The Florida Gators got the result they wanted by opening the season with a win against Alabama State.
Although the team was without point guard Scottie Wilbekin, who was suspended by coach Billy Donovan for undisclosed reasons, the team played excellent on offense, with four players scoring in double figures.
"As of right now, I am not playing him against Wisconsin," coach Billy Donovan said to the Associated Press following Sunday's 84-35 win over Alabama State.
Senior Kenny Boynton will continue to start in Wilbekin's place. Boynton was one of the best players with the Gators last season, leading the team with 15.9 points per game. He added 22 points, five assists and six rebounds in the win over Alabama State.
"We definitely wanted to come out with a bang," Boynton said. "This was a good game to get everyone in and get a feel for the game."
Florida took a 47-9 halftime lead against Alabama State, which was the fewest first-half points allowed by the Gators in the shot clock era," according to the Associated Press.
It was the first game for the Gators after dealing with a cancellation against Georgetown on Friday. The game aboard the USS Bataan was called at halftime due to issues with condensation on the court.
Wisconsin won their first game as well and is also missing a key player after Gasser was lost to a season-ending ACL injury in practice last month.
George Marshall started in his place on Sunday in Wisconsin's 87-47 victory over Southeastern Louisiana and scored five points with two assists. According to the Associated Press, "the first Badgers freshman to start a season opener since Devin Harris in 2001."
"Collectively at the guard spot me, George and (sophomore Traevon Jackson) are going to have to do a good job working together and making sure we stop penetration and do our best to get what we can without Josh," said junior Ben Brust to the Associated Press.
Brust also made his first career start on Sunday and scored 14 points while grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds.
The Badgers are also dealing with an injury to forward Mike Bruesewitz, who is out until later in the month with a leg injury.
"You guys have all seen it, what he's capable of, the energy and intensity he brings, the toughness, he does all the little things, getting on the glass, getting rebounds, he'll knock down open shots, he makes plays for himself and other people," said senior forward Jared Berggren, who had a team-best 19 points with eight rebounds.
The two teams haven't played each other in over 40 years and "have split two meetings, with Florida winning 71-66 in Gainesville in the last matchup on Dec. 21, 1968."
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