Gator Country

Florida head coach Billy Donovan looks on during the Gators' 75-69 loss to Mississippi State in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament on March 12 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. / Gator Country photo by Tim Casey

After a year in which the Florida Gators were ever so close to the kind of breakout season that would send a clear signal that Florida is back among the nation’s elite programs, Billy Donovan appears to be within a piece or two of completing the puzzle that has been so difficult to put together since the wholesale losses of the top six scorers from the 2007 NCAA championship team. The Gators lost 13 games while reaching the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 10 of those losses were by eight or fewer points and in all 13 losses the Gators were within three points of the lead in the final five minutes. The difference in 27-7 and 21-13 is a play here and a play here and the hope is that with a year of experience, the Gators can close that gap substantially.

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