Florida could have 6 scholarship players available in Battle 4 Atlantis
The Florida Gators could be down to six scholarship players for this week's Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, head coach Billy Donovan said Monday, according to the Associated Press.
The No. 18 Gators (2-1) are part of the eight-team field at this week's tournament on Paradise Island, which tips off Wednesday night. Florida plays Georgetown (3-0) at 9:30 p.m. ET, but will likely be without forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Eli Carter, its second and third-leading scorers, respectively.
Both players are expected to dress for the game, though their statuses are still in doubt. Donovan said Tuesday that Carter didn't practice and likely won't play, while Finney-Smith's situation has yet to be determined, though he did practice.
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Finney-Smith missed Florida's last two games with airline fractures in the index and middle fingers on his left hand. On Monday, Donovan said Finney-Smith's availability will be a matter of pain tolerance, and that he likely will be wearing a hand brace "for a few weeks."
More from the AP:
"He's got two broken bones in his hand, so it's not a situation where you're looking at it and saying, 'Geez, this guy just needs to play through some pain.' I think it's very, very difficult right now for him to catch, to dribble. And I think when the ball does come to him, I think that's a problem. I think going up to rebound is a problem. So where does he get to a point where he feels like the pain is manageable?"
Carter sprained his left foot in practice last week and missed Friday's game vs. Louisiana-Monroe. Florida won in overtime, 61-56. While Donovan said Carter has done cardio work, he hasn't yet returned to practice, let alone done any cutting or running on the foot.
Florida dropped 10 spots in the AP Poll, after the UL-Monroe game and a Nov. 17 69-67 loss to Miami.
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- Mike Fiammetta
