Florida coach Todd Golden updates Micah Handlogten's status
Florida starting center Micah Handlogten, who has been out since he sustained a broken left leg in the SEC Tournament last March, is not likely to suit up in a game this season, Gators coach Todd Golden said Thursday.
“No — I think he will probably sit out the rest of the year,” Golden told reporters.
There was a chance Handlogten could have returned this season. Per Zach Abolverdi of Gators Online, Handlogten has participated in practice and has been cleared to play, according to the team spokesman. But according to Golden it sounds as though Handlogten will take a redshirt and return next season.
Handlogten, a 7-foot-1 junior who started, averaged 5.3 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 64.4 percent from the field in 33 appearances with 32 games started last season. The Gators currently are 18-2 overall, 5-2 in the SEC entering Saturday’s game at No. 8 Tennessee. While Florida has one of the most complete and versatile lineups in the country, the potential addition of a player with Handlogten’s size and skillset down the stretch would have added another element to an already stacked roster.
Golden said Jan. 25 that Handlogten had a “great practice” on Friday and was eyeing the Georgia game for his return, but the 7-foot-1 center had second thoughts and decided against it.
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“To his credit, he’s had an incredible recovery,” Golden said. “Micah has been able to be back practicing with us for a while now. And it’s a very emotional thing, it’s a very emotional decision and I can understand why someone in his shoes might have second thoughts. I think he had kind of gotten himself to the point where he was ready. … And as he continued to think about it, he just had some second thoughts.
“And the bottom line is, with a situation like that, you have to be all the way in if you’re gonna come back. … I think he was really excited about the possibility of playing and then once it became real, I think he just had some more thoughts about it, and it is what it is. We would love to him out there but at the same time we understand the injury was really severe and it’s gonna be his decision on when he comes back.”
