National Basketball Association – Syndication Server

Gators News: July 31, 2020

Another week is nearly in the books, but none have been nearly as eventful as this past week with big news both in the college and pros.

Another week is nearly in the books, but none have been nearly as eventful as this past week in the sports world since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, with big news happening both in the collegiate and professional ranks.

In college football news, the Southeastern Conference finally announced that it will play out a 10-game, conference-only schedule this fall in response to other major conferences making similar arrangements. While the exact lineup of games has not yet been listed, one of the glaring voids on the calendar for Gators fans is the loss of the Florida State rivalry game in 2020 — the first time since 1958 that the two schools will not face each other on the gridiron.

As has been mentioned in these Gators News reports over the past few days, Major League Baseball continues to struggle with its abbreviated 60-game season as the novel coronavirus continues to rear its ugly head in clusters around the league, with the St. Louis Cardinals the latest team falling victim to multiple positive tests.

Can confirm #STLCards games at #Brewers game has been postponed. @JonHeyman 1st. Cards are self-isolating at their hotel, not going to the park.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2020

However, the National Basketball Association re-launched its season yesterday from its “bubble” at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex to a great deal of fanfare, as the league has managed to avoid the mishaps that have befallen MLB with its novel approach to playing out its games. While time will tell how well it works, from the looks of it, the NBA is the only organization to get things right in the battle against COVID-19.

Around the Swamp

Three-star defensive tackle Desmond Watson joins the Florida Gators’ 2021 class: The program’s fifth commit in July, three-star Armwood (Seffner, Florida) defensive tackle Desmond Watson became the latest member of the Gators’ 2021 class on Thursday.
SEC announces plan to play 10-game conference-only football schedule: The Southeastern Conference announced on Thursday that its member schools will adhere to a 10-game, conference-only schedule for the upcoming 2020 football season beginning on Sept. 26.
Carlos Del Rio is Florida’s most impactful 2021 recruit according to ESPN: Quarterback is the most important position on the field, so it’s not surprising that when listing the biggest impact prospect in each of the top 25 classes for the 2021 recruiting cycle, Loganville, Ga., product Carlos Del Rio was named the best for the Gators.

It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

It took 15 innings and several lead changes as @GatorsSB and @HuskerSoftball battled in an epic elimination game at the 2013 #WCWS. https://t.co/c2x6SGwwUg

— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) July 30, 2020

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Gators News: July 13, 2020

A new week is upon us and given the events that preceded the weekend we are in for one heckuva few days as we roll into the middle of July.

A new week is upon us and given the events that preceded the weekend we are in for one heck of a few days as we roll into the middle of July.

It is expected that sometime later today the Southeastern Conference will make its announcement concerning the shift to conference-only schedules already taken by the Big 10 and PAC-12, as well as the Ivy League’s decision to cancel all fall athletics. The Patriot League is also canceling its 2020 fall athletics season, according to a source.

The Patriot League is canceling fall competition (for fall sports), @TheAthleticCFB has confirmed. Will make a decision on winter sports at a later date. League will explore possibility of fall football in spring. @MattBrownEP had it first.

— Nicole Auerbach 😷 (@NicoleAuerbach) July 13, 2020

In other news, Major League Baseball is currently struggling with its restart due to numerous reports of positive COVID-19 cases while the National Basketball Association is trying its hardest to keep its bubble from being burst.

Around the Swamp

Expect the SEC and other collegiate conferences to follow the Big 10’s lead: Not only does this alter the schedules of Big 10 teams, but also every team that was scheduled to play a Big 10 team in non-conference play. As a result, it’s just a matter of time until the rest of the FBS makes the same call.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s concern for the season is ‘high to very high’: In light of rising COVID-19 cases across the south and decisions made by the Big 10 and PAC 12 over the last several days to move to conference-only football schedules this fall, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said he is concerned about the prospect of playing football in the fall during an interview on the ESPN Radio show Marty & McGee on Saturday morning.

It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

Coming soon…#GatorsROH #GoGators pic.twitter.com/0TxtC01ab8

— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) July 13, 2020

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All-Time Gators Men’s Basketball Bio: Bradley Beal (2011-2012)

Beal is still only 26 years old and is just now entering his prime, giving him a bit more headroom to maximize his potential.

Bradley Beal (2011-2012) – Shooting Guard

Bradley Beal came to Gainesville out of St. Louis, Mo. as a highly-heralded five-star high school player, having accumulated numerous accolades — including 2011 Gatorade National Player of the Year — averaging 32.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game during his senior campaign.

The talented shooting guard only played one season with Florida, but it was quite a year as he averaged 14.8 points along with 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals and nearly a block a game. Beal won six SEC Freshman of the Week awards, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and was a First Team All-SEC selection.

He declared for the 2012 NBA Draft after the 2011-12 season in which he was selected third overall — second-highest of all-time, tied with Al Horford — by the Washington Wizards, foregoing his final three years of college eligibility.

Beal has had a superb professional career over eight years in D.C. and has continually improved his scoring production in each of the past five seasons. The 2019-2020 season was his best so far before being canceled due to COVID-19, putting together a pair of consecutive 50-point performances en route to a stratospherical 30.5 points average in 57 games, along with 4.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.2 steals per match.

Beal is still only 26 years old and is just now entering his prime, giving him a bit more headroom to maximize his potential. If his trajectory continues on its current path, he may have a legitimate argument for best Gators men’s basketball player ever.