Hung joins Gators for Madness
By Bryan App Independent Florida Alligator
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (U-WIRE) — Gators basketball fans experienced showtime at the O’Connell Center on Friday night at UF’s annual Midnight Madness.
While anxious orange-and-blue-clad spectators counted down to the midnight tip-off of the basketball season, listening to competitors in the Gator Idol finale and to American Idol contestant William Hung, Gators basketball players contributed to the evening’s mood with some song and dance of their own.
A video compilation of the Gator Idol selection process featured freshman forward Corey Brewer performing his rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and classmate, and avid Bob Marley fan, Joakim Noah paying homage with a reggae-style tune.
Later, Noah and sophomore guard Lee Humphrey showed off some breakdancing moves with the Dazzlers.
While the Gators executed a series of drills and played in an intrasquad scrimmage, the event was primarily intended as a night of fun, not preparation, Coach Billy Donovan said.
“I think it’s mainly for our fans and for our players,” Donovan said. “In terms of us getting any benefit out of it, tomorrow will be the first day for us, and that will really be our focus.”
As an indication of the level of intense practice the Gators would face Saturday, sophomore Chris Richard said he wasn’t looking forward to the UF’s late-night showcase because of what exhausting drills the next day would bring.
Donovan said Richard’s recovery from an off-season knee surgery was a main factor in his lack of enthusiasm.
“I think Chris says that because Chris isn’t in great shape right now,” Donovan said. “I think for Chris, obviously he got set back with that knee surgery, and he’s probably a little bit heavy.”
“He’s probably a little bit apprehensive about how he’s going to be able to get through practice.”
In addition to the music and drills, some UF players participated in a three-point shooting contest and a dunk contest.
Junior guard Anthony Roberson and Tamia Williams, a guard for the UF women’s team, defeated forward Matt Walsh and women’s forward Tashia Morehead in the coed three-point competition.
In the dunk contest, defending champion David Lee brought the crowd of 9,417 to a roar with a dunk off a bounce pass from Hung, who was fitted with his own UF jersey.
Lee’s attempt, however, ranked second to that of UF high jumper, Michael Morrison. Morrison, a Southeastern Conference high jump champion, leaped from the free-throw line and threw down the contest-winning slam.
Donovan predicted the guest competitor’s victory prior to the evening’s events.
“[Morrison] is the SEC high jump champion,” Donovan said. “He high-jumps 7-5, so I’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t win.”
© 2004 Independent Florida Alligator via U-WIRE.
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