Gator Men's Basketball Prepares For Alabama
Monday, March 10, 2008 | Men's Basketball
UF Men's Basketball Head Coach Billy Donovan
March 10, 2008
Opening Statement:
“I think this is a little bit of a different situation for our guys. In fact, we really have to get reacquainted with Alabama because we played them in the first game in the SEC schedule back in January and I think both teams are probably a lot different today than back during that game. I think also the circumstances of where both teams are at right now and the fact that Alabama got a great home win against a very good Vanderbilt team. Both teams probably are much different and a lot changed from that first meeting. This is a situation right now for us where we have to get our guys to get a very good picture as we get ready to play them on Thursday. There's a lot to get prepared for, because to me, it's like preparing for a new opponent because it has been such a long time since we last played them.”
New experience playing in tournaments:
“I think outside of some teams that maybe played in tournaments or a Christmas tournament or some kind of Thanksgiving tournament, or Maui (Invitational), our guys haven't had that experience.”
On Richard Hendrix and Alabama:
“I think (Richard) Hendrix and (Alonzo) Gee and (Mykal) Riley, and (Rico) Pickett at that time was a freshman point guard and it was his first SEC game. He has grown and developed and gotten a lot better. They were playing back when we played them pretty much all man-to-man. They have kind of switched and played some match-up zone right now. They have made some adjustments and done some different things with their style as well, but their personnel is very athletic and very talented. They've got two great shooters. (Brandon) Hollinger shoots. Gee shoots. Riley shoots, and you have a great low-post presence in Hendrix, who I think is one of the better frontline guys in our league.”
On if the team talks about needing to win games to get into the NCAA Tournament:
“I think it is clear right now that we have to win some games, but I think it was clear three weeks ago. I don't think anything has really changed around our team. I think the only thing that has changed would be people's opinion of what needs to be done. 'Do they have to win the tournament?' When our season started, looking back, I don't know if coming out of the Ohio State game in late December, the way we were playing right there, I don't know if we could have been competitive with some of these teams that we've played against here of late. At the beginning of our SEC schedule, we played some games where we really had a chance. We played some games at Vanderbilt, at Arkansas, at Tennessee, Tennessee at home, Mississippi State, at Kentucky. They were really going to be challenging and hard. I feel like our guys really need to go through all of these experiences to grow and develop to get where we want to go. The past reminds you how far you have to go. Our past reminds our team how far we have to go to get better. If we throw all of our eggs in and we are going to sell ourselves out just to get to the tournament, I think we are missing the point of where we are trying to get to. I know that is all being talked about, the NCAA Tournament, but we can't talk about the NCAA Tournament, if we don't beat Alabama. That is kind of where I am at with our team. We still have a long way to go now with this group. Taking them to where they need to get to someday, is a lot bigger for me than just getting our name called on Sunday.”
On the growing pains:
“I like the fact that they are going through all of this. It was like I told our guys last year, the microscope that our team was under. You are not running from it, and you are not hiding from it. There's part of me in a strange way that loves the fact that they have to hear that, see that and deal with that. I can't put them in a cocoon and put cotton in their ears and not have them hear anything or think about anything. They need to learn how to handle that. I know the question was asked a lot if these guys feel pressure. I have never felt like I am sitting on the sidelines there and saying wow, the pressure is getting to them. If the pressure is getting to them, that is good too because they have to learn how to deal with that piece of it. You have to deal with those things. It is the same thing in life. You are not going to be able to run and hide from those things. There is a certain way you have to handle that stuff. Our guys need to handle that. Last year's team needed to handle being a No. 1 seed. They needed to handle getting the monkey of their back. It is how you deal with that. I do feel there are times where you could deal with different things better.”
On if the players are learning from their experiences:
“If there ever was a time for us to come in and feel sorry for ourselves it was going into Kentucky. We had every opportunity to feel sorry for ourselves. I think so many times, everyone is focused on the result. If we win, it looks like everything is great, and if we lose, it looks like everything is spinning out of control. I was proud that when the game started our guys came ready to play and to compete. That was a good thing on the road because I have had some teams go into Rupp (Arena) and be overwhelmed. These guys have a lot to be overwhelmed with. Where is our team going postseason wise, playing in Rupp against Kentucky. I have seen some growth, but the growth has not been good enough to get us over the hump right now to win those games. The biggest thing is are they really absorbing and taking to their heart what it takes to win at this level? I talked to Chandler (Parsons) about this, and he made a comment to me the other day. His expectations to win and what it takes to win at this level were totally way off base. I don't know how he is supposed to know that until he goes through it.”
