I never expect

to see the

"Gator Equal"

of Billy Donovan's

back-to-back

national champions …

This year's Gators

have a far

different "identity"

than Horford-Noah-

Brewer and Florida's

"double-dip wonders"…

from '06 and '07…

But the "Gators

of Now" are 17 and 4-

they are

explosive---entertaining---

and defensively aggressive…

Brad Beal-a

lavishly gifted

freshman---is still

on the rise---unlimited

possibilities…

Erv Walker

and Kenny Boynton are

proven--experienced

elements…

Florida does NOT

have "the BIGS"

to match '06

and '07---but

6-9, 245-pound

Patric Young is "an

Adonis" with a
\
big smile and an

energetic,

powerful presence..

If "these" Gators

come close to

matching Florida's

NCAA run of

a year ago---advancing

to the doorstep

of the Final Four-

the "key dude"

could be

Eric Murphy…

A non-factor

last season---the

6-10 junior from

Rhode Island has

become Young's

"partner"-helping

with dirty work

beneath backboards-

AND, Murphy has a

sweet 3-point

shooting stroke…

Eric got into

off-season trouble-

arrested outside a

St. Augustine

night spot…

But I'm thinking that

"nonsensical episode"

forced-or "scared"

Murphy into

"growing up"…

Becoming

the "man"

the Gators needed

to enhance their

basketball of

"Now"…

I'm Hubert Mizell,

and that's what I think.