Hoops Teams Take Part In SEC Media Day
Thursday, October 31, 2002 | Men's Basketball
The University of Florida men's and women's basketball teams took part in the 2002 Southeastern Conference Basketball Media Day in Birmingham, Ala. Wednesday.
The men's team, led by seventh-year Head Coach Billy Donovan, were picked as the preseason favorite in the SEC Eastern Division. Senior guard Brett Nelson (St. Albans, W.Va.) was tabbed as a Preseason All-SEC First-team member. Teammate and fellow senior Matt Bonner (Concord, NH) was named to the conference's second-team. The Gators return eight letterwinners, including three starters, Nelson, Bonner and Justin Hamilton (Sarasota, Fla.), from the 2001-02 team that finished 22-9, and advanced to the school's fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
The women's team, under first year Head Coach Carolyn Peck, was picked eighth in the 12-team preseason standings. Junior center Vanessa Hayden (Orlando, Fla.) was named to the Preseason All-SEC second-team. Hayden was also one of six players to receive votes for SEC Preseason Player of the Year. Florida returns three starters, Hayden, Tara Taylor (Huntsville, Ala.) and Courtney Cooper (Miami, Fla.) from the 2001-02 team that finished 18-11, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The men will open the exhibition portion of their schedule Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., when they host the Midwest All-Stars at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The women will open their exhibition schedule Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., when they host the Basketball Travelers at the O'Connell Center.
The following are quotes from Florida coaches and players at SEC Media Day:
MEN'S COACH AND PLAYERS
Head Coach Billy Donovan
On the league...
"The league is really good. Very balanced with what all Kentucky, Georgia have coming back. Vanderbilt is older, Tennessee has quality, and South Carolina has a big a front court as any."
On losing Udonis Haslem...
"When you lose him you lose intangibles. We didn't have anyone to replace him. Udonis played limited minutes because he was in foul trouble. If there is any plus to losing him it's we have fouls this year to give. We don't have any low post player."
On point guard...
"We have a great year with backcourt in the league Mo Williams, Jon Higgins, and Brett Nelson inside the league and college. The NBA says that the backcourts are the biggest thing."
On Matt Bonner...
"He's 6'10, shoots three's, great leader both verbally and by his actions. He works hard and everything he's earned has been because of his working hard."
On coaches in league...
"I've coached five years as an assistant and seven years at Florida. I've got respect for all the coaches in the league. We feel everyone is prepared when we step on the floor to play against anyone in the SEC."
Forward Matt Bonner
On team...
"Practice has been good. We have been working very hard. We have six freshmen coming in and they are doing a good job adjusting to college. We were disappointed last year, so we had an axe to grind over the summer to get ready and come out this year and show how good we are."
On SEC...
"Being picked to win the SEC is great, but all that's hype. That stuff doesn't give us a 10 point lead in the first half. We still have to come out and play and in this league, if you don't come out and play, someone will beat you."
Guard Brett Nelson
On team...
"Our practices have been very good and physical. The freshmen are doing a good job. This team reminds of us when I was a freshman. We have the talent and depth to be that good, so we just have to go out and do it. This year we are going to be able to sub in a lot of players. Last year we couldn't do that due injuries and that slowed us down. This year because of our depth, we can sub a lot and play a fast-tempo style game."
WOMEN'S COACH AND PLAYERS
Head Coach Carolyn Peck
On women's basketball...
"It's a growing thing. Women's basketball is a sport that all enjoy. It's just not a sport for women and little girls to watch."
On coaching...
"Florida, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt were my possibilities. I'm fortunate to have what happened, happen when it did. Vanderbilt because I played there. Tennessee because I'm from there and Florida because of the possibilities. I'm a woman of my word. I wouldn't have jumped ship. Winners like to be around winners. I was looking and Florida has 20 sports and 17 of them were ranked in the Top 15. Academics are there too. We are talking about a college that the freshman entrance ACT score is 25 and the SAT is 1250. The academic competition is there too."
On Vanessa Hayden...
"She is suspended indefinitely from the team, but can work her way back and she's working on that. She was suspended the first time and that was all. A newspaper said she was and then came back, but they retracted that. She's only been suspended once. It's a growth process and you never know how long it will take, but she is growing."
On difference between pros and college...
"I like the differences. College players learning and know it, where as pros think they already know. In the pros there isn't enough time to teach. In college there is time to work on strategy and breakdown."
Forward/Center Trish Patterson
On team...
"We have been practicing very hard. Our team chemistry has gotten better over the pre-season. It is very strong and that will be a big key for us this year. This year's team is built on bonding and the trust that we have with each other.
On the SEC...
"The SEC is one of the best conferences in the country. It is also a very physical conference. Everyone in the conference can beat you at any given time. It will be as tough as it usually is"
Guard/Forward Courtney Cooper
On team...
"During the off-season, we grew up and became a family. That is something we didn't have last year. That is going to be a big factor in our season. Our coaches have been working us hard to get us ready for this season. I think that we are going to be a better basketball team this year."
On the SEC...
"The SEC is a great conference. It will be tough. There are a lot of good teams that can win. We are just going to stay focused and be ready to play when the SEC season comes."
MEN'S PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Eastern Division
- FLORIDA
Western Division
PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST-TEAM
Erwin Dudley, F/C, Alabama
Mario Austin, F, Mississippi State
Jarvis Hayes, F, Georgia
Maurice Williams, G, Alabama
Brett Nelson, G, Florida
PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND-TEAM
Ronald Dupree, F, LSU
Matt Bonner, F, Florida
Keith Bogans, G, Kentucky
Ezra Williams, G, Georgia
Derrick Zimmerman, G, Mississippi State
WOMEN'S PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST-TEAM
LaToya Thomas, G/F, Mississippi State
Kara Lawson, G, Tennessee
Chantelle Anderson, C, Vanderbilt
Temeka Johnson, G, LSU
Kara Braxton, F/C, Georgia
Jocelyn Penn, F, South Carolina
PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND-TEAM
Tan White, G, Mississippi State
Vanessa Hayden, C, Florida
Gwen Jackson, F, Tennessee
Shameka Christon, F, Arkansas
Aiysha Smith, C, LSU
