Miami Herald Logo

Freshman Kasey Hill has Florida Gators back at full speed for rematch with Connecticut in Final Four | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

University of Florida

Freshman Kasey Hill has Florida Gators back at full speed for rematch with Connecticut in Final Four

By Jesse Simonton

    ORDER REPRINT →

April 03, 2014 12:01 AM

Scottie Wilbekin has been dubbed top-seeded Florida’s “Superman,” but the Gators’ “Flash” could be the difference-maker in the Final Four.

Kasey Hill, a blur in the open court, missed Florida’s 65-64 loss to Connecticut earlier this season with a high-ankle sprain.

Florida’s freshman point guard was relegated to the end of the bench in Storrs, Conn., forced to watch All-American guard Shabazz Napier make the game-winner at the buzzer.

But Hill won’t be a frustrated observer in Texas on Saturday night (6:09 p.m., TBS), when the Gators (36-2) seek revenge against the Huskies (30-8) with a berth in the national championship game on the line.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“Kasey can definitely help us,” UF coach Billy Donovan said.

“Kasey in the [NCAA] tournament, and even going back to the [Southeastern Conference tournament] has come on. He’s played better. He’s improved. I’ve got confidence in him. He makes our team faster when he’s out there. I thought what he did in the UCLA game really helped us. He manufactured a lot of easy baskets for us by getting down the lane. Him being available to play really helps our team.”

Although Wilbekin has taken a backseat to no one during the NCAA Tournament, Hill — a former five-star prospect and 2013 McDonald’s All-American out of Umatilla — has been the perfect compliment to Florida’s senior leader.

The 6-1 penetrating facilitator has handed out a team-high 15 assists in four tournament games, as opponents have struggled to contain his slithery speed and quickness in transition.

“As fast as he is, unless you have somebody like that in practice, you can’t really simulate him,” UF guard Michael Frazier II said.

“We need him to get his speed into the game. When he gets into the game, just [raise] the temperature.”

Turner Sports analyst Greg Anthony, a former point guard and 11-year NBA veteran, called Hill an X-factor in Saturday’s rematch.

It’s easy to see why.

In Florida’s lackluster second-round win over Albany, Hill sparked the Gators with 10 second-half points.

A week later, he became just the fourth freshman ever — along with former point guard greats Magic Johnson (1978) and Jason Kidd (1993) — to record 10 or more assists in the Sweet 16, registering 10 against UCLA.

“He’s just gotten better as the year went on,” Wilbekin said.

“He’s really playing at his best right now and getting into the lane, playing better defense, finding guys, it just adds a lot to our team.”

Hill, who missed seven games this season with various injuries and has battled turf toe throughout the tournament, averages 5.5 points and 3.2 assists in 22 minutes off the bench. He has made strides defensively too, recording five steals and 10 rebounds during the tournament.

Whereas Hill’s development has taken time this season, Wilbekin’s willingness to defer to the freshman has been key for both Hill and the team’s overall success, according to Donovan.

“It takes a pretty mature player to say, ‘I’m going to slide off the ball. I’m going to give the ball to a freshman,’ ” Donovan said.

“Scottie’s been great for Kasey. Scottie’s invested a lot of time with him. … But [Scottie] wants to win.”

Hill does too, even while battling a nagging injury.

“I know turf toe is painful, but come on, we’re playing in the Final Four,” Donovan quipped.

“He'll be fine. He's a great kid. … I do appreciate him working through that.”

Related stories from Miami Herald

HOMEPAGE

UF blog | Gator Clause

September 05, 2011 01:37 PM

  Comments  

Videos

Four-star defensive end Khris Bogle picks UF

‘They’ve caused problems for everyone they’ve played,’ Smart says of Gators’ defense

View More Video

Trending Stories

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is among the hundreds charged in Florida sex traffic sting

February 22, 2019 12:23 PM

Trump threatens to deport Venezuelan military officials’ families that have fled to Miami

February 22, 2019 07:21 PM

It’s about to get easier for legal immigrants in Miami to get their papers. Faster, too.

February 22, 2019 03:14 PM

Florida man forced 5-year-old to perform sex acts on him, deputies say

February 21, 2019 08:16 PM

Judge in Acosta/Epstein case gets it right. Now what?

February 21, 2019 10:39 PM

Read Next

Former Florida Gators star has drug charge dismissed, but could still face NFL discipline

College Sports

Former Florida Gators star has drug charge dismissed, but could still face NFL discipline

By Jason Dill

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 04:20 PM

Former Florida Gators star and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway has drug charge dismissed. But he could still face NFL discipline.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

University of Florida

Nembhard scores 21, Florida handles Alabama 71-53

February 16, 2019 05:26 PM
This Florida Gators guard is hoping his struggles are over after his recent success

University of Florida

This Florida Gators guard is hoping his struggles are over after his recent success

February 13, 2019 01:19 PM
No. 1 Tennessee beats Florida 73-61 for 18th straight win

University of Florida

No. 1 Tennessee beats Florida 73-61 for 18th straight win

February 09, 2019 07:41 PM
The Florida Gators moved up in the recruiting rankings on Signing Day. And this is why

University of Florida

The Florida Gators moved up in the recruiting rankings on Signing Day. And this is why

February 06, 2019 04:52 PM
For one prospect, the chance to walk on at UF is a ‘mind-blowing’ opportunity

High School Recruiting

For one prospect, the chance to walk on at UF is a ‘mind-blowing’ opportunity

February 06, 2019 03:30 PM
Cardinal Gibbons DE Khris Bogle gets help from Chucky to make Signing Day commitment

High School Recruiting

Cardinal Gibbons DE Khris Bogle gets help from Chucky to make Signing Day commitment

February 06, 2019 08:41 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story