Back from INDY!

[GatorNation]

Went to Saturday's game and the title game on Monday (5 rows up from the court on the corner of UCLA's basket...only $100 each for two tix from a Mason group that had finals on Monday :wink: ), which is why I've been MIA of late.

The whole trip was amazing--though the city was boring--and it was an unreal game experience for the weekend. The Rowdy Reptiles were in full form, many more fans than I thought there would be at the game. We got pretty crazy. A few people almost got trampled in our section in the second half. My gf has a bunch of bruises and some sore ribs, lol.

All the fans were cool, though there were some disgruntled Mason fans that needed a beatdown. The Tiger fans, on the other hand, were very cool, as--for some reason--I expected. There was a lot of that "Go SEC" spirit on Saturday.

I'm just thrilled that I actually got a chance to be a part of Gator history: our first ever title in b-ball. BillyD and the boys really deserve it.

It was just awesome to be there.

I'll post some pics when I get them scanned.

GO GATORS!

[GeauxTo]

Sounds like it was an amazing experience.

Congratulations to the Gators for a beautiful game against a quality opponent.
Billy D is worth every penny he's being paid, that's for sure. A quality coach in every way. And the team had great chemistry, worked together, and were not going to be beaten by anybody on that night.

[BamaDan13]

I think Billy D has done a great job this season, but everyone's all "Billy D is great!!!", when late in the regular season some people were calling for his head. Is this just the way coaching is now, or do people jump on and off the bandwagon so quickly? Either way, good job Florida. Coach Donnovan did a great job getting his team ready to play a quality UCLA team.

[GatorHunter]

I think Billy D has done a great job this season, but everyone's all "Billy D is great!!!", when late in the regular season some people were calling for his head. Is this just the way coaching is now, or do people jump on and off the bandwagon so quickly? Either way, good job Florida. Coach Donnovan did a great job getting his team ready to play a quality UCLA team.

The "media" was questioning his ability...Gator fans...at least all that I've been around, have never doubted Billy...he's had some great players...just never a great team...until now. I do think that it's humorous that UF or Billy get no respect....Davis is SEC POY....Pearl is COY....give me a break! Billy took, what most believed was a rebuilding team, and won the SEC and the NC...what else could he do?

[GatorNation]

The "media" was questioning his ability...Gator fans...at least all that I've been around, have never doubted Billy...he's had some great players...just never a great team...until now. I do think that it's humorous that UF or Billy get no respect....Davis is SEC POY....Pearl is COY....give me a break! Billy took, what most believed was a rebuilding team, and won the SEC and the NC...what else could he do?
I agree. We were just as much of a "Cinderella" story as George Mason: unranked to start the season, picked third or lower in our conference, starting 4 sophs and only one junior (Lee Humphrey), and we lose, what, 70-80% of our scoring (Lee, Walsh, and Roberson)....with our highest returning scorer for this season averaging 7 ppg????

Billy has done all of the McDonald's AA stuff; this time we had a team that was hungry, unselfish, and willing to both learn and grind it out everyday in practice. These guys are/were humble enough to know they haven't arrived....that they can learn something with each practice, each game, and each struggle.

With the early-entry exodus each year, it looks like this "team concept" might be the new way to win b-ball games in the NCAA.