Egbunu in middle of Gators' reboot

[Brad]

Wednesday April 1, 2015

 

Egbunu in middle of Gators' reboot

 

Updated: 8:30am, April 2

 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- For Florida, the 2014-15 basketball season ended nearly three weeks ago, but for a handful of players the 2015-16 season -- the preparation thereof -- has begun.

NCAA rules allow teams eliminated from postseason competition to convene eight hours per week until the start of final exams, two hours of which can be spent on the floor. Don’t think for a second Billy Donovan wouldn’t take advantage of that rule, especially coming off a 16-17 record. The Gators who are in the mix for next season had a couple hour-long practices last week, then another on Tuesday.

And John Egbunu is now a center of attention.

Egbunu transferred from South Florida last summer and sat out the season per NCAA rules. The 6-foot-10, 255-pound post player would have been a welcomed sight in a Florida uniform the last few months, given the Gators struggles for production in the paint, but now his preparation and repetition -- even here in April -- are for real.

Although Egbunu must wait another eight months to make his UF debut, he’s no longer a player-in-waiting.
 

“A sit-out year is a year for getting better, so I made every single day like a game day for me,” Egbunu said Tuesday. “Just come in and work and try to help the guys get better and get ready for the teams we were playing. That’s what helped me stay focused.”

It’s natural for players in that “sit-out” year to grow frustrated without the reward of the games. Egbunu, though, swears that was never the case with him. The UF coaches and support staff love the kid and rave about his work ethic, willingness to be coached and his locker room presence as a teammate. 

 

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[BayIslandBull]

#deadtome

[JTrue]

Pitino made a statement the other day that he thinks Donovan is headed to the NBA.

[flsportsfan83]

Sad, kid is one of the best to ever play for us.

[NewEnglandBull]

I will believe it when I see it on this kid being all that.

[Bull Matrix]

Pitino made a statement the other day that he thinks Donovan is headed to the NBA.

Donovan just got an extention by UF this week.

[Bull Matrix]

We already know how good Egbunu is going to be. Too bad Heath didn't keep the momentum alive from the tourney run as he would still be a Bull. Good luck to him. I think Guerrero will be good if he develops that hook shot and improves on defense. Did well for a freshman

[JTrue]

Pitino made a statement the other day that he thinks Donovan is headed to the NBA.

Donovan just got an extention by UF this week.

And?

http://mobile.sportingnews.com/article/4640501-billy-donovan-rick-pitino-coaching-rumors-nba-orlando-magic

Edited April 4, 2015 by JTrue

[ThePuddingMan]

The was no guarantee he would have stayed had Heath not gotten fired. Don't forget, he almost didn't return to the team after the Christmas break last year.

[bullsfan27]

Egbunu would have left had stan stayed and u can't just keep a coach so a player stays given the player already said he was going to quit and had to be dragged back to the team