UF basketball routs Webber in season tuneup

Florida coach Billy Donovan admitted his team was "put on its heels" in the first five minutes of its preseason finale against Webber International.

Yet what emerged from a sloppy start were some valuable contributions off the bench from sophomore guard Ray Shipman and junior forward Chandler Parsons.

Shipman had 16 points and Parsons added 12 points and nine rebounds as the Gators beat Webber 104-53 Monday night at the O'Connell Center.

Florida trailed 15-8 early due to some breakdowns in its man defense that allowed Webber, an NAIA school, to make seven of its first 10 shots. Three Webber baskets came on wide-open dunks.

"That's just poor focus on our part," Florida point guard Erving Walker said. "We're going to have to do a better job in the halfcourt to start the game."

But Donovan saw some value in his team getting off to the rocky start.

"Webber came out with great intensity and were really energized," Donovan said. "It was good for our team to get exposed to that."

Parsons checked into the game with Florida trailing 15-11. When Shipman came in to join Parsons, Florida was down 15-13.

With a longer, quicker lineup, Florida went to the press. Shipman and Parsons combined for six points during a 13-0 run that put Florida ahead to stay 26-15.

"No matter if I'm starting or coming off the bench, I'm going to be the guy who comes to play with energy and passion and lays it on the line every time," Parsons said.

Shipman allowed his defense to spark his offense. His first basket came on a wide-open dunk off a steal in the front of the press. Shipman made seven of 11 baskets, all on dunks and layups.

Shipman, who scored 3.8 points per game last season, averaged 13 points through UF's two preseason games. Shipman is down to 205 pounds after playing at 225 pounds last season.

"It's been different, learning to slash against 6-5, 6-6, 6-7 guys in college after being the biggest guy in high school," Shipman said. "I feel like I'm in better shape and I'm putting in the work in practice."

Freshman guard Kenny Boynton again led Florida in scoring with 25 points, going 5-of-8 from 3-point range and 8-of-12 from the foul line. Walker added 12 points and nine assists.

There are some areas Florida will need to clean up before its season opener Sunday against Stetson. Despite outrebounding Webber 49-31, the Gators gave up 13 offensive rebounds against a team without a player taller than 6-foot-7 on its roster. Also, Florida had more turnovers (21) than assists (20).

"I saw some things out there that I'm not sure we're going to be able to get away with," Donovan said.

Halston Schaffer led Webber International with 13 points.

"We're extremely proud of how we played early on in the game," Webber International coach John Shoffner said. "We're going to go back and break down the film from those first few minutes and the rest of the game and take the positives and drop the negatives."

FREE THROWS: Freshman forward Gabriel Rutledge, a Gainesville High graduate, had no points, three rebounds and a blocked shot in 14 minutes off the bench.