Gators news and notes: Training camp opens, women’s basketball schedule released
The Gators opened up training camp on Wednesday, women’s basketball released their non-conference schedule, and the Gators week 2 opponent may be missing a key player.
Training camp begins
Since the end of spring camp, most of the news surrounding Florida has been about recruiting.
On Wednesday the players who will actually play for the Gators in 2022 took to the field to prepare for the season.
After spending parts of last season in a hotel due to Covid-19, Florida is hoping for much smoother sailing this time around.
Women’s basketball releases non-conference schedule
The Florida women’s basketball team had a roller coaster season in 2021.
Former coach Cameron Newbauer resigned last July, but then in emerged at the start of the season that Newbauer was essentially forced to leave due to a toxic team culture.
Kelly Rae Finley was left to pick up the pieces and did so in fine fashion.
Florida went 20-9 last year and finished ranked 23rd. It was the first winning season in Gainesville since 2016.
Finley was hired as the permanent head coach in the off-season and looks to continue the momentum this year.
The first step for the new season is releasing non-conference schedule.
The home slate for Florida will be a mostly low key affairs.
Florida will have seven homes games during the non-conference portion of the season, none against a power five opponent.
The Gators do play FSU in Tallahassee on November 16 and are at Miami on December 10.
Florida will play Green Bay and Houston in St. Pete during Thanksgiving weekend.
The women’s team is also joining the men’s team in Charlotte in December for the Jumpman Invitational and like the men will take on Oklahoma.
The winner plays the winner of North Carolina vs Michigan.
Star Kentucky player’s availability still unknown
Florida football plays Kentucky week two of the season and it is still unknown if Kentucky will have star running back Chris Rodriguez for the game.
Rodriguez was arrested in May on a DUI charge.
Kentucky has not formally announced what punishment from team Rodriguez has been given.
When asked today about Rodriguez’s status, head coach Mark Stoops said “I don’t have any comment.”
Kentucky opens the season against Miami (OH). It wouldn’t be too surprising if Rodriguez missed the opener but was on the field against Florida.