Nov 18, 11:26 PM (ET)

By RICK HAGGERTY
Florida has not played a game yet, and already coach Billy Donovan has several issues to worry about.

He'll try to work through those problems when the eighth-ranked Gators open the season by playing host to Louisiana Tech in the Preseason NIT on Tuesday.

Senior guard Brett Nelson, who averaged 14.6 points last season, is out with a stress fracture in his right foot. Freshman guard Christian Drejer will join him on the sidelines, out with a sprained ankle.

"I don't expect our team to use it as a crutch," Donovan said of the injuries.

With Nelson out, freshman guard Anthony Roberson, a McDonald's All-America selection last season, will take his spot in the backcourt. He will be joined in the starting lineup by freshman forward Matt Walsh, the top prep player in the Philadelphia area last year.

"The freshmen have a lot of talent," Nelson said. "If the guys perform or not - that's going to be the key."

Also key will be the play of All-Southeastern Conference forward Matt Bonner, the Gators' top returning scorer. He averaged 15.6 points last season for Florida, which finished 22-9 but was upset by Creighton in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

With fellow All-SEC honoree Nelson currently injured, Bonner will be forced to handle most of the Gators' leadership duties early in the season.

"The big challenge right now is getting some of our guys, who are talented, to understand that talent doesn't mean anything," Donovan said. "If you don't have an ax to grind with your talent, I think your talent gets wasted. We need to be the basketball team starting as a team that has an ax to grind."

The Gators have won 97 games over the past four seasons, the most successful four-season stretch in school history, and Donovan will be trying to keep them perfect in the Preseason NIT. In its only other appearance in the tournament in 1987, Florida went 4-0 to claim the title.

While freshmen will play a vital role for Florida, Louisiana Tech will start five veterans who have combined for 172 career starts.

"I would hope that our team will be able to handle the environment with the lights and the camera," Louisiana Tech coach Keith Richard said. "That's what you hope when you have some experience, that they are not awed by the fact that we are in Gainesville. You hope that our returning players will show some composure and some maturity and hopefully that will be a strength for us."

The Bulldogs finished 22-10 last season and lost to Villanova in the second round of the NIT. Senior forward Antonio Meeking, who averaged 11.2 points last season, is the Bulldogs' top returning scorer.

Florida and Louisiana Tech have split two previous meetings.

The Gators have won 13 straight home openers.