George "Wild Child" Butler

For just the third time since the 1990-91 season, but first in head coach Amanda Butler's tenure, the Florida women's basketball team returns all five starters.

Add in a total of 11 returning letter-winners and a couple of high-profile freshmen, and it isn't hard to see why Butler, now entering her fifth season with the Gators, is so upbeat about the 2011-12 season.

"We're just excited to be at this point of the season," Butler said during UF's annual Media Day on Wednesday.

"We're actually getting to practice, and it's close enough to know that not too long from now, we'll be playing ballgames. Our kids are just fired up to be on the court working hard, and I couldn't be more pleased with their effort."

Leading the way is a quintet of seniors in Azania Stewart, Deanna Allen, Lanita Bartley, Jordan Jones and Ndidi Madu who have helped Butler's program develop and now are poised to lead UF to the next level, both in the always-tough Southeastern Conference as well as nationally.

"Having five seniors, all the things that you would expect in terms of the level of leadership, the level of intensity and just experience are really showing through right now," Butler said. Read More