Notes: Murphy, Larson thankful

<p>Florida forwards Cody Larson and Erik Murphy are both thankful for another chance.</p><p>Murphy and Larson both expressed regret for their involvement in an April arrest during Wednesday's Florida Basketball Media Day.</p><p>"You just have to learn from your mistakes and better yourself as a person," Murphy said. "I've apologized to coach, the team. I apologize to the fans, everybody at the university. It's in the past now so (you) just learn from it and move forward."</p><hr/> <center> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Gatorsports" target="_blank"> <img src="/assets/images/widgets/GXsports/Teezers/GXFacebookTeaserSmall.jpg"/><br /> </center> </a> <hr /><p>Murphy and Larson were both arrested in April outside a bar in St. Augustine for allegedly trying to break into a car. Charges were dropped from felony burglary to misdemeanor criminal trespass. Both reached plea deals which included substance abuse evaluation, probation and restitution to the victims.</p><p>Both were suspended indefinitely from the team at the time of the arrest. Murphy was reinstated in July. Larson was reinstated Monday after appearing before a judge in South Dakota for violating his suspended sentence on a misdemeanor drug charge. The judge sentenced Larson to two years probation, but no jail time.</p><p>"I think I've learned a lot, just kind of a self-exploration kind of situation," Larson said. "I've been doing things now to help me and really help the team. My main goal now is to repay the team back for what I did. I feel like I need to work as hard as I can every day, do the right stuff, just have no excuse for anything. </p><p>"I'm deeply sorry for what happened. I've apologized to my team. I've apologized to my coach. I'm just ready to move on and get the season started."</p><p>Larson said his close call in avoiding jail time has served as a wake-up call.</p><p>"What I wanted of the outcome was to stay here because I know that being here, being surrounded by the great guys we have on the team and the staff, I know they can help me," Larson said. "I hope I can give back to them and win some games."</p><p><b>Donovan getting five-year extension</b></p><p>Florida coach Billy Donovan revealed to The Sun earlier this week that he was close to signing a contract extension. At Media Day, Donovan revealed that he's agreed with Athletic Director Jeremy Foley on a five-year contract extension that will take him through the end of the 2015-16 season.</p><p>"I think it's just a matter of me signing it and getting it done," Donovan said. </p><p>Financial terms of the deal won't be released until the contract is finalized. Donovan's current contact pays him an average annual salary of $3.5 million.</p><p>Donovan pointed to his relationship with Foley as a key reason why he decided to agree to the extension.</p><p>"In this day in age in coaching it's very, very rare that you stay at a job, starting my 16th year, and you still have the same athletic director in place," Donovan said. "I think it's been our relationship that's made this job and this opportunity to be here so special."</p><p> </p><p><b>Rosario says back is OK</b></p><p>Florida junior guard Mike Rosario said he feels like he is getting over the back problems that hindered him during preseason workouts.</p><p>"My back is feeling much better," Rosario said. "Me and Dukie (Trainer Dave Werner) have been doing a lot of treatment on it and doing what we have to do throughout the days. It's feeling better now."</p><p>Rosario said the issue stems from a disc problem in his lower back. </p><p>"A lot of people say it's gonna stop me from playing and stuff like that," Rosario said. "The only thing I can do is treat it and get better every day and make my back strong every day."</p><p> </p><p><b>Tough schedule</b></p><p>For the third straight year, Florida has loaded up its non-conference schedule. After UF's season-opener Nov. 11 against Jackson State, Florida will play Nov. 15 at Ohio State as part of ESPN's 24-hour college hoops marathon. In December, Florida will play at Syracuse (Dec. 1), host Arizona (Dec. 7), face Texas A&M (Dec. 17, at the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise) and host Florida State (Dec. 22).</p><p>"I told Jeremy (Foley) we were trying to put one more game in, but because of the lockout right now they were not sure which NBA team they were going to add," Donovan said. </p><p>Donovan said he felt like Florida's strong non-conference schedule last season benefited the team in league play. Florida won just its third outright Southeastern Conference title in league history, going 13-3 in league games.</p><p>"We're trying to obviously play a highly competitive schedule," Donovan said. "We want to do that. I've never been opposed to that. The only time I've been opposed to that was after '07, with all the new faces. I think going forward we want to do that. I think looking at it now on paper, we may have if not the toughest, one of the toughest schedules out there."</p>