Orange and Blue Hue » Finding Treasure in the Least Likely of Places

Finding Treasure in the Least Likely of Places

Calathes
The Gators’ regular season ended badly.

Needing one crucial win to make the NCAA field, they lost to Mississippi State at home, 68-59, thanks to failing to adhere to Donovan’s gameplan and attack the Bulldogs’ weaknesses. They followed that up with a heartbreakingly close home loss to Bruce Pearl’s Vols, 89-86, when Dan Werner allowed a putback after two bricked UT free-throws in the final seconds. And then the loss at Rupp, the first loss to Kentucky in over two seasons, featured the Gators watching quietly as their large double-digit lead evaporated, and deciding too late to do something about it.

Then came Alabama in the first round of the SEC Tournament. As our own Vince Gagliano put it, “On a day when we needed to impress our harshest critics, we did our worst.” Florida sleep-walked their way onto the court, Alabama went on a monstrous 30-5 run to start the game, and our season was essentially over 11 minutes into the first half. The baby Gators put on a feverish comeback effort in the second half to close within six points — a near-miraculous accomplishment given the proceedings of the first half — but couldn’t close the deal, ending Florida’s 3-year domination of the SEC tournament.

Result: N.I.T. With two freshly minted national championship banners hanging from the rafters in the O-Dome, the Gators were relegated to irrelevance.

And Gator Nation mourned.

Billy Donovan locked the baby Gators out of their $11M practice facility. Forced them to wear their own shorts and t-shirts to practice.

This young crew of freshmen and sophomores — and a single junior — responded admirably, at least in the press. “We don’t want to be given the practice facility back,” said Dan Werner. “We want to earn it.” But the jury was out on whether this team was still playing for pride in the block letters spelling “FLORIDA” on their jerseys.

San Diego State awaited in the first round of the N.I.T. It hurt to see that three-letter logo plastered on our championship court… the same boards our legendary ’04s won their first national title on. But if the Gators are playing, Gator Nation wants them to win. Let there be no mistake, the Aztecs were a weak team who barely made the N.I.T. Anything less than a blowout would have been unacceptable, but there were nervous voices in the days leading up to the game. Had our guys packed it in?

The Gators blew the Aztecs out of the gym, 73-49, then followed that up with a dominating 82-54 performance against the decent but undersized Creighton Bluejays. It was a special night for Florida because rising star Nick Calathes — who should be a pre-season All-SEC pick every year he suits up for the Gators, and will probably be named to at least one if not more All-American teams in his career, earned a triple-double for the second time ever in Florida basketball history.

This earned Florida a trip to the desert to face possibly the best team they’d played all year other than Tennessee. The Arizona State Sun Devils were, like the Gators, clinging on to NCAA berth hopes by their fingernails, but fell just short. Many pundits felt they were snubbed by the selection committee. The Devils featured fast, athletic guards, good coaching from Herb Sendek (who really turned that program around this season) and of course had the home court advantage.

It was a real challenge for our boys. But they dug deep and showed flashes of their championship predecessors, winning 70-57 on 60.5% shooting and outstanding defense, frustrating the Devils’ attempts to penetrate and rarely giving up the open three. And on this night, despite getting off to a strong start and predictably allowing the Devils to get back into the game, the baby Gators didn’t wilt. They stiffened, kept making the extra pass on the offensive end and played steady, disciplined defense to regain the advantage and preserve it for the victory.

It was their best performance of the year. It showed maturity, it showed heart, it showed intensity, it showed focus.

And it happened in the N.I.T.

So, what about the National Invitational Tournament? What do we make of this? What is the significance of our team playing well here?

At the start of this postseason, there was nothing but dull, throbbing pain for Gator Nation. N.I.T. is, for better or worse, synonymous with failure for an elite basketball program.

But as our young Gators advanced through the tournament with steely determination, it became hard not to get swept up in it; just a little bit, anyway. Shake it any way you like, but the fact is our Gators are playing for a championship in March. To win the tournament, they’ll need to beat at least two more very good basketball teams. They’re playing like it really matters… so if it matters to them, shouldn’t it matter to us, too?

The Gators are playing for a championship, but they’re also playing for pride, for experience, and for the opportunity to put a better product on the floor in 2009. They seem to have realized that championship-quality effort shouldn’t — can’t — wait until next season.

They’ve found an identity in this tournament. Unselfish play on offense, steely determination on every defensive possession. My heart has warmed up to this group of kids who have such amazing talents individually and collectively, but until recently haven’t been able to consistently put the pieces together.

They are not quitters. They care immensely about winning. They are willing to do what it takes to win. To return to the ranks of the elite.

We can build from this, Gator Nation. And I encourage you to “stand up and holler” for your 2008 men’s basketball team, who along with us have found treasure in the least likely of places. The goal of winning the N.I.T. is significant, and we should be proud of this squad and the coaching staff for their efforts and accomplishments.

The future is very, very bright.

41 Comments so far
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The NIT sucks, but that being said if we can hang another championship banner, we should all be for it.

Just ask Kentucky. It gives them a combined total of 9 national championships (7 NCAA, 2 NIT).

Yes it’s the NIT, but it’s also a chance to see how the baby Gators respond in a one-and-done tourney after the collapse at the end of the season. It’s a time to see if they are responsive to Billy’s tough-love coaching. And so far, you can’t be more pleased if you’re a Gator fan. Just as packing it in in the NIT would have been a disastrous transition into next year, the success and cohesion we’ve seen in this “postseason” from the Gators bodes well for a lot of growth next year. GO GATORS!!

I dont know…I remember feeling the same way and believing articles like this when we started out amazing and beat Vandy. I don’t trust them yet.

We do not count the NIT championships. Never have and there are no NIT banners hanging in Rupp.

You mean to tell me that you’re putting an asterisk on the Great Cat’s success?

As Daniel mentioned, it counted back then. You wouldn’t want Rupp to get less than his fair share of glory, would you?

Don’t forget the UK NIT championships were when the NIT mattered. It was THE tournament. So, we are comparing apples to oranges.

Hmm, we have John saying that the NIT championships don’t matter, while CF is saying that the NIT championships were back when they mattered.

Interesting.

John is just being John.
Back when UK won the NIT - it was the tournament. surpassed by the NCAA Tourney in later years.

Calathes passes like f*@!ing animal!

It’s a relevant discussion, I suppose: the relative merits of winning an NIT championship in the modern era.

David Odom’s Gamecocks won two of them in a row during his tenure. No one really cared.

I want them to win it, not for bragging rights, but to grow as a team. An NIT year is still an NIT year. But the team is getting a lot out of this tournament in more ways than simply winning. For once, we fans have to separate what’s best for us “as fans” and what’s best for the program. The NIT has been good for our program this year despite the disappointment associated with it.

Cat Fan,

What do you mean John is being John. I am correct! Do you see NIT banners hanging in Rupp? I do not. We have 7 national championships and those flags are what is hanging. Cat Fan, do you go to the ballgames? I am a season ticket holder for the past 10 years. Yes, the NIT did mean more back 60 years ago but they still do not count.

I don’ really care if the NIT matters or not. I am just happy to see the guy plays as if they want to be out there. For awhile, it did not appear that was the case.

I agree.

Cat Fan, the NIT wasn’t a premier tourney nor could teams double dip in 1976…

The last NIT title for UK…

John - don’t be sensitive. The NIT banners are hanging in Memorial? I grew up in KY and graduated from UK, so yeah I do know a little bit about the history.
Present day the NIT does not matter.

Hippy - 32 years since UK has been to the NIT? I can live with that.

Cat - Apparently you missed the point…

I’ll spell it out for you…

You were wrong…

Got it?

BTW - Lost in that “32 years” is the fact that UK would have been in the NIT once and missed any post season play to finish out the 80’s except the Cats Hoops program was to busy narrowly dodging the death penalty…

Hippy - just because Florida has only been relevant for the past couple of years is no reason to be bitter.

One more thing - whether I was wrong or not does not make this year’s NIT relevant.

Cat - What’s there to be bitter about…

UF just finished putting two hoops NC trophies in their case…

And are now showing they deserved the bid that UK “Notre Damed” their way into…

Only to Munson in the first round…

Looking back over the threads from the past couple of weeks; Cat fans such as John, Dan and now yourself are the ones that showing shining examples of bitterness from the ever quickening descent of your formerly proud program…

Take a look back at your comments and remember the three of you have been coming here for the past two weeks simply to bash the Gators and a NIT bid…

I’m doubtful any Gator fan here has any delusions of grandeur and is still dizzy from the whirlwind of the past two years worth of hardware and success our ATHLETICS programs have seen…

I guess thats the difference…

While UK was developing a good basketball program…

UF was developing a GREAT ATHLETICS program…

That balance is what it’s all about…

UF deserved the bid UK got? Why because you are now beating other teams who also did not get into the tournament? Please.
If you read through the thread several Gator fans are also questioning the relevance of the NIT as well.
I cannot argue about the success of UF athletics. Football was a given and BD caught lightning in a bottle with last year’s juniors.
Peaks and valleys, Hippy, peaks and valleys. Football and baseball are becoming relevant at UK now, but will never surpass basketball.

Florida did not deserve a bid to the NCAA, therefore, they did not get one. What you do in the NIT does not matter on the national scale. Everyone knows that we all play the season with the hopes of getting to the NCAA Tournament. Getting there IS the reward for your season. Having said that, this run for Florida in the NIT is very good for Florida’s team. They have the opportunity to get better for next season and that will be a positive for their program.

Do you ever have a point? Nothing will ever surpass football at UF, but our basketball program is a hell of a lot closer to UK’s than UK’s football program is to UF’s.

Also, there is nothing to brag about in “making the NCAA tourney.” As of now, you and the other 61 eliminated teams won as many prizes as UF has won this year. Zippo.

Also, before you start sprewing off about UK baseball, consider that they just dropped 2 of 3 to the Cocks and are now 5-4 in the conference. UF is 7-2 in SEC play.

Which makes them the unquestioned SEC leaders.

Which reminds me, why wouldn’t Bear Bryant stay at your place?

Skigator93,

Here is the point. Florida basketball will never equal Kentucky’s tradition or relevance in basketball. The list of programs that are considered dynasties include: North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, Duke and Kentucky. Yes, all of these programs will have there up and down years but overall they will always be at the top of college basketball.
Anyone with any basketball knowledge will tell you the same. For you to suggest anything else proves that you do not know anything about basketball.

You forgot about Indiana and Connecticut.

Especially Connecticut. Look at how their program has grown over the last decade.

I’m sorry but Kentucky is a good SEC basketball school, but in no way will it ever measure up to the behemoth that is UCLA basketball…

Nor will Duke or UNC…

The gap between UCLA and the next three is so wide you’d be lucky to see it with the hubble if it was a physical distance…

That’s the height where all programs strive to acheive and will doubtfully EVER reach…

To even mention another program in the same sentence is flat out blasphemy…

To even think that your program can match THAT tradition shows YOU know nothing about basketball and are so delusional that you should perhaps be locked up for not just the safety of others but yourself as well…

Bear in mind, bro:

1) 10 of UCLA’s 11 national championships (Not to mention, their first 10) came with John Wooden. 4 of Kentucky’s 7 national championships came with Adolph Rupp. For both, their marquee coaches are iconic with their schools.

2) Kentucky basketball has been a part of college basketball’s elite since the late 1940’s. UCLA didn’t get their act together until the 1960’s, and their success tapered off after Wooden left. Meanwhile, UK sustained a consistent level of excellence into the late 1990’s.

3) Ironically, Wooden is not particularly fond of being associated with all of his success. I think he was more focused on developing people than basketball players. I have his books and that’s the message he preaches.

4) Rupp won more games as a college coach than everybody except Dean Smith and Bob Knight. He also coached at UK for 42 years and only quit due to a mandatory retirement age.

5) Rupp was coached by James freakin’ Naismith. It doesn’t get any more regal than that.

6) Until Wooden started his incredible title run, Rupp was considered the best to have ever coached the game of basketball.

7) Rupp almost single-handedly turned Kentucky from a sports-less place whose biggest sports highlight was its eponymously named derby into a basketball-mad state. The only other guy who can come close to that: Knight.

I don’t like UK that much either, Hippy, but I wouldn’t throw the big blue baby out with the bath water.

Yeah, that’s great and all, Vince…

But when considering all-time SPORTS dynasties…

UK, UNC, and the Dukies are not mentioned…

While UCLA is largely listed number one many times ahead of many professional franchises…

The dominance and tradition of UCLA basketball has no peer in college hoops and is among the elite of any sport…

That’s okay Boat man….you can keep your storied traditions, I’ll just take the championships and be satisfied that we’ll never be considered as big a basketball power as UK.

By the way, great basketball programs usually don’t lose 7 games in a row - including at home, away, neutral, etc. to a team that is obviously below it.,,,even in their down years.

Actually, when discussing legendary programs, USC Trojans baseball is surprisingly left out. It’s just a coincidence I picked a rival with UCLA.

If anything, their dominance on the diamond actually outshines UCLA in certain regards.

They have 12 national championships, six more than the nearest competitor.

Coincidentially, their first and last national championships (1948,1998) were won in the same years as Kentucky’s first and last national championships in basketball.

Food for thought there. Oh, don’t forget about the Boston Celtics of the 50’s and 60’s.

Or maybe the Yankees?

Oh yeah, can’t forget about the Yanks.

Yes, Skiboat, we did lose 7 in a row. Now, please let that go. I guess I must repeat myself. These dynasties will have up and down years but overall they will always be at the top. It was not too long ago that NC had a losing season. Did they stay down? Of course not and neither will Kentucky.

But John, if this is an implicit degradation of UF, what about another college basketball program?

UConn wasn’t really known as a college basketball power 10 years ago. But after they won against Duke in 1999, it helped cement their reputation as a college basketball impact player, similar to how UF won against UCLA two years ago.

A second national title was icing on the cake. They don’t have a powerhouse football program, but the Huskies have slowly risen to power. They’ve developed a lot of good NBA talent over the last 15 years (Rip Hamilton, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Josh Boone, Rudy Gay, Ray Allen etc.)

Might the same type of thing be happening to Florida now?

Yes, it could happen but Florida needs to become consistant. If they get back next year and start contending again then that will show they are a program here to stay. See it is being constistanly good over a period of time that makes a dynasty. UNLV had a great run in basketball back in the late 80’s early 90’s but we all can agree that they are not considered to be one of the great basketball traditions.

I agree with wrong boat on that one. Our 2 national championships, coupled with our other 2 Final Four appearances does not in and of itself make us a basketball power. But it is a damn good start. Only 15 schools in history have gone to more Final Fours than the Gators. But I believe there will be more. There are plenty of “basketball schools” (i.e. Xavier) who have never been to a Final Four - Xavier has gone to the tourney 19 times!

Also, are you referring to the UNLV team that went 27-8 and won its first round game this season and went further than UK???? That’s the same UNLV team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last season before falling by 4 to #3 seed Oregon, again surpassing UK?

just checking.

Coincidentially, as far as an SEC juggernaut is concerned, there’s a near correlation between the end of Kentucky’s dominance right around 1999 and Donovan’s first Final Four as a coach the next year.

It’s almost like UF is the UK of the 21st century. Donovan’s first Final four came six years before his first title, just like Rupp’s. Donovan’s first two national championships were back-to-back, just like Rupp’s. Donovan has made some noise in hoops like Rupp did when Bryant coached at UK.

Weeeeird.

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