OMAHA, Neb. – With the outcome determined long before, Billy Donovan stood near his bench with his arms extended, the first step complete in maintaining his program's momentum. The Florida coach exchanged high-fives with senior guard Erving Walker and junior forward Erik Murphy. Then he sat and continued to teach, the final minute and a half running out toward his latest NCAA tournament victory.
Donovan is familiar with the stakes involved with this month, and seventh-seeded Florida's 71-45 victory over 10th-seeded Virginia at the CenturyLink Center in the second round of the West Region gave his program another chance to build. The Gators won consecutive national championships in 2006 and 2007. But they missed the NCAA tournament the following two campaigns and did not advance past the first weekend until falling to Butler in the Southeast Region last season. Donovan has learned March can be both kind and cruel.
But a new year brings fresh opportunity, and Florida can continue the progress it made last season by beating fifteenth-seeded Norfolk State on Sunday to advance past Omaha. Programs are in constant motion, and the Gators can show in this event that they trending upward.
"Last year's team was last year's team. We're a new team," said Florida junior guard Kenny Boynton, who finished with eight points. "We want to create our own image. Basically, we're trying to pave our own way and get every win one at a time."
Boynton is smart to have a defined focus. But not long ago, stars such as Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green made Florida the nation's best. During that time, Donovan became a hot coaching commodity after leading the Gators to a 68-11 record in their championship seasons, so much so that he almost became the Orlando Magic's coach in summer 2007. Then, Florida was known as athletic and dangerous. It provided a basketball identity for a football-dominated conference.
But the past five years have produced different results. Aside from the 29 victories earned last year, Florida has not won more than 25 in a season. Meanwhile, Kentucky has risen as the Southeastern Conference's basketball power under John Calipari.
"We have to win to make a legacy," said Florida sophomore guard Scottie Wilbekin, who finished with three points. "If you don't win, you don't have a legacy. So we've just got to focus."
Friday's game provided little test for the Gators. Florida broke open an eight-point halftime lead and coasted for most of the second half. The Gators were led by 14 points each from freshman guard Bradley Beal and sophomore guard Casey Prather.
Strong outside shooting is Florida's greatest weapon, and Donovan's team figures to rely on the strategy the rest of the tournament. The Gators entered Friday as the nation's top 3-point scoring team, making 9.9 attempts per game. They struggled from the perimeter against the Cavaliers, though, going 4 of 23.
"Overall, I was pleased that our guys were able to find a way to win the game where we didn't shoot the ball as well as we're capable of," Donovan said.
By finding a way to win Friday, the Gators earned another chance to survive. Donovan must be pleased with another opportunity to grow.
