Florida forward Colin Castleton sustained a broken hand during a win over Ole Miss on Wednesday, the team announced. Here’s what you need to know:
- Sources familiar with the extent of the injury indicated that Castleton will miss the rest of the regular season. There is a glimmer of hope that he could return in time for postseason play, but it would be dependent upon how his recovery progresses over the next three weeks.
- The fifth-year player recorded three points, three rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes before suffering the injury.
- The Gators are 14-12 and face Arkansas on Saturday.
Backstory
Castleton has started all 25 games for Florida this year, averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Last season, the forward averaged a team-leading 16.2 points, 9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. He transferred to Florida as a junior after two seasons at Michigan.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What does this injury mean for Florida?
Castleton is everything for Florida. He has a case as the best defensive player in the SEC, a 6-foot-11 shot-blocking savant that is versatile in pick-and-roll coverages and can even manage himself out on the perimeter against guards. Offensively, the team runs through Castleton on the block as the team’s best offensive player. Without him, the offense shuts down, and the defense struggles.
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In total, the Gators win the minutes that Castleton is on the court by about 12 points per 100 possessions and lose the ones where he’s off the court by about 6.5 points per 100, per Pivot Analysis. On top of that, the team just does not have any frontcourt depth beyond him, with 6-foot-11 senior Jason Jitoboh being the only other tested option on the roster. There is arguably no more important player to his team in the country than Castleton, so losing him is a crippling blow. — Vecenie
What does this do to Florida’s NCAA Tournament hopes?
It all but extinguishes any at-large hopes. The Gators were already on the wrong side of the bubble prior to this injury, at 14-12. It does have a significant victory against Tennessee, but the team is just 3-11 in Quadrant 1 and 2 games. Without Castleton, it would take pretty significant efforts from those stepping up around him to pick up the quality wins necessary in their coming two games against Arkansas and Kentucky. — Vecenie
What does this injury mean for Castleton?
A fifth-year senior who took advantage of being offered an extra year in college following the pandemic, Castleton will exhaust his eligibility at the end of the season. He’s an exceptionally tough kid with a very professional demeanor in how he approaches the game, which is why sources familiar with the extent of his injury were hesitant to call the team’s win over Ole Miss his last game at Florida with certainty.
The injury just occurred tonight, and he’ll fight to get back on the court as much as he can. The injury is not seen as one that will impact him as he goes through the pre-draft process this season. He’s seen as a potential second-round pick due to his defensive versatility and rim protection, as well as his potential as a shooter that has occasionally flashed during his time at prep levels. — Vecenie
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(Photo: Jordan Prather / USA Today)