Center Micah Handlogten Suffers Ankle Injury in Florida's 15-Point Win Over Pitt
Just 49 seconds into action on Wednesday night, Gators starting center Micah Handlogten writhed in pain on the hardwood in Brooklyn, N.Y., after getting tangled up with Pitt guard Carlton Carrington in transition.
Last year's Sun Belt Freshman of the Year walked gingerly to the Florida bench before heading to the locker room. He frequently moved between the two destinations throughout the remainder of the first half before ultimately being deemed inactive for the rest of the Gators action against Pitt in the NIT Season Tip-Off with an ankle injury.
True freshmen Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh provided strong relief efforts throughout the final 39 minutes, though, to aid Florida to a second-straight win over an ACC opponent without the key piece available in the frontcourt.
Following his team's impressive 86-71 victory, UF head coach Todd Golden updated Handlogten's status.
"Ankle," Golden shared postgame. "Hopefully nothing too serious. We're getting it looked at right now, so we're waiting to hear what's going on."
To begin his Florida career, Handlogten accounted for 10 points on 70% from the field, 8.5 rebounds and one block per game.
A 7-foot-1 transfer addition from Marshall over the offseason, the sophomore big man was brought into the fold to serve as an anchor on the defensive end and on the boards for Florida throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
Possessing one of the highest rebound-per-game marks in college basketball a season ago at 9.8, Handlogten was Golden and Co.'s prized acquisition to resurrect the team's lackluster rebounding efforts from a season ago.
He's succeeded in that effort thus far.
Through four games, Handlogten's tied with his fellow starter in the frontcourt Tyrese Samuel, bringing down 8.5 rebounds per game.
His efforts contributed to the Gators' standing as the No. 1 ranking in offensive rebounding percentage on the year, grabbing just under 19 balls off the offensive glass per game.
Following his departure on Wednesday, Florida notably missed his rebounding presence against Pitt, losing the battle on the boards for the first time this season, 46-38 in favor of the Panthers, while simultaneously ending the Gators' three-game streak of more than 20 offensive rebounds.
It didn’t prove detrimental to the unit, however, although specific spurts in the first half suggested it could.
Instead, Florida exploded out of the halftime break, outscoring Pitt 47-37 in the second half to produce another statement victory.
The Gators hope to get back the talented sophomore big man on Friday as a clash with the No. 13 Baylor Bears in the NIT Season Tip-Off Championship rests on the horizon following Wednesday's win.
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