve established that. I think Bennett will sign with Florida. I think Beal will come back, barring some unreal run in the tournament where Beal just dominates everyone. However, some other players have some decisions to make. Rosario will be a senior and likely won’t be getting a starting spot. Does he bolt early and head overseas? Casey Prather, Walter Pitchford and Cody Larson — although they’re still young — have some decisions to make. Do they believe they can have a productive career at Florida, or do they need to explore other options? There are a lot of what-ifs that won’t be answered for a while. But Billy Donovan has the program heading in a great direction.

What Patric Young returning means for Florida…


In case you missed it, Patric Young, Florida’s starting center, announced he will be returning to UF for his junior season.

This is huge for Florida. Let’s take a look at the roster with and without Young.

What it would’ve looked like without Young, assuming no one else leaves:

  • PG: Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze
  • SG: Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham
  • SF: Brad Beal, Casey Prather
  • PF: Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford
  • C: Erik Murphy, Cody Larson
Losing Young would force Florida to move either Murphy or Yeguete (most likely Murphy) from power forward to center, where he’d be undersized in nearly every game. Plus, there’d be a huge drop-off in production when he’d go to the bench. Unless Larson makes a huge jump between this season and next, he won’t get serious minutes unless he has to. Like, if Young wasn’t returning.
Same with Yeguete and Pitchford at power forward. Yeguete has typically been the first player off the bench this year, usually in relief of Murphy. With Murphy now at center and Yeguete having to start, Pitchford and Prather would have to come in for Yeguete. Huge drop-off in production there, too.

What it will look like with Young, assuming no one else leaves:

  • PG: Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze
  • SG: Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham
  • SF: Brad Beal, Casey Prather
  • PF: Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford
  • C: Patric Young, Cody Larson

In this scenario, Young’s presence gives Florida a force in the paint (Young) and a stretch-four (Murphy), exactly like the Gators had this season, except with one more year of experience.

Yeguete can come in off the bench for either Young or Murphy. Larson and Pitchford won’t be forced into a role they’re not ready for. Prather can come in and do whatever it is Prather does. The team pretty much stays the same.

What it will look like with Young, without Beal, and if Florida adds Anthony Bennett:

  • PG: Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze
  • SG: Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham
  • SF: Anthony Bennett, Casey Prather
  • PF: Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford
  • C: Patric Young, Cody Larson

This is a likely scenario. Beal’s projected as a top-10 draft pick, and five-star forward Anthony Bennett has Florida in the lead.

Bennett is 6-foot-7, 230, and can play small and power forward. With Murphy not quick enough to cover most teams’ small forward, one would think Bennett would play SF and Murphy would stay at PF.

But with Bennett at SF as opposed to the 6-foot-3 Beal, Florida has so much more flexibility in the frontcourt. Florida can go big with Bennett/Murphy/Young or small with Yeguete/Bennett/Murphy. So many ways for Billy Donovan to tinker with that frontcourt.

And that’s not to say Beal isn’t a great player. He is. It’s just the way Florida’s lineup is, there’s no versatility. Beal’s a true shooting guard — he should be playing Kenny Boynton’s position — but Florida has no choice but to put Beal at the 3.

And the above lineup is a lineup I think Florida can contend for a title with. That mix of elite talent and experience would likely be the best roster since the Oh-Fours.

Now, here’s a really interesting scenario…

What it will look like with Young, Beal and Bennett:

  • PG: Kenny Boynton, Scottie Wilbekin, Braxton Ogbueze
  • SG: Brad Beal, Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier, Dillon Graham
  • SF: Anthony Bennett, Casey Prather
  • PF: Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete, Walter Pitchford
  • C: Patric Young, Cody Larson

This is a crazy lineup.

First, four of the five starters would have been rated five-star prospects by Rivals.

Second, I have Boynton at point guard, something I’m not sure he’d want to do, even though it could improve his value in the draft.

Third, there’s 14 scholarship players on that roster. You can only have 13. Don’t worry; the numbers always work themselves out. Plus, I think Graham has the option to use an academic scholarship and that would free up a space.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better roster than that. That’s easily a title contender.

Reality:

Young’s coming back; we’ve established that. I think Bennett will sign with Florida. I think Beal will come back, barring some unreal run in the tournament where Beal just dominates everyone.

However, some other players have some decisions to make. Rosario will be a senior and likely won’t be getting a starting spot. Does he bolt early and head overseas?

Casey Prather, Walter Pitchford and Cody Larson — although they’re still young — have some decisions to make. Do they believe they can have a productive career at Florida, or do they need to explore other options?

There are a lot of what-ifs that won’t be answered for a while. But Billy Donovan has the program heading in a great direction.

Tags: Florida Gators basketball college basketball Patric Young
  1. selfmilli reblogged this from emilyallen10
  2. jayyjack22 reblogged this from stormingthefloor
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  4. ijustbechillin reblogged this from fyeahfloridagators and added:
    So what about number 0, Jake?
  5. andyhutchins said: I think you’re absolutely crazy if you think Beal’s coming back. We should write that as a point/counterpoint piece, but not until after UF’s tourney’s over.
  6. iamacodfish reblogged this from fyeahfloridagators and added:
    Patrick Young!
  7. emilyallen10 reblogged this from fyeahfloridagators
  8. iamlareina said: i really appreciate this post
  9. fyeahfloridagators posted this