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Gators snap back, defeat Jayhawks

FLORIDA 83, KANSAS 73: After being upset, a trip to New York ends with No. 7 UF taking third in the Preseason NIT.

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 30, 2002

NEW YORK -- Florida's youngsters were looking for sympathy after losing to Stanford 69-65 in the Preseason NIT on Wednesday. Instead, coach Billy Donovan gave the seventh-ranked Gators a dose of tough love.

"I was not happy with their attitude in practice," Donovan said. "I think they came in wanting me to feel sorry for them. I made them watch the whole Stanford game on Thanksgiving."

It must have made an impression because the Gators responded Friday, beating No.2 Kansas 83-73 in the consolation game of the tournament.

It was not easy.

The Gators built a first-half lead that stretched to 16, watched it shrink to six during the opening minutes of the second half then built it back up to 19 only to have it cut to two before they put the game away.

It was an up-and-down performance, something Donovan said he believes he must expect from his young team.

"You're dealing with young guys," he said. "These guys don't know how to respond when they lose and have to play a quality opponent. We got better."

So did Kansas. The Jayhawks played in a trance during their 67-56 semifinal loss to North Carolina and still seemed out of it during the first half against Florida, missing 10 of 20 free throws and all six 3-pointers. They managed just eight baskets.

But Kansas came out firing in the second half. Consecutive 3-pointers by Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Miles cut a 12-point lead to six. Florida came back with three 3-pointers by freshman Anthony Roberson, highlighting a 17-4 burst that put the Gators back in control.

Kansas wasn't done, though. The Jayhawks, struggling for baskets all night, got hot, going on a 23-6 run that erased all but two points of the lead.

Matt Walsh, another Florida freshman, halted the burst with a 3-pointer that seemed to settle the Gators.

Walsh said he wasn't aware of the scope of Kansas' comeback.

"I could tell they were making a run," he said. "I just got a good look. I wasn't thinking about their run or anything like that."

Florida then steadily rebuilt its lead and secured the victory.

Walsh and Matt Bonner scored 22. Justin Hamilton scored 14, and Roberson, who was 1-for-13 against Stanford, finished with nine.

Keith Langford led Kansas with 17, and Nick Collison and Wayne Simien scored 16.

Kansas coach Roy Williams said he was pleased with the way the Jayhawks came back.

"I liked the way our team competed," he said. "We just needed to make a couple of plays and make a couple of shots.

"They had a lot to do with how poorly we played."

The defeat completed a washout visit to Madison Square Garden for the Jayhawks, who lost consecutive games for the first time since Feb.12-17, 2001.

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