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Freshman Omar Payne posted his first career double-double in Florida's win over Auburn on Saturday. (ALEX DE LA OSA/UAA Communications)
GAINESVILLE — It wasn’t until Omar Payne’s eighth basket Saturday that former Gator Patric Young took notice.
Following Florida’s 69-47 win over No. 4 Auburn, the 2013-14 SEC Defensive Player of the Year ran over to the scorer’s table and checked the stat sheet just to be sure.
“And it was what I thought — he didn’t miss a shot. He even knocked down his free throw,” Young said of Payne, a 35-percent free-throw shooter who converted a three-point play with his final basket. “He was fantastic as far as being active around the rim and his diligence with staying on rebounds.
“You can’t teach length and you can’t teach height. And when you have a nose for the ball and the right positioning like him, you can just reach and do a little tap in. He was the X-factor in winning that game.”
Payne had a breakout performance against the Tigers, posting his first double-double with career-highs in points (19) and rebounds (11). The former top-50 overall recruit went 9 for 9 from the floor, including four putbacks.
“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to make a big impact like that,” Payne said. “Once I saw my flow started going, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s ready to go.’”
After the game, Payne said his biggest strength is being able to judge where the ball is coming off the rim and tip it in. His putback ability is also a newly developed skill.
“To be honest, I felt like it just came this year,” Payne said. “I really didn’t have any putbacks in high school.”
Florida coach Mike White seems to disagree.
“Is that what he said? He’s a funny guy,” White quipped. “A couple of those finishes weren’t anything more than Omar’s God-given natural ability with his hands and his length. He’s got a nice little feel around the basket. The biggest factor is his improvement.”
White credited assistant Al Pinkins for his work with Payne, who said the coaches have helped him take advantage of his 7-foot-5.5 wingspan at the rim. He did that against Auburn, holding his own against center Austin Wiley and grabbing seven offensive rebounds.
“Usually other teams try to double team me, but it was just one dude trying to box me out,” Payne said. “So it was easier for me to swim move and try to get rebounds.”
The Gators needed Payne’s presence down low and scoring production Saturday, and not just because of the top-five opponent. Florida’s Kerry Blackshear Jr. fell early in the game and had an awkward landing, bruising
his hip.
Blackshear played through it and still posted his eighth double-double of the season (11 points, 16 rebounds), but said Payne was “elite” and the players fed off his energy.
“He was a big reason why we were able to get this win,” Blackshear said of Payne. “I think he’s getting better. You’re going to see more games like that from him. Just his positioning is getting better.
“His ability to be sound and understand where a play is going before it happens, actually. Those types of plays come with experience, and he’s a great athlete with a lot of talent.”
Those plays also come with work ethic, another attribute of Payne. White said he’s the most consistent worker in Florida’s freshman class and hasn’t had a bad practice in a “long, long time.”
“He’s had the most serious approach, hands down, on a consistent basis,” White said. “He just brings it. He works. I think his toughness, more mental than physical, has improved a lot. And he stepped up big (Saturday).
“His activity level and his attention to detail defensively, was able to stay in front of their guards on some switches and alter some shots at the rim. He’s just playing really well.”
Payne finished with a career-high 32 minutes against Auburn, which wasn’t the plan according to White. He earned himself more playing time moving forward.
“Obviously he’s really talented,” White said. “He’s got big, soft hands. Elite length, of course. He’s hard to block out. A little bit later on in his career, whether that means a month from now or next year or whenever, I think you guys will see him more and more creating and scoring on his own. He’s getting closer to that.”