Gators can still prove something

In the two cities where Florida cut down nets the last two years, the reign of the Gators officially ended Sunday.

In Atlanta, Georgia became the new defending SEC Tournament champ.

In Indianapolis, it became official that someone else will be defending a national title next year.

The selection committee probably spent all of about two seconds looking at UF's resume before tossing it in the trash can. We wondered during the latter part of the season how much weight would be given to being the two-time defending champ. But after the way the Gators finished the season, the only way they would have been dancing is if that's all that mattered.

Instead, the Gators are banished to the kid's table, also known as the NIT.

(Anybody else notice that 10 years ago the Gators were in the Citrus Bowl and the NIT? I guess they've come full circle.)

Watching the NCAA Selection Show knowing that Florida wouldn't pop up on the television and send those of us who cover the team scrambling for a flight to Little Rock or Raleigh or Phoenix was a strange feeling. For the Gator Nation, I'm sure it was an empty one.

It also makes you realize how special this run has been, not just the one that saw UF win a pair of national titles but the one that lasted nine years when there was no question the Gators were in the field. It should also make Gator fans realize that it's not as easy as it has seemed. (If it was, both of last year's national finalists wouldn't be on the outside looking in.)

I'm sure Billy Donovan is hoping it leaves his players with a hunger that we haven't seen very often this year.

This SEC Tournament has been a perfect example of what was missing for the Gators this season.

If you can step back and forget (which is almost impossible) all that has happened here with a tornado hitting the Georgia Dome and games being played at Georgia Tech in front of high school-sized crowds, this has been the best SEC Tournament I've ever witnessed.

Seven of the games came down to the last minute. Three went to overtime. Five came down to the last possession. The margin of victory before free throws allowed Georgia to win by nine was the smallest in the history of the tournament.

And that included Florida's 11-point loss to Alabama in the first round.

The reason? Of the 12 teams who came to Atlanta, 11 of them played their tails off. You know which one didn't. (Auburn also lost by 11 to Vanderbilt but was competitive to the end).

After Florida's loss Thursday night, I asked Donovan if it was even a possibility that Florida would turn down an NIT bid. The reason I asked was because Donovan had just finished lambasting the character of his team and sounded like a coach who just wanted the season to end.

“It's an honor and a privilege to be invited to any tournament,” Donovan said.

But his disgust with his team's performance was evident in his comments that some saw as unfair. He became one of the big stories of the tournament until the bigger story threatened to blow the roof off the Georgia Dome on Friday night.

For Donovan, his frustration lies in having a team that for two seasons turned it up to 11 when it came to passion, heart and guts, a team that was willing to do whatever it took to win games. And then a year later having a team that not only failed to turn it up, but never seemed to want to touch the dial.

On Wednesday in Atlanta as the Gators practiced in the Dome, Donovan went from end to end asking for that passion one more time.

“Try to lift up the energy level of one your teammates,” he repeated over and over.

They get another chance to do it this season, to try to play hard and smart, to try to play like it matters.

It's too late to do anything about all of the streaks that have been broken and all of the championships that can't be defended.

But it's not too late to try.