Billy Donovan lauds 'competitive character' of Todd Golden's title team at Florida

The Florida basketball program validated itself in a major way in the post-Billy Donovan era when it claimed the national title earlier this spring, the program’s third such championship. Donovan won the previous two, going back-to-back in 2006 and 2007.

For many, Donovan is the pillar of Florida basketball. He elevated the program to new heights and current coach Todd Golden has now reached that same height.

Joining The Paul Finebaum Show on Wednesday, Donovan opened up a little bit on how much he was able to follow along with the special title run while managing his own coaching duties. He had a few insights to share.

“It was interesting, we had an NBA game and there was an official who was from Florida, had some ties to Florida,” Billy Donovan said. “And he came over to me before the game, I think it was maybe when they were playing Texas Tech in the tournament. And he says, ‘Billy, doesn’t look good for the Gators here, I think we’re down by 10 with like three minutes to go.’ It was the first TV timeout and he came back to our huddle and he said, ‘They pulled it out, they were able to win.’

“I think it speaks to a lot when you have a group of guys that can overcome that kind of adversity. Because any of those games could have gone either direction for them. So that was the thing for me that stood out that was so impressive.”

The remarkable turnaround against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight might go down as the defining game for the Gators. But there were other close calls, too.

Billy Donovan, who got a chance to go to the Final Four in San Antonio, watched the Auburn game ahead of the national title game. He saw more of the same trademark characteristics that his own group, led by the ’04s, brought to the hardwood.

“I think the one thing that really stood out to me, and I think you realize this when you go through the NCAA Tournament, especially if you’re able to make a deep run, you’re inevitably going to come up to a game or a situation or maybe two games where the game could really go either way and you’ve got to kind of make some plays coming down the stretch to survive,” Billy Donovan said. “And I think the thing that was so impressive, in my opinion, about Todd Golden’s run and the team’s run was their back was against the wall several games in that tournament and really almost dead in the water.

“I think it speaks to the competitive character of those kids that they found ways on multiple occasions to come from behind and find a way to win the game by making really, really big plays.”