ARLINGTON, Texas — Trust me Gators fans, I know this sucks.
Florida only lost three times this season — twice to national champion UConn. If it weren’t for the Huskies, Billy Donovan and company would have had a good shot at taking down rival Kentucky for an amazing fourth time in the title game Monday night.
Instead, the Gators are left sulking their Final Four defeat in Gainesville while Kevin Ollie and the rest of his UConn squad celebrate all the way back to Storrs, Conn. But Donovan and his four seniors had to endure three straight Elite Eight busts to get to where they got Saturday. The Huskies weren’t even in the tournament last year.
So how is it fair that Florida will have to wait until next year to try and bring home a third national title?
As a Chicago Cubs fan, I’ve been telling myself “There’s always next year” for as long as I can remember. So yeah, I feel your pain.
In a shocking twist of events, my Cubbies actually managed to capture the National League Central Division in 2007 and 2008 — even claiming the league’s best record in the latter year.
Despite having a roster filled with All-Stars and a future Hall of Fame manager in Lou Piniella, Chicago was swept in the Division Series both seasons. I didn’t know how to react.
Should I be happy my team had enormous success in the regular season? Or should I be disappointed we didn’t end the year like I wanted?
Well, I know how you Gators fans should remember this season.
Remember this year as one of the greatest in Florida history. Remember this year as one that started in shambles and ended in unity.
Remember this year for what it was: amazing.
When Billy Donovan took the podium on October 9 during Florida’s media day, even he didn’t know how special his squad would be down the road.
So no, the Gators didn’t take home the gold — or even the silver. But let’s be honest, if Donovan couldn’t even predict a Final Four appearance, could you?
I hate to compare the Cubs and the Gators (I don’t want to make it seem like Florida has been a loser for more than 100 years), but if I saw my Cubbies make it back to the National League pennant, I might die.
Since that hasn’t happened in more than a decade, and since it probably won’t happen for another decade, I will most likely be stuck saying “There’s always next year” for a while.
But not you Gators fans. It honestly could be next year.
Although the four seniors will be gone, you have Kasey Hill and Chris Walker most likely returning for their sophomore seasons, Dorian Finney-Smith and Michael Frazier coming back and another group of talented freshman joining Donovan’s stacked roster.
UConn deserved to take home the title this year. The Huskies defeated the Gators — arguably the most well put together team in the tournament — twice during the season. They had to take down basketball giants like Villanova, Michigan State and Kentucky to bring home their fourth national title.
However, Ollie will have the challenge of replacing future NBA stars in Shabazz Napier and DeAndre Daniels while Donovan will still have key pieces to build upon for the future. Trust Donovan, he knows what he’s doing.
If you’re too pessimistic or depressed to believe me, just look at where the four seniors started and where they ended their collegiate careers.
And since he signed that extension, which runs until the 2018-2019 season, Donovan will most likely be back in the Final Four a few more times before he either calls it quits or heads to the NBA.
So Florida fans, there’s always next year and the year after that and the year after that.
If I can keep the faith for my atrocious Cubbies, you can stand strong with your Gators.
Follow Jonathan Czupryn on Twitter @jczupryn
Will Yeguete jumps on teammate Patric Young's back in celebration following Florida's 62-52 win against Dayton on Saturday in FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.
