Find A Way: Gators to Welcome '93-94 Mojo vs Mizzou
Friday, February 22, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Brian Thompson is a project manager for a construction company in Atlanta that specializes in restoration. He was in a safety meeting a couple weeks ago when an issue popped up. Thompson was told the situation was going to be problematic.
It was time for the go-to solution.
"I told them we'd just have to find a way," said Thompson, now 45, but hearkening back to a different but oh-so-special point in his life. "When we first heard it back then, yeah, it was a little corny. But it grew on us. And it all just started to make sense."
Find a way.
It started a lot more than that. At first, they were just words. Coach Lon Kruger turned those words into a motto and, eventually a mission.
For those who lived University of Florida basketball in 1993-94, "Find A Way" still makes sense, still engenders nostalgic, magical memories, the likes of which will be flowing through the minds of longtime UF fans as well as on the giant video screen above the Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center floor Saturday when the present-day Gators (15-11, 7-6) continue on a find-a-way journey of their own with a pivotal Southeastern Conference home date against Missouri (12-13, 3-10). The game has been assigned an appropriate "90s Day" theme — get out your grunge and hip-hop duds, folks — and include a silver-anniversary halftime salute to the 1993-94 Florida team that became the first in program history to reach a Final Four and, in doing so, paved the way for a basketball future (and generational coach) few would have thought possible.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's comprehensive "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
1993-94 UF Basketball Guide
Craig Brown, Dan Cross and Andrew DeClercq represented the no-holds-barred heart of that squad. Dametri Hill gave those Gators a cult figure and legitimate low-post option. Thompson was a defensive stopper and had a role all his own, as did several others off the bench that provided key and inspired moments in a season that netted a school-record 29 victories, a first-place finish in the SEC East, an unbeaten record at the O'Dome, an implausible upset win in the Sweet 16, and unforgettable celebration at the Elite Eight in Miami.
Welcome back, gentlemen.
"I can't wait to walk on that court again with my teammates," Brown said.
THE RUN-UP
Rewind a quarter-century (plus another six months or so), when Kruger was about to enter the third season of rebuilding a program racked by scandal and probation, courtesy of the previous staff. Go back even before the Gators were picked as a middle-of-the-pack SEC team at the league's preseason media days after going 16-12 the year before, losing at Minnesota in the first round of the NIT, and graduating forward Stacey Poole, then the No. 3 scorer in school history with 1,678 points.
In August, sophomore forward Ben Davis, a McDonald's All-American and transfer from Kansas who had sat out the '92-93 season, was dismissed from the program for violating athletic department rules. The loss of Davis, who was projected as an inside force for the Gators, left a huge void in the paint, both offensively and defensively.
At least, that was the thinking outside the program.
Later that same month, UF embarked on a 17-day, eight-game exhibition tour of Australia. It was Down Under the Gators not only bonded and grew closer, but played against some professional teams, got a head start on carving out niches, and previewed which guys might emerge as impact players.
Such as Hill, the 6-foot-7, 285-pound center.
"Australia was big for me, personally," Hill said.
He would know "big." Hill, out of St. Petersburg, Fla., and the No. 1 all-time scorer in Pinellas County history, arrived at UF the summer of '92 weighing nearly 360 pounds. His lack of conditioning was rewarded appropriately with a total of 60 minutes over 16 games as a freshman; enough to score 17 points.
But Hill, minus 75 pounds in '93, got his shot in Australia and made the most of it. He used his body to create space and developed a deft baby hook shot that over the course of the coming months would come to be known as "DaMeat Hook." Hill's improvement allowed DeClercq, a junior and two-year starter at center, to move to the power forward, where he could focus on rebounding and help defense. Cross, meanwhile, assumed full time the point guard spot he'd shared the previous two seasons with the departed Scott Stewart. Thompson, a 7-minute guy as a freshman, stepped into the small forward spot with an emphasis on guarding the opponent's best perimeter player.
As the basketball part of the equation came into focus, the chemistry — the lifeblood of this team — was forged organically on that trip, be it with Thompson joining backup senior and Finnish forward Martti Kuisma for some bungy-jumping or Brown swapping music with DeClercq, Kuisma and Norwegian reserve center Svein Dyrkolbotn.
"I learned about Nirvana," Brown said. "They learned about Tupac and Biggie."
Bigger than learning about Biggie, the Gators learned about each other. On and off the court.
Then came the season, one that began with very little fanfare; externally, that was.
"Don't even mention that," Cross shot back at a reporter that fall when an "NIT" reference dared to be invoked. "We're going a lot further than anyone expects."
THE START
It began routinely enough, with a home win over Florida International, but instantly got more interesting when UF went to Texas and beat a team that was picked to win the Southwest Conference. The Gators won their first five games, suffered their first defeat against rival Florida State in a neutral-site game at Orlando, then reeled off four more wins over five games — knocking off Kerry Kittles and Villanova on the road and upsetting Oklahoma State and All-America 7-foot center Bryant "Big Country" Reeves in the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii — and took a 9-2 record in SEC play.
"For me, it was the Texas game," Cross said in pinpointing a moment early in the season that confirmed what he already believed about the team. "It was different. We were different."
Four straight wins to start the SEC season furthered the notion, none bigger than the 59-57 upset of No. 7 Kentucky, just the second win over the Wildcats in five seasons, that vaulted UF into the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since early 1989.
Brown still recalls an image from that game that to this day, he believes, defined that season. It was the sight of DeClercq skying for one of his — get this — 20 rebounds in that night (still the most by a Florida player over the last 36 years). It wasn't that DeClercq grabbed the rebound, but that he never let it go.
"He was coming down, but didn't have his balance, and Drew's body was like parallel to the floor," Brown said. "He had no way to brace himself and, man, he went down hard. Crashed right on his side — but he still had the rebound. I was like, 'Holy [expletive]! If this guy can do that, there's no reason I can't try harder to contain Tony Delk or stay in front of Travis Ford.' I'll never forget that."
And away the Gators went.
They had a stretch of eight wins in nine games, with their lone loss at third-ranked Arkansas — yes, the eventual national champion — where the two teams treated a crazed crowd at sparkling new Bud Walton Arena to a rapid-fire 99-87 shootout, with Cross scoring a career-high 29 points. UF won the SEC East Division with a 12-4 record, smashed South Carolina and Alabama in the SEC Tournament, then lost to Kentucky in the title game.
In their wake, they left quotes like this behind:
* Oklahoma State's Eddie Sutton: "I never thought I'd see the day when Bryant Reeves would be held to four points, four rebounds and foul out. Give Florida credit. They did a great job on defense."
* Mississippi State's Richard Williams: "Good players. Good coaching. Great atmosphere. Great crowd. Florida is an excellent, excellent basketball team. You people need to realize that."
* Kentucky's Rick Pitino: "Lon Kruger is one of the best coaches I've ever faced."
* South Carolina's Eddie Fogler: "Florida is a team that's won some games just be being mentally tougher than the opponent."
* Arkansas forward and eventual 1994 SEC Player of the Year Corliss Williamson: "They were like little pests. You slap at 'em a little bit — 'Go away! Go away!' But they keep coming back at you."
Center Dametri Hill does battle with a couple UConn Huskies (one rather notable one to the right) during the Gators' upset overtime victory in the Sweet 16.
THE POSTSEASON
At 25-8 and ranked 14th in the country, Florida was given the No. 3 seed in the NCAA East Region and sent to Uniondale, N.Y., for a first-round date against James Madison. The game was a flat-out eyesore. The Gators led at halftime, 22-18, with the two teams combining to make just 14 of 54 shots, prompting CBS color analyst Billy Packer to proclaim, "Phew! The odor out here."
JMU almost stunk up the greatest season in UF history.
The Dukes led by one with a minute left until freshman guard Greg Williams, who averaged 2.1 points per game, hit a corner 3 with a minute to go. Two JMU free throws tied it, but Cross's driving layup with 7.2 seconds allowed the Gators to escape, 64-62, and win the program's first tournament game since 1988.
Two days later, Florida defeated Ivy League champion Pennsylvania, 70-58, to advance to the second Sweet 16 in school history. The Quakers, an 11-seed, were actually favored in the game, a telling comment to the national perception of the Gators.
"This was probably the only time in history when a No. 3 seed was an underdog to a No. 11 seed," Kruger said after that game. "Those kinds of things really are not for us to concern ourselves with. All that matters is there will be 16 teams left playing and the University of Florida is going to be one of them."
The Gators drew second-seeded and fourth-ranked UConn, led by All-America forward Donyell Marshall and a young freshman named Ray Allen, in the regional semifinal at Miami Arena. UF trailed by 10 with 15 minutes to play, but stormed back to take the lead with less than six minutes left. The game was tied when DeClercq fouled Marshall on a jumper from the wing with just 3.4 seconds left. Marshall, a 76-percent free-throw shooter on the season, stepped to the line.
He missed both.
Florida won, 69-60, in overtime.
"We caught a lot people by surprise that year," Hill said. "That may have been the biggest surprise of all."
The East Region final pitted UF against Boston College, which had upset both No. 1-seed North Carolina and No. 5-seed Indiana. The Eagles were led by guard Howard Eisley and a big center named Bill Curley, whose three-point play just inside 10 minutes to gave BC a 56-53 lead.
The next three UF possessions ended with Brown 3-pointers, as the Gators took a lead they did not relinquish, as the partisan South Florida crowd went berserk.
"Nine points in a heartbeat," BC coach Jim O'Brien said. "And we guarded him really well."
Coach Lon Kruger clips the nets at the Elite Eight in Miami.
Florida led by five inside three minutes when Brown threw a lazy pass that was intercepted by Eisley, who had a pick-6 walk to a layup or dunk. As Eisley went up to finish the play — and make it a one-possession game — DeClercq, in a full sprint, soared from behind and swatted the shot sideways, over the goal, for arguably the most famous blocked shot in UF lore.
"Where did that guy come from?" Eisley asked later.
Same place as that Florida team.
Out of nowhere.
"I just remember the end of the game, just seconds left on the clock, someone was shooting free throws, and the realization of it all. It just hit me all at once," recalled DeClercq last week. "Everything that we'd been talking about and working for, that's what got us there — and now we were going to the Final Four. I actually took a moment to think about it, right there, on the court. We always talked about playing one play at a time. 'Win this possession on offense. Win this possession on defense. Win that loose ball.' If we did those things, and if we took care of each other, we'd get where we wanted to go."
At the Final Four in Charlotte, N.C., the Gators faced sixth-ranked Duke and led by 13 in the second half when All-America forward Grant Hill took over the game on his way to scoring 25 points to go with six rebounds, seven assists and a superb defensive job against Brown. UF, down three, had chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Cross was called for an offensive foul near the top of the key, and the Blue Devils prevailed, 70-65.
Duke played for the national title two nights later, but lost on a last-second shot to Florida's SEC brother Arkansas. The UF team watched that one from back in Gainesville, still stewing about the outcome, but secure in the knowledge of just how special a season it had put in the books. A season that took Gator Nation to a place they'd never been before. One that has become more endearing over the years because those guys were the first. Orange and blue basketball pioneers.
Saturday, they'll find their way back.
"It means a lot," Thompson said. "Some of us have stayed in a contact and some of us haven't, so it's going to be special to be together again and to hear the people cheer us once more."
And share stories, both old and new.
Regarding the former, whatever came of that safety issue back on the construction site?
"We found a way," Thompson said with a chuckle. "Yep. Still works."
CHARTING THE GATORS - 1993-94 Season (Game by Game)
Opponent
Date
Outcome
Record
(SEC)
The Buzz
Florida International
Nov. 26
W 86-66
1-0
Gators shoot 64 percent in second half. After scoring just 17 points his entire freshman season, Dametri Hill scores 16 in 16 minutes.
@Texas
Dec. 4
W 76-68
2-0
Dan Cross scores 15 includes, including eight free throws in the final minute to ice the outcome. UF survives 28 turnovers, 18 lead changes.
South Florida
Dec. 6
W 66-55
3-0
Andrew DeClercq's 17, while defense holds USF to 33 percent and Bulls star point guard Chucky Atkins to zero points for first time in his career.
@Jacksonville
Dec. 8
W 68-67
4-0
Craig Brown rebounds his own missed free throw, gets fouled, then hits two with 2.4 seconds left to take a 3-point lead.
Stetson
Dec.11
W 90-44
5-0
12 Gators score, Hatters shoot 26. Says Stetson coach Dan Hipsher: "Thank God Lon Kruger is a quality person and substituted when he did."
vs Florida State (Orlando)
Dec. 18
L 69-59
5-1
Bob Sura's 25 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists lead way on day UF shoots 29 percent. Assistant coach R.C. Buford suspended after sideline shoving incident with Sura.
Central Florida
Dec. 20
W 83-69
6-1
Brown's 16 points leads four Gators into double figures.
@Villanova
Dec. 22
W 85-77
7-1
Brown and Cross combine for 39 points, while Gators got 36-for-44 from the free throw line to Wildcats 7-for-14. Game was scheduled as homecoming for Brown, the Pennsylvania native.
vs Oklahoma State (Honolulu)
Dec. 28
W 74-69
8-1
In Rainbow Classic, Hill goes for career-high 23 while holding All-America 7-footer Bryant "Big Country" Reeves to 4 points, 4 rebounds. Brown scores his 1,000 career point, as UF equals best start since '86-87.
vs Louisville (Honolulu)
Dec. 29
L 83-68
8-2
Cardinals roll to 21-point lead that Gators manage to cut just to nine. Hill with career-high 28 points.
vs Evansville (Honolulu)
Dec. 30
W 66-63
9-2
Brown and Cross combine for 28, as Gators take third-place of Rainbow Classic.
LSU
Jan. 5
W 74-73
10-2, (1-0)
Cross knifes through traffic for go-ahead layup with 18 seconds left to win SEC opener.
@Tennessee
Jan. 8
W 86-71
11-2,
(2-0)
Gators set SEC, as eight players combine to go a perfect 27-for-27 from the free-throw line.
vs USF(St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Jan. 11
W 69-64
12-2
Brown hits big late jumper to go up then, then Cross clinches outcome with two free throws with 18 seconds left.
@South Carolina
Jan. 15
W 77-75
13-2 (3-0)
Down nine at the break, Gators shoot 64 percent in the second half, with four starters in double figures. UF off to best start since 1940-41.
Kentucky
Jan. 18
W 59-55
14-2 (4-0)
Despite 32-percent shooting and 8 second-half minutes without a FG, Gators shock No. 7 Wildcats behind 9 points, 20 rebounds, six blocks, four steals, three assists from DeClercq.
@Alabama
Jan. 22
L 69-61
14-3
(4-1)
UF's six-game winning streak falls as Crimson Tide shoot 52 percent in second half and wins for 23rd time in 24 meetings at Tuscaloosa.
@Georgia
Jan. 26
W 100-78
15-3
(5-1)
Cross scores 24, including 14 straight, as Gators secure widest victory margin in SEC road since 1987.
Vanderbilt
Jan. 29
W 75-66
16-3
(6-1)
Down three with 10 minutes left, Gators score 10 straight and enjoy a second straight home sellout for the first time since 1986-87 season.
Auburn
Feb. 2
W 68-67
17-3
(7-1)
UF survives 27 points from Wesley Person, who misses a go-ahead jumper with 10 seconds left to secure team's best 21-game start in program history.
Mississippi State
Feb. 5
W 84-75
18-3 (8-1)
Cross scores 26, but game not in hand until his off-balance 3-pointer falls with 1:06 remaining. Hill's first career dunk sends record O'Dome crowd of 12,191 into a tizzy.
@Ole Miss
Feb. 9
W 75-55
19-3
(9-1)
Brown leads way with first career double double (21 points, 13 rebounds). Ice storm strands team in Oxford, where power goes out in hotel.
@Arkansas
Feb. 12
L 99-87
19-4
(9-2)
No. 3 Razorbacks get big games for their stars, Corliss Williamson (24 points) and Scotty Thurman (20), to offset career night from Cross (29 points).
Georgia
Feb. 16
W 91-79
20-4 (10-2)
Brown/Cross combine for 42 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals, 7 assists, as team becomes fifth in UF lore to win 20 games.
South Carolina
Feb. 19
W 88-64
21-4 (11-2)
Cross tallies 24 points for his seventh straight game with at least 20 points, while team equals school record for wins (1967, '87 and '88).
Florida State
Feb. 21
W 72-61
22-4
Florida avenges loss from earlier in the season in front of of O'Dome-record crowd (12,272).
@Vanderbilt
Feb. 26
L 82-78
22-5 (11-3)
Reigning SEC Player of the Year Billy McCaffrey scores 31, including two free throws with 8 seconds left to ice it.
@Kentucky
March 2
L 80-77
22-6 (11-4)
Wildcats storm back from 19 down to move ahead of UF in SEC East Division lead. Gators fall to 5-32 all-time at Lexington.
Tennessee
March 5
W 82-71
23-6
Senior Day for Brown and Martti Kuisma, but Cross scores 26, Kentucky losses at South Carolina to give Gators SEC East title and No. 1 SEC Tournament seed. UF finishes unbeaten at O'Dome for first time (13-0).
vs South Carolina
March 11
W 84-57
24-6
Gators blow out Gamecocks in second round of SEC Tournament at Memphis, with largest margin of victory since restart of the event in 1979
vs Alabama
March 12
W 68-52
25-6
Brown scores 17 on 5-for-5 shooting from 3-point arc. Gators reach SEC Tournament final for just third time (1934, '89).
vs Kentucky
March 13
L 73-60
26-6
Cats rain 12 from beyond the arc to capture tourney title, but Gators learn afterward they're No. 3 seed in NCAA East Region at Uniondale, N.Y.
vs James Madison
March 17
W 64-62
26-7
Cross's running, banking layup with 7.2 seconds proves the difference in UF's first NCAA Tournament win since 1988.
vs Penn
March 19
W 70-58
27-7
Gators end Quakers' 16-game winning streak to advance to second Sweet 16 in school history. Walk-on Clayton Bates hit a 3-ball at buzzer.
vs Connecticut
March 25
W 69-60 (OT)
28-7
Down 10 after 37-percent shooting in first half, Gators rally, then take advantage of Donyell Marshall's two missed free throws with 3.4 seconds left to roll away in overtime and into first Elite Eight.
vs Boston College
March 27
W 74-66
29-7
East Region MVP Brown's three straight 3s in the second half surge puts Gators in first Final Four, as partisan crowd at Miami Arena celebrates. DeClercq tallies 16 points, 13 rebounds, unforgettable blocked shot.
vs Duke
April 2
L 70-65
29-8
In the Final Four at Charlotte, All-America forward Grant Hill and theBlue Devils erase 13-point deficit early in the second half, then hold on to end Florida's magical season.
