Mike White reacts to UF return, reunion with former players

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators’ 82-75 win Saturday over the Bulldogs was Mike White’s first game against the Gators since taking the Georgia job in March.

The matchup also marked the first time the Gators would face a former UF head coach on the hardwood in Gainesville.

Eight players on the Florida roster played for White in his final campaign with the school a year ago. True freshman guard Denzel Aberdeen was originally signed to UF while White was still the head coach. He stuck with his pledge following the hire of Todd Golden.

The return of Florida’s third all-time winningest coach was certainly one that had the attention of both teams, fan bases and perhaps the entire SEC.

White met with the media following his team’s 82-75 loss in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

White on his return to Gainesville

“Different, unique, glad it’s behind me,” White told Gators Online and others postgame. “Would’ve been happier, obviously, if it was behind me with a win. I’ll tell you what I don’t do a very good job dealing with stuff, with noise. I tell my guys, ‘We’re all about transparency in our locker room.’ And there’s been some things that I could’ve done better; our staff could’ve done better. Each one in that locker room could’ve done better, but we did a pretty good job of staying locked in and not having any distractions. 

“It was great to see a lot of people today, a lot of loved ones. And you forget, you know pregame, you know in the tunnel and in the hallways and halftime, seeing people out of the corner of your eye and after the game. And you know, when you come over here this morning for shootaround. Your phone buzzing a bunch last night; I put my phone down and was locked in on film. We had our hands full with these guys.”

Reuniting with former players

The former UF head coach discussed what it was like seeing his former players and other staff members of the school.

“It’s good to see those guys, all those guys,” White said. “You know anyone you spend time, you underestimate, you take for granted who you coached so and so for a year or for two years, and also, some of these guys are two or three year recruiting periods. I feel like I’ve known Colin Castleton for a decade.”

Castleton had himself a big day with 12 points, eight rebounds, seven blocks and five assists against the Bulldogs. White spoke highly of his former player, who he coached for two seasons.

“My guy, my guy,” White said of Castleton. “Unfortunately, I saw what I saw a lot when I was on his team. He dominated the game. He just did, and we’ve got a very good frontcourt.

“I think our locker room would attest to this. I don’t think his numbers indicate how much of a presence he was both offensively and defensively.

“What a unique career he’s had. Not much opportunity early on, makes an immediate impact as a transfer. He surprisingly becomes immediately eligible, wasn’t counting on him doing that, and becomes an all-league player. And now he’s just getting better and better. Credit his swagger. He’s ultra competitive. He knows he’s good; he’ll tell you about it. I liked it a little bit better when he was on my team. Or when I was on his team I should say.”

Myreon Jones is another Gators transfer who played under White a season ago. Jones had 13 points of his own with three triples.

“I told him in the handshaking line; I thought he made a couple timely shots,” White said. “Man, 3-of-4 from three, 5-of-7 (from from the field). He had a hard floater in front of our bench early half. And I said, ‘Oh crap. I’ve seen this move before.’”

The Gators and the Bulldogs will meet again toward the tail end of the regular season in Athens on February 28.

Stay tuned to Gators Online.