Florida basketball coach Todd Golden admitted that he couldn’t foresee the dominance that Gator big man Rueben Chinyelu has imposed on opponents this season.
In 18 games, Chinyelu has now totaled 11 double-doubles after he recorded another to help the Gators defeat LSU 79-61 on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
“I don’t know if the vision was every night crazy double-doubles, and 20 rebounds, and really the offensive lift he’s been able to give us,” Golden said. “We knew he would impact the game a lot, but, you know, we always knew he impacted a way that not a lot of people understood, because of the physicality in the paint.”
Against the Tigers, UF’s big man put up 15 points and 21 boards, which is his second 20-plus rebound game this season. However, what has made Chinyelu so effective is his ability to wear teams down with 13 of his points and 15 of his rebounds occurring in the second half.
“It’s just going out there and playing like every moment is the last minute,” Chinyelu said. “It’s just get the stop and have the next one. There’s a mentality of the next play and next play. If it affects anyone, then that’s on them. I’m just going to go out there and do that and repeat it.”
Chinyelu also recorded a fourth straight double-double, making him the first Gator to achieve the feat since 2005.
“It’s a good thing to have, but you’re just trying to go out there and play,” Chinyelu said. “If it happens, it happens, I’ll take that. But the most important thing is that we got the dub and that all of my teammates are involved and enjoying the process.”
For further context on Chinyelu’s dominance in the recent victory, the junior pulled down 11 offensive boards, while LSU as a team had only seven.
“He’s got great strength, physicality and phenomenal hands,” said LSU coach Matt McMahon of Chinyelu. “If he gets his hand on a rebound, you are not taking it away.
“He’s improved his skill level during his time here and his ability to finish around the basket. But his motor physicality and toughness on the glass is better than anybody in the country.”
Chinyelu’s stability has allowed his team to be more balanced and rely on its variety of depth. Against LSU, leading scorers Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh combined for 5 of 20 and totaled just 14 points. Yet five 3-pointers from Urvan Klavzar, who had 18 points off the bench, and 15 points from Boogie Fland aided both Florida and Chinyelu.
“It shows the depth we’ve got and the competitiveness that we’ve got,” Fland said. “It shows we don’t have to play our best basketball and still have a 20-point game. So imagine if we do play our best basketball, (and) what that looks like. We still haven’t hit our peak yet, and we still have more room to grow and more things to do.”
For Chinyelu, the success of the rest of the team not only helps on the court but also on the sideline, which is noticed by his teammates.
“It’s definitely a player of the year mentality,” said Fland, describing Chinyelu. “He’s doing everything we need him to do. He’s just being himself and is out there having fun.”
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Rueben Chinyelu imposes his will in Florida basketball’s convincing win over LSU
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
