Whether the Florida Gators finish the season strong or miss the NCAA Tournament completely, this team will long go down as one of the most resilient in times of adversity.
While every team around the country has dealt with the effects of COVID-19 to some extent, the Gators got some of the worst of it. From delaying the start of the season to losing Scottie Lewis for several key games to missing a two-week stretch of SEC play, Florida took on the virus almost as much as it took on opposing teams.
As tough as those pauses were, none compared to tragically losing the heart of the team for (at least) the remainder of the season.
Keyontae Johnson left a void that could never be filled, but he and his teammates persevered.
“They have epitomized resiliency when you consider what these guys have overcome,” said head coach Mike White. “They’re watching a really close friend and their leader and their best player and the best player I’ve ever coached, they watch him walk in the gym every day and contribute to our program and this team without being able to do what he loves.”
Johnson continues to accept the hardships he is facing with incredible maturity.
He still lights up every room he enters the same way he did before his collapse. And he remains a leader for Florida, just in a different capacity.
White did not give him such immense praise just for quote’s sake. He truly believes Johnson is the best player he’s had the opportunity to coach in more than 20 years.
“A winner,” he said of Johnson. “Just a winner. A student of the game, and he continues to learn the game. Now, he’s teaching the game a little bit. I have even more respect for him as a player as he’s on the sideline or at half court, standing next to me and getting his observations during practice. He sees a lot that you wouldn’t quite expect a guy at his age to see.”
The Gators can learn a lot from Johnson, even with him on the sideline.
Many players claimed they rediscovered their love for basketball through his situation. And while that is evident at times, there are still times when Florida does not show up with that rejuvenated passion and energy.
White said the last few days of practice since the win over Auburn were not up to par. He is looking for more maturity and consistency in these final games of the regular season.
“You want your guys to feel good about themselves and you want to have momentum,” White said. “But you don’t want to be complacent and you don’t want to stunt your growth by not having the right approach every day to work.”
A few off days cannot discount every obstacle this team has overcome, though.
Florida handled more adversity in one season than most programs do in a decade.
“None of us can sit here and feel sorry for ourselves when you face adversity,” White said. “It can expose your level of character. We just continue to come to work and take advantage of some opportunities.”
Great write up. We should all just enjoy these guys, the season and Coach White and take the good with the bad as Keyontae has.