Less than a month ago, sixth-year Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah had a total of three triple-doubles in his NBA career. He now has six. The former Gator posted 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists Wednesday night in Chicago’s 105-94 win at Detroit. It was his second triple-double in three games and his third in 11. It was also his fifth double-digit assist game since Feb. 6. He had recorded just two for his career prior to this season.… Read More »
Prior to last weekend, most considered Jaylen Watkins to be the third-best cornerback prospect from Florida in this year’s draft class. He may have changed some opinions with his performance at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, which concluded Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Watkins ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, tied for the fourth-fastest time among players at his position. His 22 bench press reps of 225 pounds were tied for the most. Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson,… Read More »
Mike Miller has made a living off his three-point shooting. The former Gator hit seven buckets from beyond the arc in Miami’s championship-clinching win over Oklahoma City in 2012, and last year he made 11 of 12 long-range attempts in four of the Heat’s seven games against San Antonio. But he hasn’t delivered many daggers from downtown with Memphis this season. That changed Tuesday. Miller drained a 3-pointer with 45.9 seconds to give the Grizzlies a one-point lead they wouldn’t… Read More »
In a rare occurrence, LeBron James and Joakim Noah had exchanges on a basketball court Sunday that weren’t physical or verbal confrontations. The two rivals actually found some chemistry during the fourth quarter of the East’s 163-155 victory in the NBA All-Star game. James set up Noah for a pair of dunks, one on a fast break and the other off a pick-and-roll. “He’s a high-energy guy, a high-IQ guy,” James said of Noah to the Palm Beach Post. “I… Read More »
Bradley Beal left quite the first impression on Memphis fans Tuesday. The Washington Wizards shooting guard scored a career-high 37 in his first game at FedExForum. Beal’s point total was more than twice his season average (17), but the Grizzlies took home a 92-89 win. “It’s terrible that you waste a game like that from him,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman told the Washington Post. Beal, whose grandparents were in attendance, also set a season high with 63 percent of his shot… Read More »
Eight former Gators have been invited to the 2014 NFL Combine. It will be held from Feb. 19-25 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., and televised by NFL Network. The combine puts more than 300 draft prospects through physical and mental tests in front of NFL personnel. Here are the Florida players participating: TE Trey Burton OL Jon Halapio OL Jonotthan Harrison DT Dominique Easley (will not participate in drills with torn ACL) LB Ronald Powell DB Loucheiz Purifoy DB Marcus Roberson DB Jaylen Watkins Florida will hold its… Read More »
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was selected to the All-Star Game as an Eastern Conference reserve for the second consecutive season Thursday. The former Gator is only one of eight NBA players this year averaging a double-double (11.7 points and 11.4 rebounds), and also has a 17-game streak going with double-digit rebounds. “I’m just happy,” Noah said on a conference call with reporters Thursday night. ”It’s an unbelievable honor to be selected to the All-Star Game, play against the best players in… Read More »
Deion Sanders knew what he was talking about. When ‘Prime Time’ spoke to Joe Haden earlier this week, he advised the Cleveland Browns cornerback to work on playing every down like the game is on the line. “Sometimes you’ll take a nap for a play. Then you’ll say, ‘Dang! They caught one.’ Now you’re mad for the rest of the game,” Sanders told the fourth-year player out of Florida. “You are exactly right,” Haden responded. Sanders’ film observation was on display in… Read More »
Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons was a man possessed Friday from beyond the arc. The former Gator and 2011 SEC Player of the Year set an NBA record for three-pointers made in one half, and a franchise record for the most in a single game. Parsons knocked down 10 of 11 attempts against Memphis in the second half after going 0-for-3 from long range in the first two quarters. He finished with a career-high 34 points in an 88-87 loss to the Grizzlies.… Read More »
Former Florida assistant Teryl Austin is a defensive coordinator again. This time, it’s in the NFL. After three years with the Baltimore Ravens as their secondary coach, Austin was hired Friday as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Their new head coach, Jim Caldwell, worked with Austin for two years in Baltimore, including the Ravens’ championship season in 2013. Caldwell was also the quarterbacks coach at Penn State when Austin started his coaching career in 1991 as a graduate assistant.… Read More »
