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Green's hands can mold future

By JOHN ROMANO
Published March 26, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS - He is not the main reason they have traveled this far. Surely, by now, you have gotten that impression.

He is not the charismatic one with the ponytail and the magazine cover shot. He is not the McDonald's All-American who became a hero Friday night by throwing up a prayer from his hip. He's not even the brooding center who got the better of Georgetown's 7-footer in the second half on Friday.

No, Taurean Green is not the reason Florida is here today.

But he might determine whether the Gators are in the Final Four next weekend.

This could be Green's moment. His chance to put an indelible mark on a program. With Florida facing Villanova again this afternoon, Green could be the difference between glory and the disaster that was last season's finale.

You remember that Villanova game in 2005, right? The way the Wildcats swarmed UF's offense? The way their multiple-guard lineup chased Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh all the way to some minor-league town?

Villanova's backcourt was, and still is, small, quick and mean. They're like ferrets with sneakers. UF had its worst assist-to-turnover ratio of the season against them. Walsh and Roberson were a combined 5-of-21 shooting.

So if the Gators are to change their fortunes today, it might be up to their sophomore point guard to show them the way. Green will be the one with the ball in his hands. He'll be the one who cannot afford to lose his composure.

"I don't know if people realize what Taurean means to this team," forward Joakim Noah said. "He keeps everything running smoothly."

You know, when it comes to talent, it still is worth arguing whether this Florida team has taken a step forward this season.

Noah is probably better than David Lee, but Green and junior Lee Humphrey are not as skilled in the backcourt as Roberson and Walsh.

No, the difference between today and yesterday is how this team plays. Unselfishly. In unison. And, no doubt about it, with more pluck.

Green has been a big part of that equation. He is not as emotional as Noah, and not as physical as Corey Brewer or Al Horford, but he has helped Florida evolve into this seamless group of interchangeable stars.

He is so dependable in a low-key way, that he is most noticeable when his game goes haywire.

Think back to Friday night's victory against Georgetown. With four minutes remaining in the first half, UF had the lead and control of the game.

Then Green went temporarily insane. On four consecutive possessions, he took nutty shots. Two were wayward 3-pointer attempts, two were off-balance drives, including one that turned into a charging foul.

By the time the buzzer went off for halftime, the Gators had lost the lead and coach Billy Donovan had lost his composure.

In the locker room, he laid into his team for not playing smart enough or hard enough. Specifically, he got on Green for losing control.

When the second half began, Florida ran a pick-and-roll and the ball came to Green at the top of the 3-point line. This is a guy who had just been chewed out. Just been told not to waste possessions.

When the ball reached his hands, he did not hesitate. He shot, he scored, and Florida was back in the lead.

"I have coached guys, a lot of coaches have, when things aren't going well for them or the coach gets on them, they pout. They go in the jar, and it's like you have to baby them to get them back," Donovan said. "When I go after these guys in terms of challenging them, they take it on.

"Taurean, in particular, because I am about as hard on him as I am on any of the guys. He takes it on, which I have always respected about him."

The point is not that Green kept shooting, but that he kept his confidence. He maintained composure. Those are qualities Florida teams have lacked in NCAA Tournaments in recent seasons.

"Coach Donovan gets on me a lot, but it's because he's trying to make me better and make the team better," Green said. "He told me I needed to settle down on offense, and he was exactly right."

The same circumstances will likely be true today. Villanova is not as strong on the frontline, so the Wildcats will attack UF in the backcourt.

It will be Green's job not to get rattled. Roberson had a tendency to shoot more and more when things were going poorly. Green, the son of former NBA player Sidney Green, cannot fall into that trap.

Florida has been a better team this season, in part, because Green has kept everyone involved. As a point guard, Roberson took 13.2 shots per game last season. Green has attempted an average of 9.1. By contrast, Roberson had 77 assists and Green is at 172.

He understands Noah is a weapon. He has seen Horford improve as an offensive force. He doesn't feel the need to be the only star.

Which might just get Florida back in the Final Four.

[Last modified March 26, 2006, 00:26:15]