Five of the six former Florida Gators basketball players that participated in NBA games on Friday put together incredibly strong performances with Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah’s historic evening undoubtedly leading the way.

Noah, playing a team-high 43 minutes, went 12-for-19 from the field and 6-for-7 from the charity stripe to lead the Bulls with career-highs of 30 points and 23 rebounds for his fourth double-double in the last five games. He became just the sixth player since 1985 to hit those scoring and rebounding marks while dishing six assists in a single game.

Noah also added two blocks and two steals to his total as he put together the single best all-around game of his career.

By the time the night was over, he was one of three former Gators to post double-doubles and one of five to score double digits on the evening.

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Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Chicago Bulls, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Joakim Noah, NBA, Washington Wizards

Now one month into the 2012-13 NBA regular season, there are 10 former Florida Gators basketball players spread over nine teams.

A total of 10 players participated in the first month action, many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performances.

For the first time, OGGOA will be checking and re-checking the box scores month-by-month to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplish throughout the entire 2012-13 regular season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
F/C DAVID LEE, Golden State Warriors: GP/GS (14/14), MIN (37.2), PPG (18.2), RPG (10.9), APG (3.9), SPG (1.1), BPG (0.1), TPG (2.7), FPG (3.5), A/TO (1.1)
» Shooting: FG% (.522), 3P% (.000), FT% (.750)
» Highlights: Eight double-doubles (three 20-10) in 14 games; 31 points, nine rebounds, six assists vs. Denver on Nov. 29; 17 points, 19 rebounds at Dallas on Nov. 19

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NBA played this month…
Continue Reading » Former Florida Gators in the NBA: Nov. 2012

Tags: Al Horford, Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Mike Miller, NBA, Udonis Haslem

1 » Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ahmad Black, who put together a standout performance with two forced fumbles and an interception on Sunday, was cited for marijuana possession last week, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The paper, citing court records, notes that Black was “charged with possession of cannabis, less than 20 grams,” which is a first-degree misdemeanor offense. Though Black was not arrested, he will appear in court on Dec. 3 to face the charge and may be disciplined sooner by the NFL for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. As it is his first offense, a fine would be more likely than a suspension.

2 » Sunday was a rough one for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin. Not only did he wind up with his lowest offensive output of the season, he seriously sprained his ankle during the game and got into a heated argument on the sideline with head coach Leslie Frazier. After getting injured and limping off the field, Harvin returned to the game and pressed on, a move that may have compounded the seriousness of the injury and is likely to keep him out of action next week. “It wasn’t to prove anything,” he said, according to NFL.com. “I think you guys know, if I’m able to get out there and go, I’m going to try to go. Maybe I did [push too hard]. Maybe I didn’t.” As far as his argument with Frazier goes, Harvin said he was “frustrated” with the production of the offense but refused to discuss it further. “He wants to win. He was frustrated, as we all were at the moment,” Frazier said, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

3 » Many in the NBA are tired of Los Angeles Clippers center Blake Griffin’s constant flopping during games, and Golden State Warriors C David Lee decided to express his frustration with those antics quite loudly. During a game on Monday, the two players were bumping in the post when Lee decided he had enough.

4 » Fresh off a pair of 2012 Southeastern Conference Championship victories, Florida Gators soccer (17-4-1) was given a No. 2 region seed when the brackets for the 2012 NCAA Tournament were announced on Monday. Florida will host the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14-3-3) at 3 p.m. on Friday with the victor playing the winner of Miami-Central Florida one day later. The Gators defeated the Eagles 3-0 in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Tags: Ahmad Black, David Lee, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Vikings, NBA, NCAA, NCAA Tournament, NFL, Percy Harvin, SEC, SEC Championship, soccer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In just over two months Florida Gators freshman guard Bradley Beal will take the stage in New York, NY, shake commissioner David Stern’s hand and put on a hat representing the team that selected him early in the 2012 NBA Draft.

But before that day arrives, Beal must first hire an agent, attend league-affiliated events and take part in private workouts and interviews with interested teams. OGGOA spoke with three former Florida players the day Beal announced his decision to go pro and each was quick to offer plenty of advice for him as he takes the next step in his career.

Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and second highest-drafted UF player in school history (Neal Walk, No. 2), actually spoke with Beal while he was in the process of making his decision and said that no matter what he decided to do he had to concentrate each day on doing whatever it takes to improve as a player both on and off the court.

“I had a chance to speak with him right after the season,” Horford said. “He is very, very talented, so my advice to him was just to focus on working on his game and to make sure he got stronger. The most important thing is just to keep working and keep getting better because he has a lot of potential. He showed some positive things throughout the season, but he has a lot more to offer in the long run if he can get there.”

Horford did not attempt to influence Beal’s final decision one way or another and pointed out that the sharpshooter’s game may even be at a higher level than even his was after his sophomore season.

“He was asking me what I thought about his situation as far as him having to make a decision about whether to stay or go. I went through that experience. For me it worked out that I stuck around another year and I was able to get better,” he explained.

“He’s very talented, so I think that he was way ahead of what everybody would expect from a freshman. He’s a guard, and I told him that if it is something you want to do to then go for it. He could have stayed in school and worked on his game, but he’s talented enough to go to the NBA. With hard work and everything, he will be a good player in this league.”

Continue Reading » Former Gators offer advice as Beal preps for draft

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Billy Donovan, Chandler Parsons, David Lee, Detroit Pistons, Draft, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Mark Bartelstein, NBA, Vernon Macklin

From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share – too much to fit into one of our truncated BITS segments. In these instances, or when stories fall through the cracks, we catch and wrap them all up with Gator Bites.

» Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah continues to play a major role for his team, posting a line of 20 points and 17 rebounds (13 offensive) on Sunday night to help lead Chicago past Detroit in overtime. Noah now has 21 double-doubles on the season though that was his first in the month of April.

» Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford told OGGOA on Friday that it is “realistic” to believe that he will be able to return to his team for the playoffs after tearing his pectoral early in the season. Horford, who has missed almost the entire shortened season, said he doubts he will be at 100 percent when the playoffs begin because he will not have the proper time to practice and condition. However, he hopes to be able to contribute in some way and help his team win.

» Unlike Horford, Golden State Warriors F/C David Lee will not see a basketball court again this year. Lee, whose Warriors are out of the playoffs and vying for a better draft slot, will be benched for the remainder of the season after injuring his groin last week. He was already dealing with a hip injury and will be rested mostly for precautionary reasons. Lee averaged nearly a double-double this season, posting totals of 20.1 points and 9.6 boards per game.

» Julie Quittner of Gainesville Television Network sent over a copy of her interview with former Florida Gators running back Chris Rainey that aired on Friday. In the piece, Quittner asks Rainey directly about the allegations made recently in a Sporting News column about former Florida head coach Urban Meyer. Below are a few standout questions/answers from the interview:

Did you see the incident when Billy Gonzales was apparently choked by Percy Harvin at practice and apparently he wasn’t disciplined for it? Is that a situation where maybe guys like that got away with certain things?
Rainey: “I heard that story from players; I ain’t never saw it and just like I said, players like that…certain players even the coaches are scared of and there are certain players that the players were scared of but you can’t just answer a question like that because they’re good in sports and you just can’t do nothing about it.

What do you mean by scared?
Rainey: “Scared, like a player if you’re scared of another player…just like that. Coaches can be scared of players.”

What do you have to say to the fact that [safety Bryan Thomas] said at one point that the program got “out of control”?
Rainey: “It wasn’t ever ‘out of control’ they just were scared of certain players and when the younger guys can’t do nothing but watch and see, you’re scared for your life too, so you just got to be quiet because if you say the wrong thing, you might get beat up from him or get in trouble by a coach.”

Do you remember incidents here that happened with [those elite players] specifically that you can remember them getting special treatment or something being covered up for them?
Rainey: “I don’t remember everything being covered up, but I just know a lot of stuff that happened through my college career…like you see people doing bad stuff off the field, fights, getting in trouble in school, whatever it is but if they made it to the NFL, they made it. It’s too late now.”

Continue Reading » Gator Bites for Monday, April 16

Tags: Ahmad Black, Al Horford, ALC, Atlanta Hawks, Brian Gay, Chicago Bulls, Chris Rainey, David Lee, Golden State Warriors, golf, Joakim Noah, Kitty Cullen, lacrosse, Minnesota Vikings, NBA, NFL, Percy Harvin, PGA, RBC Heritage, SEC, Shannon Gilroy, South Carolina Gamecocks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tennis, Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow Foundation, TPC Sawgrass, Urban Meyer, Vanderbilt Commodores

1 » No. 1 Florida Gators baseball (1-0) played like the top team in the country during their season opener on Friday, fighting back every time they were down and eventually toppling the No. 16 Cal State Fullerton Titans (0-1) 7-3 at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Down a run after a throwing error in the top of the second, the Gators tied the game when freshman designated hitter Taylor Gushue (1-4) turned on his first collegiate pitch and belted a homer to left field. Behind 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Florida used another solo shot – this time from senior right fielder Preston Tucker (1-3) – to even things up again. The Gators’ clutch hitting continued as a four-run seventh inning – including to pair of RBI singles by juniors catcher Mike Zunino (1-4) and first baseman Brian Johnson (2-4) – to jump ahead 7-3 and hold on for the victory. Junior right-handed pitcher Hudson Randall got the start for UF but gave up three earned runs on five hits with only one strikeout in 5.2 innings for the no decision. Coming on in relief with his team down a run, junior left-hander Steven Rodriguez (1-0) struck out three and gave up just one hit in 2.1 innings before senior RHP Greg Larson tossed the final inning to clinch the victory. Florida’s series with Cal State Fullerton continues Saturday and Sunday though neither game is being televised.

2 » No. 1 Florida softball (7-0) continued its hot start to the 2012 season with yet another run-rule victory as the Gators shut out the Michigan State Spartans (1-5) 8-0 in five innings Friday night at Pressly Softball Stadium in Gainesville. Florida took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth but crossed the plate five times in the inning to take a 7-0 lead. A RBI single by sophomore left fielder Kasey Fagan (1-2) in the bottom of the fifth wound up being a walk-off hit as it became the game-deciding run. Freshman 1B Lauren Haeger (2-2) led the way for the Gators with four RBIs, and junior C Brittany Schutte supported her with a 3-3 performance and a RBI of her own. Freshman third baseman Sami Fagan (2-3) also plated two runs and crossed home once herself. Continuing to prove her dominance on the mound, sophomore pitcher Hannah Rogers (5-0) tossed a complete game one-hitter with four strikeouts and a walk in 5.0 innings. UF will take on Michigan State twice more before the weekend concludes.

Click to expand and read two more BITS in this post.

Tags: baseball, Brian Johnson, Brittany Schutte, Cal State Fullerton Titans, Chandler Parsons, Corey Brewer, D1 Sports Training, David Lee, Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Greg Larson, Hannah Rogers, Houston Rockets, Hudson Randall, Kasey Fagan, Lauren Haeger, Marreese Speights, McKethan Stadium, Memphis Grizzlies, Michigan State Spartans, Mike Zunino, NBA, Pressly Softball Stadium, Preston Tucker, Sami Fagan, softball, Steven Rodriguez, Taylor Gushue, Tim Tebow

1 » Former Florida Gators forward/center David Lee posted the second triple-double of his career Tuesday night, scoring 25 points (on 9-of-19 shooting) with 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the Golden State Warriors in a heartbreaking loss to Oklahoma City. Lee’s triple-double and Monta Ellis’s career-high 48 points were simply not enough to propel the Warriors to victory. In 21 games this year with Golden State, Lee is already playing better than he did a year ago, averaging 18.7 points (+2.2) and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.

2 » No. 1 Florida women’s tennis (4-0) swept the South Florida Bulls (3-2) 7-0 on Tuesday, winning their 98th consecutive home match at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, FL. Junior Allie Will (No. 3), senior Joanna Mather (No. 4) and sophomores Sofie Oyen (No. 34) and Alex Cercone (No. 41) each won their singles matches in straight sets while junior Lauren Embree (No. 25) took three sets to win her singles tilt. The No. 10-ranked team of Oyne/Will and No. 15 duo of Embree/Mather each won their doubles matches handily. The Gators will travel to California over the weekend for back-to-back contests on Friday and Sunday against Pepperdine and Stanford. Florida topped Stanford 4-3 for the 2011 NCAA Championship on May 24.

Check our two more BITS (including a video)…after the break!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Lee, women’s tennis, Rivals, Lochte

Tags: Alex Cercone, Allie Will, Caleb Brantley, Daniel McMillian, David Lee, Golden State Warriors, Joanna Mather, Lauren Embree, Linder Stadium, NBA, Ring Tennis Complex, Sofie Oyen, South Florida Bulls, tennis

Eight former Florida Gators basketballers competed in five of the seven NBA games played on Tuesday and most ended the night with praiseworthy performances.

Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee posted a team-high 29 points (on 13-of-20 shooting) with nine boards (four offensive) and three assists in a team-high 35 minutes as Golden State went on to upend Cleveland 105-95.

Similarly dominant, Denver Nuggets forward Corey Brewer played a team-high 34 minutes off the bench, scoring a team-best 22 points (on 8-of-14 shooting) with four rebounds, two steals and a block. Denver defeated Milwaukee 105-95.

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Tags: Chandler Parsons, Chicago Bulls, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem, Vernon Macklin