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Billy Donovan said today that both Eli Carter (fibula) and Will Yeguete (knee) will not participate in the Gators’ first practice on Oct. 11.

“Will [Yeguete] not start practice our first day. He’s still in the process of rehabbing,” Donovan said in a Gainesville Sun article.

In the same article, Donovan said this when referring to Carter “[He’s] still is in the process of recovering.”

While the NCAA updated the men’s basketball off season to allow teams to practice starting 42 days before their season opener, the Gators choose to stay with the system already in place. If Donovan and the Gators had chose to start as soon as possible, Sept. 27, they would have 30 practices over the 42 days leading up to the opener on Nov. 8.

Instead, they will start practice on Friday Oct. 11, 28 days before the opener against North Florida.

While Florida is stacked in terms of talent, suspensions and injuries make the start of the season a little shaky for the Gators. Carter and Yeguete are obviously still rehabbing and point guard Scottie Wilbekin is still indefinitely suspended.

Billy D on Scottie Wilbekin’s suspension “He’s going to miss games. He’s going practices. How many I don’t know.” — Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 2, 2013

The early season pressure in the backcourt will be put on the shoulders of freshman PG Kasey Hill and sophomore sharpshooter Michael Frazier II.

Yeguete’s recovery puts Patric Young in an even bigger spotlight. Casey Prather, who played well late last season, will most likely see an increase in minutes with Yeguete sidelined.

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