| | By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Practice started for Florida the way last season ended: Watching Michigan State celebrate.
"Coach showed us (the tape). We saw Mateen Cleaves running around, smiling and it makes you sick to your stomach," Florida sophomore point guard Brett Nelson said. "It definitely motivates you."
There's more to get the Gators going.
Florida enters the 2000-01 season on the verge of crossing the bridge from simply being a very good team for a two-season stretch to becoming a great program for the long haul.
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“ |
We're building a dynasty here like
North Carolina and Duke. But yet everyone
bragged about our depth last year, and we lose
two guys, and everyone forgets about the Gators
and their depth. We brought in two more, so you
do the math. ” |
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— Udonis Haslam,
Florida's junior center |
The Gators lost Mike Miller and two part-time starters -- Donnell Harvey and Kenyan Weaks -- off last season's squad that lost to Michigan State in the national championship game. Miller and Harvey landed in the first round of the NBA draft, and their replacements on the roster are Orien Greene and Bonell Colas, not exactly household names nationally.
"Orien can play the 1, 2 or 3 like Mike Miller could, but he's not as tall," Nelson said. "Bonell isn't as good a rebounder as Donnell Harvey, but he's as active and can help us tremendously in the press. We're right there.
"We'll still play eight to 10 who can press and run. Mike and Donnell were great players, but we can fill in for them and compete for the national title and the Final Four."
What can't be seen on paper is the improvement Nelson has made at the point, the comfort level a healthy Teddy Dupay has at shooting guard or the maturity Justin Hamilton has undergone at any of the guard spots. Then there is always the unstoppable ability of Udonis Haslam inside and the athleticism of Greene. The recovery of swing guard and former redshirt LaDarius Halton also will help. Rebound and defense also will come from Brent Wright, Major Parker and Colas.
Confidence comes from knowing the Gators' recruiting keeps getting better, with the commitments of a top 10 class in Kwame Brown, David Lee and James White.
But above all is the desire this squad has to win again.
"This team is much older and more mature," Greene said Friday during ESPN.com's preseason tour. Florida coach Billy Donovan wasn't available due to a family tragedy.
"We only brought in two guys, so we don't have to go over as much," Greene said. "Everything is in place here. I'm real hungry because everyone is saying that the program isn't going to be as good as it was last year. The older guys are driven by last year and losing (in the title game) and want to get back. I want to get back for people saying the program went down."
Florida is sensitive to the talk. Haslam scored 27 on the Spartans in the title game and somehow that's lost in Miller's and Harvey's departure. Tennessee has four starters back and somehow they're the odds-on favorite in the SEC. Even Kentucky, which got Jason Parker in the offseason, seems to get more ink.
The reason? Florida still hasn't arrived season after season.
Athletics director Jeremy Foley is quick to point out if the Gators get to the NCAA Tournament this March, the team will tie a school record of three NCAA appearances in a row. Do it again in 2002 and that's a school record. Until then, the Gators might not be considered a great program, even though it's obvious they're becoming one.
"We're not there yet," Foley said. "We want to be in the mix every year in basketball, like we are in football."
Haslam said the team talks about building a dynasty over the next few seasons, a program that consistently gets to the Final Four. It's not unreachable with a team that could do it this season and one that certainly will be looked at as a favorite in 2002.
"It starts with the coaching staff," Haslam said. "We match their fire and intensity every day. We're building a dynasty here like North Carolina and Duke. But yet everyone bragged about our depth last year, and we lose two guys, and everyone forgets about the Gators and their depth. We brought in two more, so you do the math.
Those two don't have to score points in our style of play, they just have to run, press and be active. Freshmen and seniors can do that."
The Gators actually believe they will be a better team in 2001 than 2000, with the maturity and experience at every position. Halsam said he wasn't a believer in experience mattering more than simple talent until he watched Michigan State win.
"Their will to win was too strong," Haslam said.
Haslam's might be too hard to deny this season. He has bulked up and become a monster in the middle. Michigan State decided to take away the Gators' perimeter game and let him score inside. Few teams will try that same approach this season.
"I don't think my role changes at all," Haslam said. "If I get the ball one-on-one I'm going to score."
If he does that, then the Gators will have better balance than last season. Haslam wasn't as consistent a force in the middle during the season. Nelson wasn't a dominant guard. But he should be this year, giving the Gators an inside-out combination.
"We've got a shot to win it," Dupay said. "But you still need a lot of luck along the way."
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. | |
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