Golden, Chinyelu Advance as Naismith Award Semifinalists
Florida coach Todd Golden and junior center Rueben Chinyelu were named semifinalists for Naismith awards. The Atlanta Tipoff Club made the announcement on Friday.
Golden is a semifinalist for Coach of the Year. Chinyelu is a semifinalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
Golden, Chinyelu Advance as Naismith Award Semifinalists was confirmed Friday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The recognition highlights national attention for the program.
Season turnaround and seeding
The Gators started the season 5-4. They then closed the regular season on a 21-2 run and secured the SEC regular season title.
Florida earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The seed capped a major midseason reversal.
Chinyelu’s defensive impact
Chinyelu has emerged as a premier interior defender. He also shows the versatility to contain smaller guards.
He totaled 379 rebounds this season. Only Neal Walk has a higher single-season rebound total in Florida history.
Chinyelu averages 11.5 rebounds per game, one of three players nationally at that mark. His rebounding ranks among the nation’s leaders.
NCAA Tournament opener
The Gators begin NCAA Tournament play Friday at 9:25 p.m. The game will air on TNT in Tampa.
Florida will face Prairie View A&M in the opening round. The matchup begins Florida’s run as a No. 1 seed.
Naismith semifinalists
Coach of the Year Semifinalists
- Mark Byington, Vanderbilt
- Todd Golden, Florida
- Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska
- Tom Izzo, Michigan State
- Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
- Dusty May, Michigan
- Ryan Odom, Virginia
- T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
- Jon Scheyer, Duke
- Travis Steele, Miami (OH)
Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Cameron Boozer, Duke
- Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Maliq Brown, Duke
- Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
- Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
- Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Aday Mara, Michigan
- Joseph Tugler, Houston
Filmogaz.com will monitor further developments. Updates will follow as the tournament progresses.
