By 10 nonconference video games, the No. 23 Florida Gators have confronted scrutiny over their backcourt play, however guard Xaivian Lee has realized from the primary a part of the season and turned his sport round.
The Gators and the previous Princeton participant will begin the primary of their closing trio of non-Southeastern Convention video games Wednesday evening in opposition to the Saint Francis (PA) Crimson Flash of the Northeast Convention in Gainesville, Fla.
Lee has been a big a part of the backcourt’s rebound from early poor play, which led to losses in opposition to then-No. 1 Arizona and unranked TCU.
Florida (6-4) misplaced game-changing guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard — the highest three scorers — off final season’s nationwide championship-winning squad, and Lee (Princeton) and fellow backcourt mate Boogie Fland (Arkansas) have been essential items coach Todd Golden introduced in to fill the scoring ledger.
It began slowly for Lee, a 6-foot-4 Toronto native who performed three seasons for the Ivy League’s Tigers.
An up-tempo, driving, streaky shooter, Lee shot simply 22 p.c (13 of 59) from the sphere in his first six video games via the Gators’ 84-80 loss to TCU on Nov. 27. Worse but, he made simply seven of 42 3-pointers (16.7 p.c).
However Lee, who averages 11 factors per outing, is scoring 16.8 over the previous 4 contests through which the Gators have gone 2-2 with defeats in opposition to No. 4 Duke and No. 5 UConn.
“I attempt to at all times preserve my confidence on 100 (p.c) it doesn’t matter what, however it was undoubtedly examined early within the season, however I feel that is going to make me stronger and us higher as a crew, (particularly) once we get right down to SEC play,” mentioned Lee, who additionally averages 5 rebounds. “We’re not the place we wish to be proper now, however I feel we’re constructing to the place we might be.”
Three different Gators rating greater than Lee: Thomas Haugh (18.6), Alex Condon (13.9) and Fland (12).
Rueben Chinyelu posts 9.8 factors and 10.7 boards.
In taking the courtroom in opposition to Florida, Saint Francis (2-9) will probably be going through a defending nationwide champion for the primary time ever. The college additionally performed 2019 nationwide champion Virginia in 2021, the season after COVID claimed the 2020 marketing campaign and produced no title-winning crew.
Earlier than the season opened, coach Luke McConnell mentioned a rigorous early schedule can be helpful when his membership begins NEC motion by internet hosting Le Moyne on Jan. 2.
“We have now at all times believed in placing collectively a troublesome and difficult nonconference schedule,” McConnell mentioned. “Our group seems to be ahead to the problem and I’m excited to compete with them in opposition to some high-level competitors from throughout the nation. Our guys will probably be effectively ready as we head into NEC play.”
The street has been powerful thus far for the Crimson Flash.
They opened by being pounded by Oklahoma and TCU by 36 factors and 41, respectively, setting the tone for a irritating begin.
Of their most up-to-date outing Sunday, they misplaced 95-67 at Temple, a second straight setback and their third previously 5 contests.
Over 11 video games, senior Skylar Wicks has been the excessive scorer on six events and led in rebounding eight occasions. The guard from Jersey Metropolis, N.J., is averaging 18.8 factors per sport and seven.8 rebounds.
–Discipline Stage Media
