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While it is officially the first practice of the season, not many of the University of Florida men's basketball players are expected to break a sweat during Friday's Midnight Madness.
More of a pep rally than an actual practice, the event will allow fans to get a first look at the 2003-04 men's and women's basketball teams while enjoying fan-favorite events.
Main events include the 3-point and slam dunk contests.
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Sophomores Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh, who emerged as long-distance threats
in their freshman seasons, will have the floor to showcase their 3-point skills.
With last year's slam dunk champion Matt Bonner graduated, challengers for the dunk crown include sophomores Adrian Moss, Christian Drejer, Walsh, senior Bonell Colas and junior David Lee, the national slam dunk champion in high school.
Lee has added close to 20 pounds to his physique and will be the team's premier inside force this season. Ticketmaster
As a team leader, Lee has a positive assessment of the Gators this preseason.
"We're going to be young, but we have great depth this year, Lee said. "We're going to go back to that real up-tempo style this year.
One player destined to become more involved in UF's style this year is Drejer, a forward who also bulked up during preseason. After earning the Danish National Player of the Year honors in 2002, Drejer nursed a nasty ankle injury as a freshman at UF and averaged less than four points per game.
He never lived up his Superman hype, but it's redemption time, Drejer said.
"I know what it's all about now," Drejer said. Ticketmaster
"I have great expectations this year to be more productive than I was last year. I have a chance to be better this year because last year we were very young."
Roberson and Walsh return after averaging more than 12 points per game last year.
Fans will also have an opportunity to get a first look at this year's freshman class.
Ryan Appleby, Lee Humphrey, Mohamed Abukar and Chris Richard will make their debuts as Gators.
Abukar, a 6-foot-10, 200-pound forward out of Escondido, Calif., is the most highly touted of the group, and could help fill the void left by Bonner.
Richard also could help the forward position and make an early statement to the fans in the dunk contest.
Appleby and Richard will battle to back up point guard Roberson and will try to upstage the sophomore in the three-point contest.
Lee said every freshman has been impressive so far, which gives the Gators depth in every area.
Doors open at 9 p.m., and fans will be treated to a live concert and several festivities before 12 a.m.
Players and coaches from both teams will sign autographs at 10 p.m.