College basketball

Questions arise already about Roberson's future

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published March 21, 2005

NASHVILLE - Florida's 2004-05 season had been over less than 30 minutes when the speculation began.

Has junior guard Anthony Roberson played his final game as a Gator? Roberson said out of respect for his teammates and coaches, and because he was still stunned by the loss, he wasn't prepared to make a decision.

"I really haven't thought if it's going to be my last game," he said. "I've had a lot of great games in my career at Florida. I'm happy with the decision I made to come here. I think I've had a lot of great games and a lot of great memories to think back on, even the close ones in the NCAA Tournament. ... I really want to gather with my teammates. This one is going to take a while to get over. If it is my last game, there's nothing I can really do about it now because it's over. It's nothing I can (dwell) on and hurt and kill myself thinking about how it ended."

DIFFERENT FEELING: Though Florida's season ended in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year, the Gators said there's no comparing this season to others, especially last year's first-round loss to Manhattan.

"Absolutely not," senior David Lee said when asked if Sunday's game was the worst ending of his four seasons. "It was bad that it ended my career, that's the one thing that's really disappointing. But with the way we played in March this year, I think everybody would agree we were miles away from where we were in past Marches - going out in years past, getting (beaten) in the SEC tournament, then we'd come in to the NCAA and lose to a team that had no business being in the game with us. We played a very solid Villanova team, we grinded one out Friday against Ohio. ... I don't think we backed down as a team or we came out and played scared."

Florida coach Billy Donovan agreed.

"I have a different feeling up here today than a year ago after Manhattan (a 75-60 loss) or two years ago against Michigan State (68-46 loss)," Donovan said. "These kids gave me everything they had. I thought today we were beaten by a better team. Villanova is outstanding and they've got a chance to go a long way in this tournament. But I'm proud of our kids, the way they competed and what they did all year long."

IN HONOR OF: Before the game, every Florida player was asked to select someone to dedicate the game to.

"You had to play for somebody besides the people in this locker room," said freshman Corey Brewer , who played for his dad. Lee played in memory of his friend, Kevin Sobel , who was killed in a drunk driving accident on Thanksgiving. Roberson said he played for his mother, his late grandmother, Sandra Roberson , and former UF player and assistant Major Parker .

[Last modified March 21, 2005, 01:51:06]