No worries, Gators a good-looking 10
Published: Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 10:36 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 10:36 p.m.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — They weren't even on the bubble.
That's what I kept saying over and over again to anyone who called or who I called Sunday evening.
They weren't even on the bubble.
If you're a 10 seed, the committee had you in for a long time.
They weren't even on the bubble.
So none of it mattered.
Tubby's Revenge? Not a problem.
Tubby Smith fled Kentucky in part because fans had become disgusted with his inability to beat Florida. This weekend, Smith's Minnesota team looked like it had helped knock the Gators out of the field.
Wrong.
So much went so wrong for the mighty Gators over the weekend. Especially Saturday.
Houston beat UTEP. Minnesota hammered Purdue. Washington beat Cal. New Mexico State beat Utah State. Mississippi State reached the SEC final.
The sound of the bubble popping was loud and painful for the Gator Nation.
Wrong.
Some bracketologists had them in even after all the bad things happened. ESPN's Joe Lunardi did not. The most famous of the bracketologists had dropped them from solidly in to "First Four Out" Saturday night. When I saw it crawl across the screen my mouth dropped open. Lunardi is the expert who rarely misses.
Wrong.
You might say Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins helped UF get in by putting that shot in with .1 on the clock. That and John Wall in overtime eliminated Mississippi State which was trying to steal a bid.
Except the Gators weren't on the bubble.
They were solidly in. Mississippi State was trying to steal it from UTEP or another 12 seed. Doesn't make it any easier for Rick Stansbury.
Florida basketball is relevant again and the Gators should send Mike Slive a thank you card.
The SEC commissioner, fresh from his time on the selection committee, delivered a message to the SEC's basketball coaches in Destin at the spring meetings.
You have to schedule better in the non-conference.
In Nashville, he told me Florida's schedule was its best weapon with the committee. He said you have to schedule four or five good non-conference teams. And you have to win a couple.
And that's what Florida did.
For all the close calls, all the lost opportunities, all of the anguish coming from the Gator Nation about the possibility of a third straight NIT appearance, the Gators made the NCAA Tournament when we were all paying attention to football.
That win over Michigan State, that win over Florida State. Close losses against Syracuse, a No. 1 seed, and Richmond. The miracle win over N.C. State, hardly a power team but from a power conference.
That's what got Florida in for the 10th time under Billy Donovan. You add in the 9-7 SEC record, the win at Ole Miss (which was a bubble team). I said all along that you couldn't take a team from the SEC West if you didn't take Florida. Turned out to be right.
So everyone can relax and enjoy the tournament the way we used to enjoy it.
Now, let's see what they can do with this bid.
Brigham Young is a really good team. They could take advantage of a Florida weakness by shooting 3-pointers. Kansas State is the second seed in the region. But nobody is looking ahead.
It's just good to be back.
I wonder if the NCAA Tournament missed Florida. Fellas, it will be a different team than the last one you remember coming from Gainesville.
But it will be one that's really happy to be in Oklahoma City.
They weren't even on the bubble.
Unbelievable.
Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com. You can listen to The Pat Dooley Show weekdays from 4-6 p.m. on 104.9 FM. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat Dooley.
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