Florida Hoops: Pullin Makes His UF Debut Against FSU

It only took the preseason scrimmage against 12th-ranked Miami to confirm for Todd Golden that he got just what he was looking for in Zyon Pullin. The 6-4 fifth-year transfer from Cal-Riverside nailed a buzzer beater to give the Gators a 91-89 win over the Hurricanes, who made the Final Four last season, nothing unusual for a guy who seems to live for those kind of situations.

Todd Golden (Chris Spears Photo)

“He’s been kind of a late-clock guy his whole career,” Golden said Thursday. “Going back to his Riverside days, he had like three or four buzzer-beaters to win games. More than anything, he’s just not scared of the moment.”

Florida fans get their first look at Pullin tonight when the Gators (2-1) play host to arch-rival Florida State (2-0) at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center (7 p.m., SEC Network). Pullin was suspended the first three games of the season for participating in an unauthorized pre-NBA Draft workout.

At Riverside, Pullin played in 109 games, starting 77 times. After coming off the bench as a freshman, he started 78 of the next 79 games and left Riverside with 1,312 career points. A first team All-Big West selection last season, Pullin averaged 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He shot 48.6 percent overall from the field, 39.4 percent from the 3-point line and 77.1 percent from the foul line.

“Obviously, he’s a guy that a lot of people may or may not have known about coming from the west coast, but when you get a fifth-year guy who averaged 18.4 last year, won a lot of games, played for one of my best friends out there in California, a guy that runs a similar program to what we do, you know, there’s a lot of advantages to being able to get him back in the rotation,” Golden said. “And, you know, he’s not replacing anybody. He’s just going to come in and make everybody’s job and lives a little easier. He’s going to be really comfortable in these environments.

“This was a guy that was really borderline going to play pro or not, and decided to come back and play college … whenever you get to add a guy like that, it’s going to be really beneficial and I think he’s going to raise the level of our team, for sure.”

Pullin gives Golden options. He is a natural point who can allow Walter Clayton Jr. to slide over to the wing to take advantage of his long range shooting (43.1 percent on 3-pointers last year at Iona). When Pullin and Clayton are in the game together, the Gators will be almost impossible to press because they are both exceptional ball handlers who can score and facilitate in transition.

Golden can already envision good things happening with the Gators with both guys available.

“Now Walt’s an incredible threat back there with the ball because he’s really aggressive, obviously can score really well,” Golden said. “He can make some really aggressive passes, but Zyon’s played at the position for four or five years, really good on-ball defender and a guy that doesn’t get too high or doesn’t get too low. I think he’ll do a really good job keeping our team, you know, on an even and a level playing field when things can get high or low, which I think is really important.”

Since both Pullin and Clayton are excellent shooters, it probably will take some of the pressure off Will Richard, who has been on radar lock the last two games in which he’s totaled 36 points (16 vs. Virginia, 20 vs. Florida A&M). Richard was Florida’s only dependable deep threat a season ago so when opponents were able to neutralize him, the Gators didn’t have shooters to compensate.

That changes with Pullin. Golden can surround his big guys with capable perimeter scorers like Pullin, Clayton, Richard and Riley Kugel, more of a slasher type who can be lethal when he heats up from the 3-point line.

Pullin sees a team with plenty of options, combinations and depth, all of which will make his job easier.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that can do a lot of things,” Pullin said. “I think we’re a very versatile time. I think we got 10 guys who can play. That’s something that has shown up. Condo (6-11 freshman Alex Condon) having a big game or Zel (6-5 sophomore Denzel Aberdeen). We got a bunch of guys. It goes down the list. Walt (Clayton), Will (Richard) and I think that’s what kind of jumps out.”

At least for one night, Pullin won’t be in the starting lineup, but that doesn’t seem to faze him. In his opinion, none of the Gators are particularly concerned with who starts and who doesn’t. They’re all here for the same thing, which is to win.

“I think we’ve got a bunch of unselfish guys; people who could do a lot on the floor, whether that’s another scorer or whatnot,” Pullin said. “We have a lot of guys who are selfless guys. The biggest thing with this team is we just want to win. That’s what we talk about. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

Game notes: The Gators have won the last three games with the Seminoles. A year ago in Tallahassee, Florida trailed by 19 at the half but the Gators rallied behind Colin Castleton to take a stunning 75-67 win … All five Gator starters are averaging in double figures led by Riley Kugel (14), followed by Will Richard (13), Tyreese Samuel (10.7), Micah Handlogten (10.7) and Walter Clayton Jr. (10.5). Freshman Alex Condon averages 10 off the bench.

Starting lineups

Florida State (2-0): Jamir Watkins (6-7, 210, RJR); Cameron Corhen (6-10, 225, SO); Baba Miller (6-11, 204, SO); Darin Green Jr. (6-5, 195, SR); Jalen Warley (6-7, 205)

FLORIDA (2-1): Tyreese Samuel (6-10, 239, GR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 235, SO); Will Richard (6-4, 206, JR); Riley Kugel (6-5, 207, SO); Walter Clayton Jr. (6-2, 195, JR)

SEC basketball

Thursday’s scores: Dayton (2-1) 70, LSU (1-2) 67; Auburn (2-1) 83, Notre Dame (1-2) 59; Missouri (3-1) 70, Minnesota (3-1) 68

Friday’s games: Florida State (2-0) at FLORIDA (2-1); Georgia (2-1) vs. No. 12 Miami (3-0) in Nassau, Bahamas; Stonehill (1-3) at No. 17 Kentucky); Central Arkansas (1-2) at Vanderbilt (2-1); Oral Robers (1-2) at No. 13 Texas A&M (3-0); UNC- Greensboro (1-1) at No. 14 Arkansas (3-0); Mercer (1-2) at No. 22 Alabama (3-0); Sam Houston (1-2) at Ole Miss (3-0); DePaul (1-2) vs. South Carolina in Glendale, AZ