Colleges

Gators pad their resume

ATHENS, Ga. - Florida coach Billy Donovan says his team is a long way from comparing with the national championship squads of the past two years, but at least the Gators may have put an end to questions about their status for the NCAA Tournament.

Nick Calathes made three 3-pointers in the first three minutes and scored 22, and Florida never trailed while beating Georgia 77-64 Wednesday night for its 10th straight win in the series.

"We did a good job of moving the ball and my teammates found me open," Calathes said. "They did a good job spacing the floor."

Walter Hodge hit another 3 less than four minutes into the game as Florida had quick success against Georgia's zone.

Florida (21-7, 8-5 SEC) needed the win despite already securing its 10th straight 20-win season. The young Gators were 2-4 in February, including three straight road losses.

"The one thing I look at is they've responded when we have played poorly, in terms of competing and playing harder, and that's really all I'm looking for," Donovan said.

"Now how much we've improved or grown up or how much better we are, it would be hard for me to say we've got it all figured out."

Calathes, a 6-foot-6 freshman, has been Donovan's most consistent newcomer. He has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 SEC games.

He was held to seven points in Florida's 77-67 victory over Georgia on Feb.9 in Gainesville, but he proved in the opening minutes he was back in his usual SEC form as the Gators completed the season sweep of the Bulldogs.

"When you're a young player and you make three 3s in a row to open a game, it has a way of changing your disposition and your focus level," Donovan said. "We've seen these guys when we haven't shot the ball well and it looks like they're in space."

St. Petersburg's Marreese Speights had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Florida.

UF 77

Georgia 64

[Last modified February 27, 2008, 23:32:09]