Never have I seen...

[lhnewman]

Never have I seen....a more discipline( they bought into this )...focused...well coached...team-oriented...squad...as this one of Billy's...no real star...yet a team that can reach the final-4.........amazing judge of talent...and very-well coached

Was on the same high school basketball team with Neal Walk....great shot...from the baseline...couldn't jump....

[Al E Gator]

Billy's coaching football now? :D

No team compares to the 2006/2007 BB teams...THE definition of teamwork/swag/come-and-get-it-and-let's-see-who's better. Best Gator team of all time in any sport.

[lhnewman]

Billy's coaching football now? :D

No team compares to the 2006/2007 BB teams...THE definition of teamwork/swag/come-and-get-it-and-let's-see-who's better. Best Gator team of all time in any sport.

agreed...but, this team is less talented, and...over-achieving...

we're more guard-oriented than the 2006/2007 teams

[gatorbogey]

i want to rejoice and all, but i fear that we're going up against sec talent and teams that are way way down this season.

still, well coached and fun to watch. love the intensity and pride the team is showing - as a team.

[GatorEst1992]

Yea I was fixin to say, not as much "stars" on this team but team chemistry is def there and they are overachievers which is awesome, but they don't even compare to the 06 07 team they were the most unselfish competitive team iv ever seen for any sport and they won back to back national championships its not fair to compare these 2 teams completely different squads

[TampaGatorFan]

Billy's coaching football now? :D

No team compares to the 2006/2007 BB teams...THE definition of teamwork/swag/come-and-get-it-and-let's-see-who's better. Best Gator team of all time in any sport.

Oh, yeah...that was one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time.

[InstiGATOR1]

This is a great team. The 2005-2007 teams were great teams. The 1999-00 team was a great team. The mark of the Donovan era so far has been UF it at its best when it has had teams that play like they like each other.

[tommyuf21]

Three different teams and removed enough from each to stand on their own.

We'll see at the end of the season where this one ranks in the conversation. The benchmark has been set.

[themistocles]

Well, I certainly question whether the 2006/07 BB teams were the Greatest Gator teams in any sport, simply because the Gators have fielded more national championship teams across the numerous sports than any other school in the Universe.

Some of those Gator tennis teams were simply incredible.

This team does share some very important characteristics with the 2006/07 teams:
06/07 - 4 Jrs, 2 Srs, 1 So - who played regularly
13 - 4 Jrs, 3 Srs, 1 Fr who play regularly

Outstanding Defense
Inside and outside scoring, pick your poison
Terrific PG play

Note that the through the fall 2005 through spring 2007 period, the Gators were 1-3 against Tennessee, and 0-2 for the 2007 team.

Im really not sure that you can say that was the Greatest team. They did win both SEC and National tournaments, however, which tends to be what people remember most about a season.

[GatorRade]

As pointed out by REM, I think the 2003 Kentucky team is another such team. They were impressively team oriented, and their biggest star was probably Keith Bogans. You should look them up if you haven't seen them play.

[wci347]

I think the championship teams had deeper talent, but I don't think this year's team is less talented.

[GatorNorth]

Well, I certainly question whether the 2006/07 BB teams were the Greatest Gator teams in any sport, simply because the Gators have fielded more national championship teams across the numerous sports than any other school in the Universe.

Some of those Gator tennis teams were simply incredible.

This team does share some very important characteristics with the 2006/07 teams:
06/07 - 4 Jrs, 2 Srs, 1 So - who played regularly
13 - 4 Jrs, 3 Srs, 1 Fr who play regularly

Outstanding Defense
Inside and outside scoring, pick your poison
Terrific PG play

Note that the through the fall 2005 through spring 2007 period, the Gators were 1-3 against Tennessee, and 0-2 for the 2007 team.

Im really not sure that you can say that was the Greatest team. They did win both SEC and National tournaments, however, which tends to be what people remember most about a season.

UCLa has won over 100 NCAA national championships. We've probably won under 20.
I think they're in the same universe so they would appear to have more. We aren't even top 20 for total NCAA titles.

[SavageGator]

lhnewman I played for Gables against Beach with Neal, Cherner, Ascott, Goldfarb et al
and got 23 pts at Beach fouling Neal out of the game. On our freshman team as Gators I backed up Walk and Andy Owens at the post. We had a decent team at 19-1.

[GatorPlanet]

I think the championship teams had deeper talent, but I don't think this year's team is less talented.

Umm...the championship team had 3 of the first 5 guys taken in the draft, I believe.

This year's group may not have anybody taken in the first round at all.

[GatorLurker]

These guys play basketball the way it is supposed to be played. I love it. It is a joy to watch.

They are not the most talented Gator team, but they play the game better than any other one. It is a thing of beauty.

[tommyuf21]

These guys play basketball the way it is supposed to be played. I love it. It is a joy to watch.

They are not the most talented Gator team, but they play the game better than any other one. It is a thing of beauty.

I'm really impressed with this team. They've improved a lot since the beginning of the season and the decision to have Scottie be our full time PG has paid real dividends.

I was (and still am) worried about the injury factor, but they have responded well to the adversity that they have faced.

There's still a lot of basketball to be played and the '04's shined the brightest on the biggest stage. We still have that question to answer and hopefully its the same answer as it was in 06 and 07.

[regurgigator]

Never have I seen....a more discipline( they bought into this )...focused...well coached...team-oriented...squad...as this one of Billy's...no real star...yet a team that can reach the final-4.........amazing judge of talent...and very-well coached

Was on the same high school basketball team with Neal Walk....great shot...from the baseline...couldn't jump....


I agree. The championship teams obviously had greater talent, and yet still personified the expression: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

But, this season's team of "equals" has taken that expression to a whole other level IMHO.

And, I don't think the great results we are seeing are due primarily to the SEC being in a down year. For one thing, we have also completely dismantled some decent OOC teams. Plus, while its pretty clear the SEC is down, it's statistically improbable that the whole conference is as down as our mind-blowing scores would indicate.

Again tonight we had the score doubled up on Auburn with less than 10 minutes to go in the game (as we've done in so many other games this year). Those type of scores we keep putting up are usually only seen in women's games where there is typically much greater distance between the top teams and the lower teams.

I think what we're seeing is incredible, and I hope it doesn't get lost on the fans if we happen to lose in the Tourney prior to the Final Four - which is a possibility for even great teams.

[grayg8rstevo]

[QUOTE=lhnewman;6415458]Never have I seen....a more discipline( they bought into this )...focused...well coached...team-oriented...squad...as this one of Billy's...no real star...yet a team that can reach the final-4.........amazing judge of talent...and very-well coached

Was on the same high school basketball team with Neal Walk....great shot...from the baseline...couldn't jump.

Alan Goldfarb.?
Drew Cherner?

Narcisco Escobar.....6'2" center for MIAMI HIGH got the center jump. He could sky.
. Neal not so much.:yes:

[Juggernautz]

Losing WY was a step back but so far so good, God speed to them!

[lhnewman]

lhnewman I played for Gables against Beach with Neal, Cherner, Ascott, Goldfarb et al
and got 23 pts at Beach fouling Neal out of the game. On our freshman team as Gators I backed up Walk and Andy Owens at the post. We had a decent team at 19-1.

awesome Savage...yeah that was a great team...Jeff Shane was the other starting guard...played with a brace on his knee...but was a great shot...and little Alan Goldfarb could make you look silly...he at times would dribble the ball through your legs to get around you...we actually played Andy Owens I (I think Tampa Hillsborough) in the old Forida gym in the semi-finals of the state tournament...I actually played more in that game than usual...Walk had foul trouble...Go High Tides!

[lhnewman]

[QUOTE=lhnewman;6415458]Never have I seen....a more discipline( they bought into this )...focused...well coached...team-oriented...squad...as this one of Billy's...no real star...yet a team that can reach the final-4.........amazing judge of talent...and very-well coached

Was on the same high school basketball team with Neal Walk....great shot...from the baseline...couldn't jump.

Alan Goldfarb.?
Drew Cherner?

Narcisco Escobar.....6'2" center for MIAMI HIGH got the center jump. He could sky.
. Neal not so much.:yes:

Miami Beach High starting 5 ( year 1965 ): went to State in Florida gym...lost to Andy Owen's Tampa Hillsborough


Alan Goldfarb: 1 5'9
Jeff Shane: 2 6'2
Ricky Ascott:3 6'5
Neal Walk: 4 6'9
Drew Cherner: 5 7'

one of the best High School teams of all time...Miami High was very good Gray...and Hialeah had Ted Hendricks...good memories

[lhnewman]

a

[born2beagator]

a

Interesting. Tell us more

[PIMking]

Billy's coaching football now? :D

No team compares to the 2006/2007 BB teams...THE definition of teamwork/swag/come-and-get-it-and-let's-see-who's better. Best Gator team of all time in any sport.

those teams were "come and get it, if you think you're goint to take it from us you're gonna take a beating" type of teams

[tegator80]

I have to give the nod to the '06 and '07 teams until further notice. Too much talent and cohesion to be denied the top spot (for us at least). But this team epitomizes the concept of the whole being more than the sum of the parts. And it is fun to watch.


Now if we get to the promised land, I hope our posters here don't think that Billy can just continue to recruit/coach the future players/teams to similar outcomes. Enjoy the present and stop all of the angst of what did or didn't transpire.

[SavageGator]

lhnewman, yes Beach was "dynamite" that year and they were as you described. However,
as much as Alan was a superb ball handler, I remember in that same game at Beach my teammate Larry Rentz stole the ball from Goldfarb and went the length of the court to score.

[klgator]

Three different teams and removed enough from each to stand on their own.

We'll see at the end of the season where this one ranks in the conversation. The benchmark has been set.
The one thing that's missing from this team is Joakim Noah gesturing to his teammates with his hand vertical and perpendicular to his face and moving it back and forth urging them to focus. We don't seem to have that kind of leader.

[lhnewman]

lhnewman, yes Beach was "dynamite" that year and they were as you described. However,
as much as Alan was a superb ball handler, I remember in that same game at Beach my teammate Larry Rentz stole the ball from Goldfarb and went the length of the court to score.

he didn't get beat too many times...and was one of the first " flashy " ball handlers of the time...he ran the fast break like nobody's business...around the back passes were common-place...fun to watch...the legend that Goldfarb was...he used to practice ball skills/dribbling blindfolded at a local park...

[SavageGator]

As good as he was it was Ricky Ascott who was the Miami Herald's Player of the Year for Dade County. As I'm sure you know Neal went on to a Great career as a Gator being #2 in the NBA draft behind Kareem Abdul Jabbar. What you may not realize is another of my teammates Al Cueto went on to play at Tulsa and later in the old ABA.

[lhnewman]

As good as he was it was Ricky Ascott who was the Miami Herald's Player of the Year for Dade County

good memory Savage...I played against Ricky when we were in the park system on the Beach...he played for Flamingo Park and I for Polo Park...he was huge as a 12 year old...was unstoppable on the wing on the fast break with Alan...he was also a very nice guy...regretfully, he died about 5-7 years ago while living in New Orleans I believe...I do not know the circumstances...

[SavageGator]

Sorry to hear that. He was the first to congratulate me for being high scorer after our game at Beach. He was a nice guy!

[kellgator]

The number that ends the argument for me of which Gator team was the greatest of all time is the number 1. During the '04's entire time in college (all 3 years) they lost a total of 1 post-season game. Not just NCAA tournament games, but any tournament they played in. Granted, Noah and Green didn't play that much as freshmen, but Horford and Brewer started and Humphrey played quite a bit. Their freshmen season we won the SEC tournament and then they lost to Villanova in the NCAA tournament. That was it. They never lost another post-season game of any kind: SEC, or NCAA.

2004-05: 3-0 SEC, 1-1 NCAA
2005-06: 3-0 SEC, 6-0 NCAA
2006-07: 3-0 SEC, 6-0 NCAA

That's 22-1 in the post-season. Unbelievable!

[jmac83]

Agree with the original premise ... but what's up with ... the Capt. James T. Kirk ... overly dramatic pauses ... designated by ellipses? :) Just teasing

[SavageGator]

kellgator-That's impossible to argue with!

[grayg8rstevo]

Newman..awesome...
Cherner..6'7" ..I remember.
Savage...Larry Rentz. Never met the guy. Obviously superstar for Coral Gables ..favorite Gator of the GATORNATION.
As a Red Raider, we locked up with Gables and Miami High every year..

[grayg8rstevo]

Agree with the original premise ... but what's up with ... the Capt. James T. Kirk ... overly dramatic pauses ... designated by ellipses? :) Just teasing

ok to tease. I do it all the time. Can only use one hand at the moment typing. Getting ready for family viewing for my dad. Just finishing up.
like the Kirk reference. too funny. iPad fights me lol:whoa:

[lhnewman]

Newman..awesome...
Cherner..6'7" ..I remember.
Savage...Larry Rentz. Never met the guy. Obviously superstar for Coral Gables ..favorite Gator of the GATORNATION.
As a Red Raider, we locked up with Gables and Miami High every year..

Gray...yeah you're probably right about Cherner...7' probably wrong...but I thought he was taller than Neal...anyway Edison Red Raiders?? I remember a player you guys had that was awesome...a big guard I believe...maybe Italian or Greek name??

remember?

[SavageGator]

Gables football team ranked #1 as National Champions with Larry at QB back in the day.
The Miami Herald even wrote a column with a poem entitled "There's no defense for Larry Rentz" after we beat Miami High. As a sophomore at UF Rentz won All SEC as a DB. But people most remember the pass he threw to Richard Trapp to beat Georgia!

[rserina]

I don't think anyone saw this coming, even Donovan, But he seems to be having a great time with it. This is an experienced, versatile, intelligent, competitive, coachable group that enables him to make subtle adjustments on the fly.

Mark Wise had a telling comment on the radio broadcast when he described the difference between coaching a team on how to do something as opposed to when to do something. In the case of this year's team, Donovan doesn't tell them what to do, but how to react in a given situation, then trusts them to make the correct read and adjustment. It was the same way with national title teams. He always refers to how those teams would talk in the locker room before games about how they would adjust if the opponent took something away and that meant they didn't force things, but read and reacted. Coach's dream.

[SavageGator]

The shot blocking ability of our National Championship team was exceptional. However I've never seen a better defense or 3 point shooting group than this years.

[sec1]

i agree no team compares to the 2006/7 team , they worked amazing together .... what a TEAM....

[SavageGator]

lhnewman-permit me one more trip back in time to Miami Beach. My grandfather was elected Constable of the city and my Dad played Football, Basketball and Baseball for the high school which was then called Ida M Fischer. Dad then came to UF playing both ways at tackle, kicking field goals in football, jumping center in basketball and was a starting pitcher on the Gator baseball team. Then after graduation he came back to the Beach as a PE teacher and as a coach. I don't know of any other Gator athlete that started and lettered in all three sports.

[gatorbogey]

must be in the gator athletic history roles, eh?

[SavageGator]

I gave the Gator posting photos from different decades some of my Dad from the mid thirties and they're up now. To be fair he was 6'4" 270lbs and at that time was considered a giant.

[regurgigator]

[QUOTE=grayg8rstevo;6415943]

Miami Beach High starting 5 ( year 1965 ): went to State in Florida gym...lost to Andy Owen's Tampa Hillsborough


Alan Goldfarb: 1 5'9
Jeff Shane: 2 6'2
Ricky Ascott:3 6'5
Neal Walk: 4 6'9
Drew Cherner: 5 7'

one of the best High School teams of all time...Miami High was very good Gray...and Hialeah had Ted Hendricks...good memories


Does Goldfarb own a jewelry store now? I believe I've seen the name Alan Goldfarb in some jewelry store advertisements on tv sometime in the past.

[SavageGator]

lhnewman-I thought Neal was 6'7" in H.S. and grew two inches while at Florida?

[regurgigator]

[QUOTE=lhnewman;6415958]


Does Goldfarb own a jewelry store now? I believe I've seen the name Alan Goldfarb in some jewelry store advertisements on tv sometime in the past.

Sorry - I googled it and it's Alvin Goldfarb Jewelers :joecool:

[lhnewman]

lhnewman-permit me one more trip back in time to Miami Beach. My grandfather was elected Constable of the city and my Dad played Football, Basketball and Baseball for the high school which was then called Ida M Fischer. Dad then came to UF playing both ways at tackle, kicking field goals in football, jumping center in basketball and was a starting pitcher on the Gator baseball team. Then after graduation he came back to the Beach as a PE teacher and as a coach. I don't know of any other Gator athlete that started and lettered in all three sports.

that's awesome Savage...my mother went to Ida M Fischer also...what was your dad's name? maybe he was my PE teacher(LOL)...and my father was in the law firm Turk and Newman ( Harold Turk was the mayor of Miami Beach for some time )

as for my best athletic days since high school...at UF my Fraternity, TEP, won the Orange league flag football championship 3 years in a row ( 66, 67, and 68 ) and were undefeated for those years...we even played a charity game in Fla Field against the Gator football players..including Spurrier, Rentz, Wages, etc...we were winning at half time until Spurrier realized its a pass heavy game...I had 2 touchdowns!! There were over 5,000 people there...

[lhnewman]

lhnewman-I thought Neal was 6'7" in H.S. and grew two inches while at Florida?

maybe it was Cherner who was 6'9 and Walk 6'7 ??? but Walk towered over Ascott ??

I'll ask Goldfarb, who, btw is an attorney in Miami

[lhnewman]

[QUOTE=lhnewman;6415958]


Does Goldfarb own a jewelry store now? I believe I've seen the name Alan Goldfarb in some jewelry store advertisements on tv sometime in the past.

Alan is an attorney in Miami...

[grayg8rstevo]

Neal was taller, Drew the shorter. Positive. Neal was a bean pole who really grew onto his body. Alan was the short, ace ball handler. Drew was 6'7"...not 5'7"..lol
Archbishop Curley , two years later, was a powerhouse. MIAMI EDISON was good. I wasn't good enough to even sit the bench on that team but they played great team ball as well.
Memory Lane. Luv it.

[SavageGator]

lhnewman- My Dad's name was Al Hickland. My grandfather used to drive him and George Smathers (later US Senator) up to Gainesville every year at the start of school. Smathers lined up at end next to Dad for the Gators.

Back then important national sports figures used to come to the Beach for vacation. Dad was friends with boxers Jimmy Braddock and heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey. Knute Rockne awarded my Dad and his teammates football letters his senior year.

By the way we were next door neighbors when you were a TEP because Gators Gary Keller, Harry Winkler ,Mike McGuiness and I were all Sigma Chi's.

Also, in addition to being famous for his football exploits, IMHO Ted Hendricks having gone up against him was the strongest rebounder in Dade County. Gables split our home and home with Hialeah my senior year.

lhnewman- unless you went to Ida M Fischer in the late thirties or early forties(which I doubt) you couldn't have had my Dad as a PE teacher. Like his father Dad went into law enforcement and became a Deputy Sheriff in Dade County.

Finally Steve Spurrier was also an all-State basketball player from Johnson City, TN but you might be interested to know he was born on Miami Beach. Steve and I used to play pick up basketball games aginst each other in Old Florida Gym.

[lhnewman]

lhnewman- My Dad's name was Al Hickland. My grandfather used to drive him and George Smathers (later US Senator) up to Gainesville every year at the start of school. Smathers lined up at end next to Dad for the Gators.

Back then important national sports figures used to come to the Beach for vacation. Dad was friends with boxers Jimmy Braddock and heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey. Knute Rockne awarded my Dad and his teammates football letters his senior year.

By the way we were next door neighbors when you were a TEP because Gators Gary Keller, Harry Winkler ,Mike McGuiness and I were all Sigma Chi's.

Also, in addition to being famous for his football exploits, IMHO Ted Hendricks having gone up against him was the strongest rebounder in Dade County. Gables split our home and home with Hialeah my senior year.


lhnewman- unless you went to Ida M Fischer in the late thirties or early forties(which I doubt) you couldn't have had my Dad as a PE teacher. Like his father Dad went into law
enforcement and became a Deputy Sheriff in Dade County.

yeah...like what was I thinking...Miami Beach High 1966 grad...and, yes, Ted was a beast on the boards...enjoyed the memories...thanks

[gatorbogey]

great thread!

[4everaGator]

Umm...the championship team had 3 of the first 5 guys taken in the draft, I believe.

This year's group may not have anybody taken in the first round at all.

We still don't know how great the talent on this team will prove to be! At this time in 2006 we didn't know with certainty that we had lottery picks on our team in Noah and Horford. We probably won't have 3 in the top 5 but we still might end up with 2 first rounders going in the '13 and/or '14 draft. (If you add in Beal, who was expected to be here this year you get your 3rd first rounder). All I am saying is the talent level is not all that different.

[SmootyGator]

IIRC, it was 3 in the top 9 picks, not 5.

[tgatorstew]

Umm...the championship team had 3 of the first 5 guys taken in the draft, I believe.

This year's group may not have anybody taken in the first round at all.

I think Murphy will go mid to late first round, and Young will go late 1st to mid 2nd round IMO. SW is the one that is hard to evaluate. He actually may turn into an effective NBA point guard if he can continue to develop his jump shot.