Colleges

UF wins game, no style points

On a milestone night, coach Billy Donovan is more focused on what the Gators did wrong.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published December 21, 2006

GAINESVILLE - Billy Donovan may look back on this milestone one day fondness, maybe even a little pride. Just not today.

On Wednesday night, Donovan became the winningest coach in Florida history with victory No. 236, surpassing Norm Sloan with an 87-66 victory over Stetson.

But after his No .5 Gators (10-2) let a struggling Stetson offense shoot 50 percent in the first half and 52 in the second, Donovan was in no mood to celebrate.

The defending national champion Gators aren't playing well and their coach isn't happy about it. It was most evident during a timeout with 7:34 left when Donovan shattered a clipboard by tossing it to the O'Connell Center floor.

"I just don't think that our team right now reflects my personality as a coach," he said. "There needs to be an emotional and passion level. Maybe it's a maturity issue. Maybe it's being told how great they are. There's a lot of different issues. I'm not going to make excuses for them."

Florida led 44-30 at halftime after trailing early, and the way Stetson opened - up 7-0 after two minutes as the Gators committed four turnovers - set Florida's negative tone. Midway through the first half Stetson shot 77 percent (10-of-13), led by 16 first half-points from Garfield Blair, who finished with a game-high 18.

Trailing 13-10 at the 14:56 mark, UF went on a 14-4 run, taking a lead it never relinquished. The Hatters (3-7) got within 26-21 on a basket by Kris Thomas but the Gators went on a 13-2 run to take it out of reach.

"We should have been winning by 40, that's why he was upset," said junior guard Corey Brewer, who had 15 points and five assists. "We're trying to send a message to the rest of the country that we're for real and we're not playing like we need to be."

Sophomore guard Walter Hodge continued his hot streak with a team-high 17 points including 5-of-5 from 3-point range. Joakim Noah added 16 and eight rebounds and Taurean Green had 11 points and eight assists.

Florida hosts No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday, so celebrating the milestone will have to wait.

"I probably need to take time to enjoy a lot of things that have happened because there have been a lot of special things that have happened to me here," Donovan said. "People probably say geez, you just became the all-time winning coach in Florida history and you're mad, upset or whatever. But I'm always pushing and thinking and trying to figure out a way for us to become a better team. I think for me it's hard to enjoy it."

Florida 87, Stetson 66

UP NEXT

No. 5 Florida vs. No. 3 Ohio State

4 Saturday, O'Connell Center, Gainesville. TV: Ch. 10

[Last modified December 21, 2006, 00:57:38]