Gators? Oh, they're still good
Posted: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:56 PM
Filed Under:
Season previews, SEC
It’s a funny thing about Florida. The 2004-05 squad won 24 games, won one NCAA Tournament game and 58 percent of their offense left for the NBA. That forced coach Billy Donovan to start four sophomores and one junior – two of whom were returning starters – and little was expected of the 2005-06 version.
Then again, nobody knew just how good Joakim Noah – who played sparingly as a freshman – would be, or that Lee Humphrey would turn into a 3-point specialist nonpareil. So when the Gators won 33 games, steamrolled its way to a national title and the whole group returned to try for back-to-back crowns, they were the consensus pick to do just that.
Of course, some wiseacres did not. They were/are foolish as Florida cemented its spot as the best team in the past 15 seasons.
And now, with those five starters gone and a team of seven freshmen, three sophomores and one junior (Walter Hodge, the only returning player with any real playing experience), little is expected of Florida. The Gators were picked to finish third in the SEC East, (some think fourth) and struggle to make the NCAA Tournament.
As Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friend.” Florida’s going to be an SEC contender and a scary team in March.
This season is quickly turning into another season that revolves around impact freshman. Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, to name four, have already made their mark. And Florida is no different.
Freshmen Nick Calathes, Adam Allen, Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus and Jai Lucas are all top-flight players who, as the nation’s top recruiting class, should play key roles this season, if not starring ones. This class, unlike that title group, doesn’t have the luxury of watching and learning from any upperclassmen.
But playing is a pretty good substitute when one can’t watch from the bench…
Maybe Florida doesn’t have an elite freshman – though most would say Calathes or even Parsons are darn close – but that never seems to matter with Billy Donovan’s teams. The last two seasons, each of his starters took turns making the big play or taking the clutch shot. I expect this group to develop into the same type of well-rounded, team-oriented group that can still shoot the lights out.
And Florida, thanks to an incredibly soft schedule (a Dec. 22 game against Ohio State is the only real non-conference matchup of note), won’t lack for wins. By the time a trip to Columbus rolls around, Florida should be 12-0. Throw in a 10-6 SEC record (not a reach for a talented team with a Hall of Fame caliber coach), and the Gators should be 24-7 by the time the SEC Tournament begins.
That makes Florida a 4 or 5 seed in the Big Dance, depending on how the RPI shakes out. And when I think about what the Gators have done the last two seasons, their caliber of coach and talent, it makes me leery of ever going against the Gators again.
