What is happening to the Florida Gators? Three years ago they were steamrolling their way through the SEC en route to their second straight National Championship. It was the pinnacle for the program that took Billy Donovan 10 years to mold into a national power. And after bring pursued by the best job in college basketball (Kentucky) there seemed to be no better coach in the country than Donovan himself.

Flash forward. The Gators are now team that is fresh off of two huge bubble losses, they are looking more and more like the Florida team we’ve seen the last two seasons that has fallen apart in February and cost them a trip to the NCAAs. What has happened in Gainesville? 

I. The Orlando Magic

Billy Donovan jumped at the open Magic gig in the summer of 2007 after being offered $5 million a year…two days later, he changed his mind. Journalists immediately recalled the story of Bobby Cremins, who backed out on South Carolina to remain at Georgia Tech after agreeing to taking the job in 1993. Cremins never returned to the level he originally achieved at Georgia Tech, and eventually left the program after a couple losing seasons. Many, of course, wondered if the future would be similar for Donovan.

Each situation is different, and there was no doubt that Billy’s temporary leave from Florida became an easy target for opposing recruiters to pick at, but seriously?

II. Recruits

Billy Donovan has missed some big ones the last few years, no fault of his own, they’re 18 year old kids making decisions. If heavy Gator leans like Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe, or Rico Pickett had committed to Florida, they would be in a much better position than they are today, but for some reason or another the ball bounced the wrong way and they went elsewhere. While Florida has been to the highest level of college basketball, they’re not a traditional power, and pulling recruits might take a little more work than Kentucky or North Carolina. Missing on these type players can mean the difference between great years and bubble years.

Still, it’s not like Florida hasn’t pulled some gems…

III. Transfers

Florida has had 8 players transfer since 2002. Jonathan Mitchell is starting and playing well for Rutgers. Other big time recruits Eloy Vargas and Allan Chaney couldn’t maintain academic standing and had to transfer to other schools more willing to take their risks. Jai Lucas left after one year to go to Texas, fearing that he wouldn’t see much playing time. Florida’s talent pool was decimated, leaving them with 10 scholarship players for this season. One of those scholarships was a reach in Rod Tishman, a European player who had played for club teams most of his life. The NCAA allows 13. That sums that up.

IV. Depth

When you go with an 8 man rotation, not by choice, but because there is nothing left on the bench besides walk-ons you’re asking for it come February, and that has been, without a doubt Florida’s biggest hole. When Kenny Kadji went down with back injury, the front line was decimated, plain and simple. No big men = tough times. It’s a pretty simple idea.

Also, who would have known that Dan Werner, a herald recruit, and solid player his first few years would lose his game mentally and be benched in his senior season?

V. Lost Assistants

In the last 5 years Florida has lost John Pelphrey, Anthony Grant, and Donnie Jones. All went on to be head coaches elsewhere. All three have won at their next stop. All three were and still are considered great recruiters. Everyone loses assistants, but those were three of the best in the country, and very tough to replace.

Conclusion

The money is there. Florida spends the second most on men’s basketball (only trailing Kentucky) in the SEC. They’re second in booster contributions in the SEC. They’ve never batted a lash at anything the coach has asked for.

The future is bright also. Studs like Austin Rivers have committed to Billy Donovan, others like Brandon Knight are high on the radar. You’ve never seen this squad quit, cry, or complain, no matter how they matchup, they go out and play harder than any team I’ve seen at the University of Florida (Seriously). There are definitely some solid leaders and role players there.

It’s just shocking as a Florida basketball fan to see this drop. If you asked me 5 years ago if I would be willing to trade two NCAA Championships for three straight NITs, I probably would have said yes. Most fans would say yes. It’s just tough to say this program is finished, the reality is it has just been the perfect storm of back luck, bad decisions, and tough losses when it mattered. Look at the NBA All-Star game this past weekend, two of his players were on the team. Joakim Noah is the favorite to win the NBA’s Most Improved Award. Players like Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and Matt Bonner have carved solid careers in the NBA. Donovan and his staff have had no problems developing players. ‘While it seems like I’ve convinced myself of this the last two seasons, I really believe, next season, Florida will be back, they just need one big time stud to get them there.

Trey

Gator fan. Magic fan. Attorney at large.

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