Gators to be without two key pieces in season opener against Georgetown

When Florida opens its basketball season on Friday night against Georgetown in the Navy-Marine Corps Classic aboard a ship docked at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, the Gators will be without starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin and forward Casey Prather.

Wilbekin did not make the trip to Jacksonville on Thursday. Coach Billy Donovan announced that Wilbekin has been suspended indefinitely, but added that the suspension is not due to any legal trouble or NCAA issues.

"Sometimes the decision a person makes, is not who that person is," Donovan said, according to a school release. "People are trying to figure out what's going on. But to say any more would not be fair to Scottie."

Senior shooting guard Kenny Boynton will likely start at point guard in Wilbekin's absence, with fellow shooting guard Mike Rosario and freshman point guard Braxton Ogbueze also seeing time at the spot. Florida will likely play more big lineups than usual with Will Yeguete at small forward, and Yeguete will be asked to log more minutes than he is accustomed to because the additional absence of forward Casey Prather.

Prather suffered his second concussion in a little more than a week during practice Monday. He has been ruled out for the game and a date for his return date has not been announced.