Gators live up to expectations, secure regular season SEC crown
By BILL KOSS
Florida Gators Basketball Color Analyst
March 2, 2011
Before the season began, the writers and coaches picked the Florida Gators to win the SEC. After all, the Gators had their entire starting lineup back from a year earlier. They had three seniors who would be key factors in the season's outcome. The program had assembled a top notch recruiting class to provide depth. Why shouldn't the Gators be the champions this year?
So the monkey jumped on the Gators' backs. The rest of the league breathed a little easier. Only Florida had the challenge to live up to the highest expectations.
Last night had to feel extra special. Perhaps the Florida team felt a little lighter. No more monkeys to carry around. For the fifth time in the program's history, they are once again basketball champions of the SEC.
Florida won their 12th conference game of the season for the sixth time since the year 2000. The Gators had only won 12 or more conference games five other times in the previous 84 seasons. With a win over Vanderbilt Saturday evening or a loss by Alabama to Georgia earlier on the same afternoon, the Gators will hold the outright championship for only the third time in the program's history. The Gators' first championship in 1989 and the one in 2007 were not shared with anyone else in the league.
It has been a week of shining moments. For the fifth time this season and the second time in SEC play, the Gators played three games in five days. This time it was the ultimate test
