The 2020-21 Florida men’s basketball team is finally upon us. After the cancellation of three games, the Gators have added a pair of games at Mohegan Sun before their home opener against Stetson on Sunday.
The following group is offering their thoughts, expectations, and predictions on this year’s team.
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Brian Fox (ChompTalk.com)
Team MVP: Scottie Lewis
Most Improved: Tre Mann
Newcomer to Watch: Tyree Appleby
Where the team finishes the season: Elite Eight
Why: I know, I know, We do this every year. We set lofty expectations for this team, only to see them come up short. I’m actually more excited about this team than I have been in years past. Mike White has stated his desires to play faster, which this team seems built for. I expect Scottie Lewis to take a leadership role and show off why he was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school. I set an Elite Eight finish for this team, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go further. The talent is there for this squad. Now, it’s up to White and the staff to bring it out.
Ryan Haley (ChompTalk.com)
Team MVP: Keyontae Johnson
Most Improved: Tre Mann
Newcomer to Watch: Samson Ruzhentsev
Where the team finishes the season: Sweet Sixteen
Why: Wow, I thought I was being a bit overzealous before I saw Brian’s. I honestly could see anything between the Final Four and the NIT for this team, but I’m an optimistic person and I’m optimistic about this team. I heavily debated going with Payne at most improved because I think both new starters are going to take massive leaps this season with a year under their belts. With Mann handling the ball, if he becomes the player he was signed to be, this team would be ideal for the up-tempo offense Mike White has been preaching about. I think we may have been a year early on the Gators.
Graham Hall (Gainesville Sun)
Team MVP: Keyontae Johnson
Most Improved: Omar Payne
Newcomer to Watch: Niels Lane
Where the team finishes the season: Round of 32
Why: Call me down on Florida, but this is such a strange year that I’m pessimistic UF will have had the development time necessary to integrate six new player and a new starting PG and PF this season. The Gators want to push the pace while improving on transition defense in a year where conditioning has been iffy and full-squad practices are hard to come by. But let me be clear about this: this roster has incredible potential. Samson Ruzhentsev and Lane should be impact freshmen, and the addition of the sit-outs from last season should make UF more competitive this season. Not to get ahead of myself either, but the Gators should be much improved when it comes to scoring in the post, too.
Dylan O’Shea (Alligator Sports)
Team MVP: Keyontae Johnson
Most Improved: Tre Mann
Newcomer to Watch: Osayi Osifo
Where the team finishes the season: Round of 32
Why: I’m not as bullish on the Gators as some of my counterparts. Yes, returning juniors such as Keyontae Johnson and Noah Locke will provide key leadership and experience to navigate Florida through a tournament appearance if it gets there. And junior transfers in Colin Castleton and Osayi Osifo will offer solid defense and high motors off the bench to start the season — something coach Mike White and the team have lauded the two big men for. With sobered expectations compared to last year and an uptick in pace on the court, this bunch should be fun to watch this season. But will the squad’s talents gel well come March? Only time will tell.
Eric Fawcett (GatorCountry.com)
Team MVP: Keyontae Johnson
Most Improved: Tre Mann
Newcomer to Watch: Anthony Duruji
Where the team finishes the season: Sweet Sixteen
Why: When you look at recent history in college basketball it’s teams with experience that bring back fringe NBA talent that were 50-50 on going to the league that have success. The Gators are just that, bringing back Keyontae Johnson, Scottie Lewis, and Tre Mann who were getting NBA looks as well as activating fourth year players Anthony Duruji and and Tyree Appleby. This will be a team capable of playing multiple different styles on both offense and defense, a major departure from recent years where they have been rather one dimensional. They’ll be drastically better defensively this year with much more length and athleticism than a year ago and they have improved offensive pieces to augment a team that actually scored the ball pretty efficiently. Any skepticism regarding Florida basketball is warranted but objectively looking at this roster they have more length, experience, and proven production than past seasons where the team has disappointed and they have a chance to do damage in March.
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Florida opens their season on Wednesday against Army in the Bubbleville Tournament in Unacastle, Connecticut.
ChompTalk.com 
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