GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It appears the ankle tendinitis is finally starting to really affect Florida center Patric Young -- and it couldn't be happening at a worse time.
Young has had back-to-back ineffective games -- including scoring a season-low two points against Vanderbilt last Saturday -- because of conditioning issues due to a lack of practice while nursing the injury. The seventh-ranked Gators need him to snap out of his mini-funk quickly because they face their toughest test of the season on Tuesday night against top-ranked Kentucky and center Anthony Davis.
The 6-foot-10 Davis leads the nation in blocked shots (4.8 per game), and last weekend he recorded his 116th block of the season -- which broke Shaquille O'Neal's SEC freshman record (115).
Young has to be as close to full strength as possible or the Gators (19-4, 7-1 SEC) have no chance of beating the Wildcats (23-1, 9-0) in Rupp Arena for the first time since 2007.
"I made the comment a couple of weeks ago when people talked about his foot, I said I was more concerned about his conditioning," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "With him being out as long as he has, you're starting to see a carry-over conditioning wise. He's got to push himself through, and there's been some moments in the last two games where he's had those great minute-or-two bursts of athleticism and speed and quickness, and then he's had some times where he kind of disappears a little bit.
"When he's got that energy going and he's got that motor going and he's somewhat rested, he's really effective. But I think his inefficiency maybe the last couple of games has to do with [the fact that] he has not played with that motor."
The tendinitis in Young's right ankle had been bothering him for a few weeks, but it worsened just before the Gators' Jan. 14 game at South Carolina. The 6-foot-9 Young didn't start and played only 13 minutes against the Gamecocks. He stayed out of the starting lineup for the next four games as well, but played 24-26 minutes each night.
He had 15 points against Ole Miss and 12 points and seven rebounds against Mississippi State, then returned to the starting lineup against South Carolina on Feb. 2. He scored only five points and grabbed four rebounds -- and looked tentative doing it -- against the Gamecocks.
Against Vanderbilt and 6-11 center Festus Ezeli, Young got his first shot blocked then played only three minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. He was ineffective in the second half and finished with two points and four rebounds. Several times he tried to back down the 255-pound Ezeli but couldn't get any movement and was called for a charge on one attempt.
It's clear that the Gators miss Young's energy on the court. He is their emotional leader, and the team's energy level is connected with his.
"I wouldn't say he's frustrated," teammate Bradley Beal said. "He's probably going through the same thing I went through, I guess. I think he's fine mentally. He just has to get back in his flow, and I think he'll be all right."
He'll need to be against Davis, who was named the SEC's Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 20 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.5 blocks in victories over South Carolina and Tennessee. He had eight blocks against the Gamecocks and his 116 blocks is already ninth on the SEC's single-season list.
Donovan said he doesn't believe Young will get caught up in his matchup against Davis, though.
"I think Patric, regardless of who we're playing against, always goes into every game with an unselfish, team mentality to help," Donovan said. "He's has always been like that. I don't think that Patric necessarily is the kind of guy that, based on a player he may be playing against, takes himself to a different level. Clearly, Ezeli is one of the better centers in our league. So is David. I just think it's Patric getting locked in and focused on the things he has to do to impact a game."
Young has had back-to-back ineffective games -- including scoring a season-low two points against Vanderbilt last Saturday -- because of conditioning issues due to a lack of practice while nursing the injury. The seventh-ranked Gators need him to snap out of his mini-funk quickly because they face their toughest test of the season on Tuesday night against top-ranked Kentucky and center Anthony Davis.
The 6-foot-10 Davis leads the nation in blocked shots (4.8 per game), and last weekend he recorded his 116th block of the season -- which broke Shaquille O'Neal's SEC freshman record (115).
Young has to be as close to full strength as possible or the Gators (19-4, 7-1 SEC) have no chance of beating the Wildcats (23-1, 9-0) in Rupp Arena for the first time since 2007.
"I made the comment a couple of weeks ago when people talked about his foot, I said I was more concerned about his conditioning," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "With him being out as long as he has, you're starting to see a carry-over conditioning wise. He's got to push himself through, and there's been some moments in the last two games where he's had those great minute-or-two bursts of athleticism and speed and quickness, and then he's had some times where he kind of disappears a little bit.
"When he's got that energy going and he's got that motor going and he's somewhat rested, he's really effective. But I think his inefficiency maybe the last couple of games has to do with [the fact that] he has not played with that motor."
The tendinitis in Young's right ankle had been bothering him for a few weeks, but it worsened just before the Gators' Jan. 14 game at South Carolina. The 6-foot-9 Young didn't start and played only 13 minutes against the Gamecocks. He stayed out of the starting lineup for the next four games as well, but played 24-26 minutes each night.
He had 15 points against Ole Miss and 12 points and seven rebounds against Mississippi State, then returned to the starting lineup against South Carolina on Feb. 2. He scored only five points and grabbed four rebounds -- and looked tentative doing it -- against the Gamecocks.
Against Vanderbilt and 6-11 center Festus Ezeli, Young got his first shot blocked then played only three minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. He was ineffective in the second half and finished with two points and four rebounds. Several times he tried to back down the 255-pound Ezeli but couldn't get any movement and was called for a charge on one attempt.
It's clear that the Gators miss Young's energy on the court. He is their emotional leader, and the team's energy level is connected with his.
"I wouldn't say he's frustrated," teammate Bradley Beal said. "He's probably going through the same thing I went through, I guess. I think he's fine mentally. He just has to get back in his flow, and I think he'll be all right."
He'll need to be against Davis, who was named the SEC's Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 20 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.5 blocks in victories over South Carolina and Tennessee. He had eight blocks against the Gamecocks and his 116 blocks is already ninth on the SEC's single-season list.
Donovan said he doesn't believe Young will get caught up in his matchup against Davis, though.
"I think Patric, regardless of who we're playing against, always goes into every game with an unselfish, team mentality to help," Donovan said. "He's has always been like that. I don't think that Patric necessarily is the kind of guy that, based on a player he may be playing against, takes himself to a different level. Clearly, Ezeli is one of the better centers in our league. So is David. I just think it's Patric getting locked in and focused on the things he has to do to impact a game."
Michael DiRocco | email
Reporter, GatorNation- Reporter for GatorNation
- Covers Florida Gators sports and recruiting
- Joined ESPN in 2011
ABOUT GATOR NATION
Michael DiRocco
Michael DiRocco covers University of Florida athletics for ESPN.com's GatorNation. He came to ESPN.com in 2011 after spending 10 ½ years covering UF for the Florida Times-Union. He lives in Middleburg, Fla., with his wife and two sons. Email him at espndirocco@gmail.com.
Jeff Barlis
Jeff Barlis joined ESPN in 2011 after seven years at The Gainesville Sun, covering the University of Florida and recruiting. Barlis graduated from UF's College of Journalism in 1993 and lives in Gainesville, Fla. Email him at jeffbarlis.espn@gmail.com.
Derek Tyson
Derek Tyson joined ESPN.com in 2011. He worked as a football and recruiting analyst for GatorCountry.com before joining ESPN. He currently resides in Gainesville, Fla. Email him at derektysonespn@gmail.com.
You must be signed in to post a comment