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Home > SECWB News & More! > SEC Teams > Florida > Florida vs. Robert Morris Preview
Florida vs. Robert Morris Preview
by LeAnne Harrington, SECWB.com
Posted: November 10th, 2007 @ 11:22pm
The Florida Gators (1-0) are looking to extend their winning start when they host the Robert Morris University Colonials on Monday evening, Nov. 12 in Gainesville. The Gators are coming off an impressive 82-71 win in their season opener against Xavier which gave new head coach Amanda Butler her first win as coach at her alma mater. This will be the season opener for the Colonials.
Florida faces another quality opponent in Robert Morris. After finishing the 2006-2007 regular season as conference co-champs, RMU went on to win the Northeast Conference Tournament and made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round to eventual Elite Eight team NC State. The Colonials finished the 2006-2007 season with a 24-8 mark, which set a school record for wins, and have been picked to finish second in the NEC this season.
RMU is a veteran team which is led by seniors Chinata Nesbit and Psyche Butler along with junior Kendra Williams. Nesbit, a 6’2” forward, was selected to the NEC Preseason All-Conference team after finishing second in the conference in scoring (19.2 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 rpg) last year. An All-NEC First Team pick last season, Nesbit was also fifth in the conference in blocks (34, 1.06 bpg) and seventh in assists (113, 3.53 apg) and was named the 2007 NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Butler, a 5’10” guard and the best defensive player on the squad, averaged 9.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg last season. Williams is a 5’7” point guard who played in every game last season. She was second on the team with 89 assists and third with 53 steals while averaging 3.3 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
Florida will most likely stick with their starting five from the season opener; after all, why mess with success? Probable starters are: 5’11” junior forward Marshae Dotson, who tallied 14 points and grabbed 9 boards against Xavier; 6’3” junior center Aneika Henry (6 points, 4 rebounds); 5’7” junior guard Sha Brooks (16 points, 2 assists, 4 steals); 5’8” sophomore guard Brittaney Thomas (17 points, 3 assists); and 5’11” senior guard Depree Bowden (17 points, 7 rebounds). First off the bench will probably be 6’1” freshman forward Ndidi Madu, who logged 20 minutes against Xavier.
My prediction is Robert Morris will give the Gators a fight, but will find themselves overmatched against this SEC team on the rise. Florida served notice in their first game that they are playing tough-nosed ball, much like the style of ball their coach played when she was a Gator. They need to continue spreading their point production as they did in the season opener; doing so will make it difficult for an opponent to shut them down. Another key will be free throw shooting. Florida hit 20 of 24 from the line in their first game, which translates to 83.3%. Any team that can connect at that pace will be tough to beat.
Game time is set for Monday evening, Nov. 12 at 7 pm EST at O’Connell Center.
Fun Facts: Robert Morris University is located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, which is located on the Ohio River approximately 15 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Past residents of Moon include Barry Bonds, Plaxico Burress, John Calipari and Anne B. Davis, who played Alice on "The Brady Bunch."
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