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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When the Florida Gators lost in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, they knew it knocked them out of the NCAA tournament field.
They had no idea it also would get them kicked out of their practice facility.
Coach Billy Donovan, feeling like his players had settled into a state of complacency and entitlement, banned them from Florida’s $12 million facility. He also told them they couldn’t wear any Florida attire.
“Probably in some respects the confetti is still falling down around them,” Donovan said Monday. “When you have great success like we’ve had, I think it’s very, very easy to become complacent and to lose sight of how good things are around here and to have an attitude of, ’I’m at Florida. This is just what’s going to happen.” ’
The two-time reigning national champion Gators (21-11) lost eight of their final 11 games, including the last four, and missed out on the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998. They became the first defending champion to not make it back to the tournament since probation-stricken Kansas in 1989.
Florida settled for a spot in the NIT, where they will host San Diego State on Wednesday night.
The Gators also found themselves fighting to get back into their state-of-the-art facility, which houses the team locker room, the practice court, the video room, the weight room, both national championship trophies and pieces of both floors on which Florida won it all.
Players spent the last four days shuffling between the O’Connell Center practice floor and the antiquated Florida Gym.
“He just wants to teach us a lesson that it takes time to earn stuff,” freshman guard Nick Calathes said. “He’s really going to make us earn it. I like that. I don’t see that as a problem at all. I think it will help us in the long run.”
Added freshman Jai Lucas: “When he feels we’re ready and playing like the University of Florida should play, then we’ll move (back) in.”
It might not happen anytime soon.
Football coach Urban Meyer, who has developed a close relationship with Donovan, pulled a similar move in summer 2005. Meyer barred players from the locker room and told them they couldn’t wear orange and blue or anything with the Gators logo on it.
He also removed the large replica gator head that was on display between the locker room and Florida Field. Players typically rub the head for good luck before games.
Meyer’s players responded by winning nine games for the first time in four years. They won the national title the following season.
Donovan can only hope for similar results from a team he has criticized for not having enough dedication, passion to win and willingness to play defense.
“One of the things that creates a tremendous level of complacency in anybody is after something very, very big happens,” said Donovan, who has used motivational tactics extensively in recent years. “It’s very easy to have a letdown. It’s not these guys’ fault. They walked into this. They walked into what happened.
“They got a facility that the administration has invested a lot in. It’s one of the best in the country. They’ve got a massage therapist to make sure they’re OK after games. They’ve got a private plane that they take to games. The meals that they eat. All those things, these guys came here and went right to the penthouse.”
Calathes and Lucas acknowledged that players felt a sense of entitlement during this season. They also echoed Donovan’s remarks that none of the players knew what it took to win at the college level or what they needed to do every day in practice to make the NCAA tournament.
Now, Donovan hopes missing the tournament — they actually practiced during the selection show since there was no reason to watch — will prove to be a humbling experience that will pay off down the road.
Kicking them out of the locker room could help, too.
“I think we’re going to have this taste in our mouths all the way until we make the NCAA tournament,” Lucas said. “This is something that will never leave us. This pain is unbearable. If this doesn’t (motivate us), I don’t know what will. This might be one of the worst things that could happen to the team.”
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by jsbrown on March 18, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who does he think he's kidding? Maybe booting Donovan from the locker room (and coaches office) might help.
Posted by govolsfan on March 18, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Take away their scholarships too after they loose in the first round of the NIT. LOL.....Go Vols!
Posted by andy112382 on March 18, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone else wondering how he feels about booting out that contract from the orlando magic he had?
Posted by VolJunkie on March 18, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Billy says he does not want to play with these kids next year anyway ... what's the difference?
Posted by stinky_pinky on March 18, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
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Posted by stinky_pinky on March 18, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by stinky_pinky on March 18, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by stinky_pinky on March 18, 2008 at 2:49 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by BADGES0413 on March 18, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not signing the Magic contract is the worst decision he made since turning down season 5 of the Munsters. I hear his doll Wolfie is going for $22.50 on E-bay.
Posted by jcvet on March 18, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A great coach never blames his players. If they lose focus and loaf it is the coaches fought or at least he should say it is.
Posted by doverton on March 18, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who cares? Screw the Gators!!!
Posted by jclowers on March 18, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great idea Billy Donovan...only you should have done it about 11 games ago when you still had a chance to enter and win a MEANINGFUL tournament, here's to Florida..2-time defending national champs adding the NIT title... let's root for a Ohio State vs. Florida rematch in the NIT Title Game...awesome!! it's great to be a tennessee vol!
Posted by gate12 on March 18, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like a good idea. I have nothing but the highest respect for Coach Donovan, his attitude, and the way he runs the Florida program.
Posted by vol88 on March 18, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He even pouts like Eddie Munster.
Posted by pdhuff on March 18, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't see many Gator posts on this subject.
Posted by givehim6 on March 18, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Any of the high recruits UF has want to transfer to UT? You will be treated with respect here, not the win or die way of thinking UF has! And we win to!
Posted by vol4jesus on March 18, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
coaches fought? was that to be fault? typo typo man.... you wanna be a typo man.
Posted by IBleedOrange444 on March 18, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The MTSU coach used a similar tactic, throwing his players out of the locker room until they earned the right to use it again. It worked. I don't remember the exact numbers but it turned their season around, and they almost won their conference tourney.
Donovan's a great coach. They'll be a good team again next year if they learn how to play some "D".
Posted by VolJunkie on March 18, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IBleedO, good point, but there is a big difference using that tactic mid-season to try and recover a season versus doing it before the NIT. I agree that Billy D is a good coach, IMHO this season for UF has been a complete hangover due to the Orlando mess. I don't think one of their goals this year was to add an NIT banner.
Posted by vols45 on March 18, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's typical of the arrogant pricks who coach the major reveunue producing sports there.......Meyer and Donovan. That's a little on the "peter prep" high school mentality for a coach with that much notoriety coaching in a program with that much national attention to pull that kind of BS. The kids are 18 to 23 years old but should not be treated like they are in high school. Classless!!!!! But considering the source, we should not be surprised. Let's just hope someone pulls the plug on the swamp for all of them.
Posted by IBleedOrange444 on March 18, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
VolJunkie-
You're right. It might have gotten him better results mid-season, but they tanked towards the end of the season. I just see it as a bold move by a Coach that expects more from his players. I am realizing that I sound pretty pro-gator right now, but I promise you I hate them with every oounce of my being!
Posted by lisas on March 18, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I found many of your comments very interesting. Especially those of you who disagree with what he has done in keeping them out of their facility. Are any of your familar with Coach Summitt? She did the very same thing to the 96-97 "Cinderella" team. It definitley made an impact on those ladies who went on to win the Nat'l Championship for the second time in two years. I am all for making players pay the consequences for their actions. Maybe we could use some tough love for our football team. Now just imagine if we could just make more of the men graduate and not get arrested...
Posted by BoarderVol on March 18, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously nothing else Donovan said to his players clicked this year. I think he is a good coach just trying to push some buttons to get his players to react. That said, I still hate the gators.
Posted by VolnDothan on March 18, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Classy...
Posted by VolJunkie on March 18, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IBleedOrange -
Never questioned your Vol fanhood my friend, I've seen too many of your other posts! It's okay to comment on coaching tactics ... even make fun of them, especially when it involves UF!
Go VOLS!!!
Posted by 99gator on March 18, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
urban meyer did the same thing when he arrived as football coach.
it is a motivational tactic folks. agree with it or disagree with it....., but this is not child abuse or something to that effect.
people react as if he has turned into bobby knight or something.
i am going to look at his coaching record and assume he knows what he is doing.
i don't know. call me crazy
Posted by General_Watermelon on March 18, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fulmer read this article with KK creme on his face.
We are so fortunate to have him as the leader of our young men. #1 in 2008 /2009.
Posted by General_Watermelon on March 18, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
stinky_pinky - now that's what I call having a stinky post or should I say posts. LOL.
Posted by General_Watermelon on March 18, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Enjoy the NIT Gators. Pearl owns Donovan - 5 out of 6 and counting.
Posted by shopsports on March 18, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too Bad Florida fans couldn't be kicked out of their smart, pompus mouths!!
Posted by mastergardenerlou on March 18, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Has stinky pinky been banned from posting? He sure went silent'
Posted by VolJunkie on March 18, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mcbrim: absolutely, your thoughts are loose while your team likes to lose to UT. How's that?
Go VOLS!
Posted by GreerVol22 on March 18, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
uh, let me see, loose describes your mother and lose describes your basketball team....and your arrogant, self inflated opinion of your school, is simple compensation for a small...
Posted by Chattavegas on March 18, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Better facilities?....Better professors?....Better campus?......we are talking about Gainseville, right?
Posted by GreeneVol on March 18, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate losing (not loosing) to the Gators in anything. And just why is that? Because I am envious of their success (and the inevitable arrogance that comes with it). At the end of the day, I think the community of basketball diehards will agree that Donovan, all midget & munster jokes aside, is not a good coach - but a great coach that is not afraid to instill a good helping of 'tough love' - perhaps one of the most vital things missing from not only our Tennessee football program but society at large. I say 'Job well done, Mr. Donovan.'
Posted by Chattavegas on March 18, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mcbrim: I was going to give you the advantage of warm weather, but Gainesville is only at 67 degrees right now. Agree with GreeneVol, Donovan is a good coach....but I would not trade him for the chosen one.
Posted by LargeOrange on March 18, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mcbrim1998 "tradition that Florida has as a University"
From UF's wiki it looks like Florida has only exactly 1 national championship in a major sport men or women before 2006. Only 7 SEC football championships in the entire 102 year history? Some tradition. Tennessee has 6 NCs in Football alone not counting the Women ( which would be piling on if I counted that) and 16 Conference FB Championships. I would say UF has had a good decade and a tradition of mediocrity the other 90 or so years. You must have been referring to maybe an academic or partying tradition, certainly not athletics.
Posted by TurboFan on March 18, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Buzz tried something similar once, didn't really work out for him. Tactic only really works if you know how to coach in the first place.
LargeOrange, Women have NCs in Football? Don't want to know about it, LOL.
McBrim, and I was almost starting to like you and then you have to go and put your egomaniac-chest-thumping-my-dad-can-beat-your-dad hat on.
Posted by LargeOrange on March 18, 2008 at 11:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What Mcbrim1998, do you have a resource that disputes these facts? I didn't feel like spending more than 30 seconds researching UF. But then it is not that important to me. Please feel free to correct my "resource".
Posted by LargeOrange on March 18, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WD40 - No Women don't play D1 football. I was making the point that the Gators have 1 national Championship prior to 2006 in FB, BB, Baseball or in any other major sport including Womens BB. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Posted by DekanGator on March 18, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unbelievable, some of the comments I've read.
Yes you can ride us about being in the NIT .. but not to many seasons ago you would have been glad to make that tourny... 9 straight years in the big dance and after losing there top 7 players and 4 of them could have stayed another year. Where would TENN be if Hanford.Noah,Green,and Brewer, would have stayed?
Bruce is a great coach, and Im sure he will continue to be a sucess, but if Tenn lost there top 7 scorers this year where would they be next year? Think about it,
Tenn has a chance to win the big dance. As a Gator fan first and an SEC fan second I wish you do well.
Vandy Kentucky Miss state and Ark I hope they all do well.
As for those of you who say Pearl owns Donovan is kinda like saying Florida coaches own Fulmer.
The only thing Tenn BB has achived is Reg season champs. Bruce has NEVER and may NEVER achived What Billy has done at Florida.
With that said, Good luck Vol fans!
Posted by Volfan1 on March 19, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I respect what Florida did in basketball the last two years, especially the players returning for a second try at the prize and putting off the NBA. They played great "team concept" basketball.
But this year's group is nowhere near them. And please remember that Pearl is 5-1 vs Florida. That's pretty sound.
Furthermore, mcbrim and other gators like him with alzheimer's must be delusional when making such rash statements about things like facilities and TRADTION. The only traditions Florida has that's over seventeen years old are probation and partying. And you don't need the NCAA or SEC media guide to look that up.
Posted by wjackson on March 19, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know Vol fans. I think it is awsome that we draw Gaytor fans on this board. Because I certainly do not post on their boards. But I guess they don't have a lot to talk about over there. I also wonder how CPF keep getting brought up in BB articles. Some of you guys really need some other things to do.
Posted by ggcolyer on March 19, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We are ready to blast Donovan. How would we feel if the Gators were blasting CPF aka Baby Dunpling.
Posted by VolJunkie on March 19, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wjackson (6:49a) -
good point regarding outside posters, I have to believe the dialogue on the KNS board is more interesting than what is found on their own boards, therefore they come to chat. I do find myself on the Commercial Appeal board now and then, lots of entertainment value, generally I am a polite guest.
dekangater (11:54p) -
I agree about being a fan of my school first and the SEC second. Many here will be rooting for other SEC teams in both the NCAA and NIT; others just cannot bring themselves to do it (i.e. KY). I do disagree with your point regarding where UT would be if the players you mentioned had stayed at UF, we did not any problems beating UF when they were part of the team.
Go VOLS!!!
Posted by pdhuff on March 19, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ah, let him coach. He has the RECENT hardware to show he can do it or has done it.
Maybe he needs better players to put in those facilities.....
Posted by gator4life on March 19, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This Gators take: Donovan is just doing what good coaches do. As for the timing of it,I think he is just starting to coach for next year. With everyone back from this years team and a top 5 recruiting class coming in, the players just need to learn the TEAM concept first.
Posted by bigorangedude on March 19, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a Vols fan, I'm glad he told them they couldn't wear any Florida attire. Noone should wear such things. I think he should have made them wear an orange T, so they could feel like winners again
Posted by GoVol on March 19, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gator fans - so let me get this straight. Donovan purposfully sucked this year so that any signifigant improvment next year will maybe get him coach of the year? Good strategy - sandbag in year 1 so that you have a chance of looking good in year 2. Sounds like a solid Donovan strategy.
Donovan wanted the NIT this year so that he could go home to see mommy in NY. Heard he was homesick and needed some of mom's homemade Munster stew.
Posted by gator4life on March 19, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by GoVol on March 19, 2008 at 2:59 p.m.
gator fans - so let me get this straight. Donovan purposfully sucked this year so that any signifigant improvment next year will maybe get him coach of the year? Good strategy - sandbag in year 1 so that you have a chance of looking good in year 2. Sounds like a solid Donovan strategy.
Donovan wanted the NIT this year so that he could go home to see mommy in NY. Heard he was homesick and needed some of mom's homemade Munster stew.
GOVOL, It appears the orange koolaid that you're drinking has been spiked. No one mentioned that Donovan intentionally lost. He is trying to motivate his team, nothing more, nothing less. When your beloved Vols FINALLY get to a Final 4, you will find it a lot easier to talk smack. Until then, not so much...
Posted by GoVol on March 19, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gator4life - just joking around and having some fun. Everyone knows Donovan wouldn't intentionally sandbag.
Frankly, I'm not convinced TN will make it beyond the elite 8....must play much better defense to do so.
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