SAN ANTONIO – Florida basketball assistant coaches Kevin Hovde and John Andrzejek will be off to new head coaching jobs later this week.
For now, the duo are helping prepare the gameplans of their lives when the Florida Gators (35-4) face Houston (35-4) in the NCAA Tournament finals on Monday night at the Alamadome (8:50 p.m., CBS).
Florida basketball coach Todd Golden credited the two for maintaining their focus and work ethic with new jobs on the horizon. Andrzejek was announced as the head coach at Campbell on the day of UF’s first NCAA Tournament game against Norfolk State, while Hovde was announced as the new head coach at Columbia before UF for the Sweet 16.
“They're grinding to make sure we have every opportunity possible to win this game tomorrow,” Golden said, “My staff has been amazing all year that way.”
Hovde, who has piloted a UF offense that ranks third in the nation in scoring at 85.3 points per game, will try to solve a Houston defense under Kelvin Sampson that leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 58.3 points per game.
“Trying to finish this game out right with this group,” Hovde said. “Obviously it’s an extremely special group and just got to give everything we’ve got for 36 more hours.”
Said Andrzejek: “For the next 24 hours it’s 100 percent all in on the Gators and trying to get this done. And just watching as much Houston film as I can to get ready to try to do my piece to defend them.”
How Florida basketball coaches are preparing for Houston
Hovde said Houston’s high-pressure man defense will present challenges for UF.
“They are gonna trap the ball in any ball screen situation,” Hovde said. “Or if you throw the ball in the low post, so they put on two on the ball and they rotate hard over and make you make plays.”
Andrzejek, UF’s main defensive coach, said another key Monday will be protecting the defensive glass.’
“They’re super physical,” Andrzejek said. “They crash the offensive glass really hard. That’s an area where we’re gonna have to buckle up, really put our helmets on.
“Gotta hit them, gotta find a way to get some boards If you can get some rebounds, you got a chance to run and get the tempo more to where we want it to be.”
Andrzejek said what he will miss the most about coaching at UF is the bonds created by coaches, staff and players.
“It’s the best team I’ve ever been around as far as they make the little moments really enjoyable,” Andrzejek said. “The bus rides back, everyone is singing songs and chirping and talking. So, it’s great group.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: How Florida basketball assistants are preparing for NCAA finals with new jobs upcoming
