February 12, 2007
Billy Donovan has done an incredible job at Florida, and his team has earned the nation's number one ranking. The Gators simply find ways to win games. Saturday night, before a raucous record crowd at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky had a shot to tie the game at the buzzer. Ramel Bradley's trifecta attempt fell short, and the Gators escaped with their 16th straight win, the longest current streak in Division I.
My friends, Florida raced to a 16-point lead and hung on. Al Horford, after recording three straight double-doubles, did not have a vintage performance. Joakim Noah was in foul trouble. Lee Humphrey did not have his usual three-point shooting barrage. In the end, Corey Brewer made several big plays and hit a number of key free throws. Chris Richard came off the bench in the first half and gave a big-time boost when Horford and Noah were sitting.
This is an experienced team, brimming with confidence. Florida has the best starting five in America in Noah, Horford, Brewer, Humphrey and point guard Taurean Green, an underrated floor general who runs the show for Donovan.
What I loved on Saturday night was Florida's toughness. The crowd at Rupp was incredible, cheering on Tubby Smith's Wildcats. It was electric, like an NCAA tournament atmosphere. Lesser teams would have folded. Florida made key baskets to stem the tide.
Think about what this program has accomplished. It is about to go to the NCAA tournament for the ninth straight season, easily a school record. Then there is the win streak over Kentucky, the program that has the most victories in NCAA history. That's right, five in a row over the Wildcats, the first program to do that since the Bernie and Ernie show down at Tennessee; the Vols beat the 'Cats five straight from 1975-77.
It all starts with leadership. Athletic director Jeremy Foley gives his coaches the resources to succeed, and they have done just that. Look at Donovan and Urban Meyer ... both have championship rings in the major revenue-producing sports. They are flat-out winners, my friends.
How good is this Gator team? Only three schools are currently sporting perfect league records -- Florida in the SEC, Memphis in Conference USA and Winthrop in the Big South.
You know this program has great support. I love the Rowdy Reptiles down at the O-Dome! They certainly have a lot to cheer about.
The bottom line is this Florida basketball team is in position to become the first team since Duke in 1991 and 1992 to repeat as national champions. Donovan's team cleared one big obstacle Saturday night as it continues to roll on.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
