COACH AND PROGRAM

 

When Billy Donovan arrived at Florida seven years ago, the program had achieved only sporadic success in basketball. Evidence of just how far Donovan has taken the program came last season, after his Gators were ousted from the NCAA Tournament in the second round by a physical Michigan State team. Donovan, who led his young team to within a basket of the Elite Eight in 1999 and to the 2000 national championship game, actually received a bit of criticism from Florida fans. The loss in the second round came on the heels of Florida's first-round defeat in the 2002 NCAAs.

 

Suddenly, fans of the so-called football school had become spoiled by the Gators' success in basketball, so much so that a trip to the NCAA Tournament wasn't good enough. Yes, Donovan has raised the bar at Florida, a school that former coach Lon Kruger, who had taken the Gators to the 1994 Final Four, said could never compete consistently at the game's highest level.

 

Donovan, who has led the Gators to a school-record five straight 20-win seasons and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, has proven that assessment to be incorrect. But Donovan wasn't pleased with the Gators' quick NCAA trips the last two seasons, and as always, has worked hard to shore up their weaknesses. The team he'll put on the floor this season will be his deepest, top to bottom, in his time in Gainesville. Talent abounds at all five positions, with a particular glut of scoring, quickness and athleticism at the perimeter spots. Donovan has also tried to address the team's need for a physical presence in the post. This year, Florida seems poised for another deep run into March.

 

In the summer, Florida made a move to keep Donovan around. Rumors have run rampant that Donovan might be lured away one day if Kentucky coach Tubby Smith ever leaves, or if the right NBA job comes open. But Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley has made sure that Donovan's decision will be difficult, giving the coach a $500,000 annual raise to push his total compensation package to somewhere around $1.7 million a year. That's not bad change for a football school.

 

"The NBA, nobody can control," Foley said, "but we can control what happens in college. He has made great inroads here and we want to make it clear that this is where he needs to be."

 

Donovan is now among the highest paid coaches in the country, and second in the SEC behind only Smith.

 

"We're making him one of the highest paid, because we want him to know his value to the program," Foley said.

 

Is the contract enough to keep Donovan around a while? That's hard to say, but armed with a good salary and every other advantage Foley can give him, including one of the first practice facilities in the SEC, Donovan has as good a situation at Florida as he could have just about anywhere.

 

"I'm certainly very appreciative of the commitment that Florida has made to its basketball program, to me and my family," Donovan said. "I look forward to being head coach at University of Florida for many years to come."

 

STARTERS NOT RETURNING

 

F-MATT BONNER (6-10, 15.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.6 bpg, 1.6 tpg, 31.4 mpg, .510 FG, .474 3PT, .733 FT). In his time at Florida, Bonner became one of the top inside-outside threats in the country. He arrived at Florida as primarily a perimeter scorer, but with a desire to get better. With some intense weight training and the addition of a couple of low-post scoring moves, Bonner learned how to use his size to his advantage under the basket.

 

That combination made him a commodity to the NBA. In late June Bonner was selected in the second round of the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls (No. 45 overall), and later traded to the Toronto Raptors for a future second round pick.

 

Bonner was the first Florida player drafted since 2000, when Mike Miller and Donnell Harvey were taken in the first round.

 

Bonner finished his career eighth on Florida's all-time scoring list with 1,570 points. He was the only player in school history to score 1,500 points, grab 750 rebounds and make at least 150 three-pointers.

 

Bonner led the Gators in scoring last season and also paced the SEC in three-point percentage. He was chosen first-team All-SEC by the Associated Press and the league's coaches and was runner-up for SEC Player-of-the-Year honors. A three-time All-SEC selection, Bonner was an honorable mention AP All-America pick his final two seasons.

 

As intelligent as he was athletic, Bonner was chosen the country's Academic All-American of the Year each of the last two years.

 

Bonner will be missed. He was part of the winningest senior class in Florida history, a group that won three SEC Eastern Division championships, two overall SEC titles, reached the NCAA Tournament championship game in 2000 and combined for a four-year record of 100-32. It was the first senior class in school history to reach 100 wins.

 

The Gators won at least 22 games in each of Bonner's four seasons and played in the NCAA Tournament every year.

 

G-JUSTIN HAMILTON (6-3, 8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.5 tpg, .564 FG, .403 3PT, .760 FT). Hamilton was a valuable player in his time at Florida, in large part because of his willingness to take over the point guard position. He did a solid job, attracting the attention of NBA scouts his last two seasons. Hamilton wasn't drafted, but did sign a free-agent contract with the Detroit Pistons and played with their summer league team.

 

Hamilton made good use of the weight room in his time at Florida and became one of the strongest, most physical guards in the country. He used his strength to full advantage and had the ability to post up smaller defenders, but Hamilton also worked on his perimeter shooting and became a legitimate threat from three-point range. That skill carried over to his time with the Pistons' summer league team.

 

With Hamilton departed, the point guard job will fall to sophomore Anthony Roberson, who may be more exciting than Hamilton but will have to work hard to become as steady.

 

G-BRETT NELSON (6.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.4 tpg, .296 FG, .309 3PT, .821 FT). The decline of Brett Nelson was one of college basketball's more puzzling stories a year ago. Nelson began the year with a foot injury and never seemed to get going as his once-feared three-point shooting touch all but abandoned him. Donovan was as loyal as he could be to his senior, but eventually had to take Nelson out of the starting lineup in favor of hot-shooting freshman Anthony Roberson.

 

Nelson, who came to Florida with a huge reputation (some considered him the best high school player from West Virginia since Jerry West), never lived up to that, not by a long shot. But he gave the Gators some good moments. Instead of improving throughout his time at Florida, Nelson's skills and confidence seemed to diminish. He wasn't drafted by the NBA, a goal of his that actually distracted him his junior year.

 

OTHERS NOT RETURNING

 

None.

 

PROJECTED STARTERS

 

PG-ANTHONY ROBERSON (6-1, 180 lbs., SO, #1, 12.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.4 tpg, 25.6 mpg, .409 FG, .389 3PT, .820 FT, Saginaw HS/Saginaw, Mich.). Roberson came from Michigan-recruited away from mighty Michigan State-with a big-time reputation, and he certainly lived up to it in his first season, earning SEC Freshman-of-the-Year honors.

 

Roberson, like fellow freshman Matt Walsh, made an immediate impact, whether he was in the starting lineup, which he was for the first five games and the last eight games, or serving as a sixth man.

 

Roberson is a true combo guard. He has point guard skills, but he's a fearless, aggressive offensive player who can get to the rim in a hurry or bomb away from behind the three-point line. Last season, he led the Gators with a Florida freshman record 74 three-pointers (smashing Teddy Dupay's old mark of 64 set in 1998-99) and made numerous clutch shots.

 

The most memorable of those shots came in a huge win over SEC East rival Georgia. Roberson drained a 25-footer at the buzzer to give Florida the win. The three-pointer was Roberson's seventh of the game. He finished with 23 points and earned SEC Player-of-the-Week honors. That play impressed Donovan, because Roberson made it on his own.

 

"When [Roberson]got the ball, time was winding down," Donovan told the media after the game. "I can tell you this, I did not design the play to look like that. I would be the first one to admit it. [Roberson] just made a good shot. It was just a great player making a great shot."

 

Roberson notched his career high of 26 points against Coastal Carolina, scored 22 against Bethune-Cookman and 20 against Maryland. He tossed in 20 or more points six times as he hoisted 345 shots, the second-highest total on the team.

 

Roberson kept up the pace in league play. In SEC games only, he shot 44 percent from the floor and an excellent 43 percent from behind the three-point line. His 18 points against Vanderbilt included a runner in the lane with 4.7 seconds left that forced overtime, then a three-pointer in the extra session that gave the Gators the lead and an eventual win.

 

Roberson finished second on the team in scoring behind senior Matt Bonner.

 

Roberson's got an impressive package. A former high school football player, he's tough and physical and isn't afraid to take the ball to the rim or battle for rebounds with players much bigger and taller. Because opponents have to respect his speed and quickness, he gets a lot of open looks from the perimeter and has more than proven he can take advantage of them. Roberson is also a good free throw shooter. If he gets fouled on his way to the basket, he cashes in more than 80 percent of the time.

 

Call him a scoring machine and you wouldn't be wrong. But Roberson can also play the point, which he'll do this year with backup help from a couple of freshmen.

 

SG-MATT WALSH (6-6, 205 lbs., SO, #44, 12.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.5 spg, 2.9 tpg, 29.2 mpg, .467 FG, .432 3PT, .739 FT, Germantown Academy/Holland, Pa.). Few freshmen come out of the gates blazing the way Walsh did last season. He played with the poise of a senior from the second he stepped onto the court for his first game until the Gators' breathed their last in an NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan State. Like teammate Anthony Roberson, he richly deserved his unanimous selection to the SEC's All-Freshman team.

 

Walsh didn't take long to trumpet his readiness to the rest of the country, scoring 26 points in his debut game, an ESPN-televised victory over Louisiana Tech in the Preseason NIT. Suffice to say he left some interested observers impressed with his game.

 

"I knew his name," said Louisiana Tech coach Keith Richard. "I knew he had done some good things in their exhibition game. But what an outstanding player for a freshman. Wow!"

 

Walsh quickly proved that first outing wasn't a fluke. He scored 20 in an NIT second-round game against Eastern Illinos, and was chosen ESPN.com's National Player of the Week and the SEC's player of the week. In other non-conference games, Walsh dropped 33 points, 11 rebounds and five assists on Miami, scored 29 against Bethune-Cookman and 22 against Kansas. Of course Walsh couldn't maintain that pace, especially after the Gators began their SEC schedule (he averaged 9.5 points and shot .317 from three-point range against league opponents). Still, he was as solid as any freshman in the country. He made 33 starts as a rookie, tops among SEC freshmen. Walsh finished third on the team in scoring, and was second in the SEC in three-point percentage behind teammate Matt Bonner.

 

The first thing you notice about Walsh is his complete lack of hesitance in launching three-pointers. But he seldom seems to take bad shots. And Walsh is far from one-dimensional. He also attacks the basket with abandon, and he knows how to pass, dating back to his high school days when he was a 6-0 point guard. The extra inches and pounds Walsh has put on since then have helped him become aggressive, tough and fearless. Before a game against Maryland, Walsh was suffering from leg pain. That only increased his resolve to play.

 

"It was 15 minutes before the game and he was in so much pain," Donovan said. "He told me he would play on a stump if he had to."

 

Walsh was 1-for-9 from the field and scored eight points in that game, but Donovan knew without doubt he had a competitor on his hands.

 

Walsh played small forward last season as he deferred to senior Brett Nelson, the starter at shooting guard. But this year he'll move to the two spot. With his size and triple-threat ability, Walsh is going to be tough to contain, provided he continues to let the game come to him and doesn't force the action. With his high basketball IQ, that should be the case.

 

"It's going to be an interesting year for Anthony and Matt," Donovan said. "They had great years because of their toughness and aggressiveness, but they also had Bonner, Nelson and Hamilton to take the pressure off them.

 

"With those guys gone [Walsh and Roberson's] roles will be different. They're gonna be marked guys-people will try to shut them down. Last year they had a lot of opportunities to score and shoot. Those opportunities might not be there as much this season. They'll have to deal with success they've had as freshmen."

 

Walsh, along with teammate David Lee, was chosen to the 50-player John Wooden Preseason All-America team.

 

SF-CHRISTIAN DREJER (6-9, 230 lbs., SO, #10, 3.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.7 tpg, 15.4 mpg, .409 FG, .333 3PT, .792 FT, SISI of Copenhagen/Hallerup, Denmark). Drejer, who signed with Florida in the summer of 2002, was the main reason Blue Ribbon chose the Gators as our preseason No. 1 team a year ago. Drejer, who would have been chosen had he declared for the NBA draft that summer, was a secret weapon Donovan couldn't wait to unleash on the SEC and the rest of the country.

 

Unfortunately for Drejer and Florida, an ankle injury and subsequent infection caused him to miss the first two months of the season and limited him to just 18 games. It took Drejer until February to round into shape and begin to show his skills.

 

Drejer a former Danish League Player of the Year, is not your typical 6-9 forward. Not to suggest he's the next Admin Bird, but Drejer has a similar game in that he's a fantastic passer who loves to get his teammates involved. He proved that in a game against Kentucky when, in 27 minutes on the floor, he passed for nine assists. In those 18 games Drejer played, he led the Gators in assists five times.

 

Drejer can also score, though his shooting percentages and career-high 11-point game against Ole Miss didn't necessarily reflect his ability.

 

"He's a little bit like [former Gator star] Mike Miller in that he can affect game in a lot of different ways," Donovan said. "Offensively, I don't know that he'll get 25 or 30 points a night, but he's got great size, and when he gets in lane he can score.

 

"Christian can affect game without shooting. He's almost like a point forward with his ball handing and passing skills. Before he got injured, the one thing that was evident about his game was his explosiveness off the dribble and athleticism around the basket."

 

Drejer worked hard in the off-season, adding strength and muscle and boosting his weight from 212 pounds to 230. He corrected a strength deficiency in his left leg and hopes to have steeled himself against possible injury.

 

"I fully anticipate him to be one of those guys to step in and play like he's capable," Donovan said. "Everybody realized that the severity of his injuries made it difficult on him. Dealing with the physicality of the American game was an adjustment for him. But he's done a great job [in the off-season]. We're looking forward to seeing what he can do when he's healthy."

 

PF-DAVID LEE (6-9, 240 lbs., JR, #24, 11.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.4 spg, 1.4 bpg, .648 FG, .624 FT, Chaminade Prep/St. Louis, Mo.). With Drejer and Lee in the starting lineup, it isn't a reach to suggest that Florida has the best passing frontcourt in the SEC and perhaps the country.

 

"When he touches the ball, it's always good because of his ability to create and make passes," Donovan said. "He's as good of a passing big man that I've ever been around. We become a better offensive team when he gets a chance to touch the ball."

 

Indeed, the versatile Lee brings some perimeter-like skills to the low post. Opposing coaches have found that makes for a challenging defensive match-up.

 

"The guy is a three-man playing in the post," said Florida A&M coach Mike Gillespie after a game last December. "He is the hardest guy on their team to guard."

 

Lee came to Florida with excellent jumping ability, good ball handling ability and quick feet, and in his first two years has added bulk and strength and an array of post moves to his arsenal. That explains his shooting percentage, which was the second highest in school history and would have led the SEC by a substantial margin (Auburn's Marco Killingsworth topped the league at .550) had he averaged 5.0 made field goals a game. Lee just missed at 4.51 per game.

 

Lee reached double figures in scoring 20 times, with a career-high 23 points coming against Sam Houston State in the NCAA Tournament. He also scored 22 against Vanderbilt and 18 against Georgia. Encouraging in his late-season play was improved free-throw shooting. Lee, a 59-percent career shooter from the line, made 21 of his last 28 free throws, including 11-of-13 in two NCAA Tournament games.

 

Lee has more traditional post skills, too. Donovan calls him "the best rebounder I've coached since I've been here." Lee led the Gators and was seventh in the SEC in rebounding. He was also seventh in the league in blocked shots. His 48 rejections were the fifth-highest single-season total in school history.

 

C-BONELL COLAS (6-9, 225 lbs., SR, #42, 4.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1.1 tpg, 12.7 mpg, .516 FG, .739 FT, North Miami HS/Miami, Fla.). Always regarded as an athletic big man who can run and block shots, Colas stepped out a bit offensively last season. He scored in double figures five times as he established career highs in minutes played (342), field goals (48), field goals attempted (93), free throws made (34) and attempted (46), assists (17) and points (130). Modest numbers perhaps, but a sign that the work Colas has put in, particularly in adding bulk to his previously scrawny frame, had paid off.

 

Last season, Colas was the first man off Donovan's bench six times, second highest on the team. He saw action at least 10 minutes in 20 games as Donovan began to utilize him more often. Colas did a lot of damage on the offensive boards-49.3 percent of his rebounds were on that end of the floor, tops on the team.

 

Colas had some of his better games of the season against SEC competition, scoring 16 points against South Carolina, 14 against Ole Miss, 11 in another game against the Gamecocks and 11 against LSU in the SEC Tournament.

 

Those performances, plus the fact he's a senior gives Colas the nod in locking up a starting job in Florida's frontcourt.

 

KEY RESERVES

 

F- MOHAMED ABUKAR (6-10, 200 lbs., FR, #21, 28.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg, Rancho Bernardo HS/Escondido, Calif.). The scandal that brought down the Jim Harrick coaching regime at Georgia turned out to be a good thing for Florida. When Harrick resigned last spring in the wake of several alleged improprieties in his program, four of the five players the Bulldogs signed-including Abukar-asked for and received releases from their scholarships. All will be eligible this season to play at another Division I school.

 

Abukar's re-entry into the recruiting wars touched off a frenzy among schools that still had scholarships available. Abukar's final three choices for a new school turned out to be Kentucky, Louisville and Florida. Abukar ultimately chose Florida because of the Gators' style of play. That was an unspoken tribute to Donovan, who learned a lot of what he knows about his full-on style from Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

 

Abukar will help offset the loss of forward Matt Bonner, who like Abukar was an inside-outside threat. Good as he was, not even Bonner can claim that he won the slam-dunk and three-point shooting contests in a prep all-star game. Abukar did. Last season, he shot 45 percent from three-point range. Imagine Donovan's glee when he found out late in the recruiting season that he'd landed another bomber who also happens to be 6-10.

 

"He's an extremely talented, multi-dimensional player that strengthens our shooting at the forward position, very similar to what Matt Bonner brought to us in terms of his perimeter game," Donovan said.

 

G-RYAN APPLEBY (6-3, 165 lbs., FR, #23, 24.0 ppg, 9.0 apg Stanwood HS/Stanwood, Wash.). This kid was destined to go to Florida. In seventh grade, he kept a journal where he wrote the words, "I want to be a Gator." If Appleby is glad to be at Florida, Donovan is just as happy to have him. Ranked the No. 43 prospect in the country by Rivals, Appleby was also rated among the nation's top high school point guards. Appleby is certain to get some quality minutes right away, backing up Anthony Roberson or perhaps playing alongside him.

 

Appleby has great court awareness and is an excellent passer. He racked up 763 assists, setting a school record at Stanwood. He's also an excellent shooter, a skill that will serve him well at Florida, where Donovan, unlike some coaches, isn't a bit afraid to let his point guard fire away from the three-point line.

 

Gator fans should love Appleby. His hero is Pete Maravich, and he owns every instructional tape the "Pistol" made. If Appleby has incorporated some of Maravich's moves and passes into his game, he'll be fun to watch.

 

F-ADRIAN MOSS (6-9, 238 lbs., S0, #4, 2.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 9.8 mpg, .483 FG, .538 FT, Fork Union Military Academy/Fork Union, Va. and Houston, Texas). Moss has a lot of skills, and should be a major part of Florida's post rotation this season after finally getting a chance to show what he could do a year ago as a red-shirt freshman.

 

Moss is an aggressive rebounder, and he also gives Florida a defensive presence in the paint. Last season he blocked 20 shots, tied for second on the team, despite playing less than 10 minutes a game.

 

Moss has a post-up game, but he can also score facing the basket. He launched nine three-pointers last season and made three of them, an acceptable ratio by anyone's standards.

 

Donovan has used Moss to give his team a spark. In a win over Mississippi State, Moss started the second half. His defensive work on Bulldog center Mario Austin was key, and he also chipped in with six points and four rebounds.

 

If Moss could match that performance every night, Donovan would be well pleased.

 

F-CHRIS RICHARD (6-8, 230 lbs., FR, #32, 17.3 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 7.0 bpg, Lakeland Kathleen HS/Lakeland, Fla.). Donovan needed a banger, and he didn't have to leave Florida to find one. Richard was so certain he wanted to play for Florida that he committed in July 2002.

 

The versatile Richard, the third Mr. Basketball from Florida to play for Donovan (following Teddy Dupay and Orien Green), is comfortable at forward or center, and he brings an aggressive power game along with him. Richard is athletic and physical, which makes him an excellent rebounder. He's got a nice touch around the basket, too, so look for him to play a major role as a freshman. Florida lacked a physical presence last season, one reason the Gators got manhandled by Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

 

Richard was ranked No. 44 in the nation by Rivals, and he was also rated among the country's top power forwards by most recruiting analysts.

 

OTHER RETURNEES

 

G-RASHID AL-KALEEM (6-3, 192 lbs., SO, #22, 1.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 8.9 mpg, .293 FG, .267 3PT, .375 FG, Charlestown HS/Dorchester, Mass.). Al-Kaleem had to fight for minutes last season with so many guards in front of him. He should move up the depth chart this season, but playing time isn't guaranteed with the addition of two talented freshmen guards, even though Donovan considers Al-Kaleem one of the best pure shooters he's ever coached.

 

Indeed, Al-Kaleem's forte is shooting. He has deep range and loves to jack up three-pointers. Last season, 30 of his 41 shots were from behind the arc. Eight of his 12 baskets were three-pointers. Shooting threes is fine with Donovan, but he doesn't want his players taking bad shots. Al-Kaleem will have to pick his spots.

 

He did that in a Preseason NIT game against Eastern Illinois last season. Al-Kaleem played 26 minutes, his second-longest stint of the year, and made four-of-nine shots, including a season-high three three-pointers. His 11 points helped the Gators advance to the NIT's Final Four

 

F-MARIO BOGGAN (6-6, 290 lbs., SO, #0, 2.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 6.1 mpg, .520 FG, .400 FT, Hargrave Military Academy/Chatham, Va. and Durham, N.C.). Boggan, who had to drop more than 40 pounds after entering college, might be able to contribute this season. He's devoted himself to Donovan's strength and conditioning program, so he's earned a shot.

 

Many people compare Boggan to former Gator star Udonis Haslem, who also came to school overweight and eventually turned himself into a chiseled physical specimen. Boggan hasn't done that much work yet, but Donovan will keep encouraging him.

 

Boggan may be undersized, height wise, but he's tough for opponents to move out of the post. He's adept at sealing off his man and getting to the basket. Last season, Boggan played just 98 minutes, but he made an impressive 13 of his 25 shots. His best game came against Coastal Carolina, when he played 18 minutes and reached career highs in points (eight) and rebounds (eight).

 

OTHER NEWCOMERS

 

G-LEE HUMPHREY (6-2, 180 lbs., FR, #12, 21.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, Maryville HS/Maryville, Tenn.). Tennessee fans who wondered why coach Buzz Peterson didn't recruit Humphrey, who grew up practically in the school's back yard, hope and pray he doesn't come back to haunt the Vols with a last-second three-pointer or two in the next four years.

 

That's a valid concern, for Humphrey can shoot the basketball. Tennessee's Class AAA Mr. Basketball left Maryville High as the school's all-time leading scorer (2,300 points). He's more at home playing shooting guard, but he's also capable of running the point.

 

The addition of Humphrey gives Donovan a deep and talented backcourt full of players who can handle both positions. If Humphrey can shoot as well as he did in high school, he'll play his way into the Gators' guard rotation.

 

QUESTIONS

 

The low post? Florida got out-muscled at times last season. Can David Lee, freshman Chris Richard and perhaps sophomore Mario Boggans throw a little weight around in the paint?

 

Rotation? Donovan is going to have to settle on a playing rotation, and with so many talented players on his roster, that's not going to be easy.

 

ANSWERS

 

Shooting! This team has several players who are both willing to shoot and capable of knocking down three-pointers with game-breaking regularity.

 

Guard play! The Gators are loaded with gifted guards.

 

Billy Donovan! Some people are grousing about how his last two teams have fared in the NCAA Tournament, but the 38-year-old Donovan remains one of the game's brightest young coaches.

 

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

 

Donovan has put together another solid team, one that should contend all season for the SEC's overall championship and make yet another appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Gators are now a perennial Big Dance entrant.

 

But for some Gator fans, spoiled by what Donovan's first couple of NCAA teams accomplished, the last couple of years have been a disappointment after Florida was bounced out in the first and second rounds, respectively. Last year, the Gators didn't look very good in getting soundly beaten by Michigan State in the second round.

 

Clearly, the Spartans were the more physical team. If there's one ingredient Florida has lacked the last couple of years, its physicality. This season, Donovan hopes a stronger David Lee, a year's improvement from sophomore Mario Boggan and the arrival of freshman Chris Richard can add some brawn to the Gators' frontcourt.

 

Florida has all the other ingredients-great guard play, shooting ability, quickness, depth. This year, the Gators should shake off the NCAA Tournament blues the last couple of teams encountered and take a much longer trip into the madness of March.

we are ballers until about February. It really sucks. We start off strong, beatin down teams (hell, we beat Kansas and Maryland last season!), and then we start off strong in the SEC schedule. By the end of the SEC season, we are losing like 3 of the last 4, struggle through the 1st round of the tournament, and lose in the 2nd. Get a 3 to 5 seed in the NCAAs, and then lose 2nd round. Hopin things change this year (thinkin back to that wonderful year a few seasons ago).