Billy Donovan, Florida Lose to BYU: Is Cougar Monkey Now on Gator Coach's Back?

In my West Region slideshow, I suggested that until BYU finally won an opening game of the NCAA Tournament, there would be suspicion as to their legitimacy as a premier college basketball team.

In fact, I offered the Cougars as the most likely team to be upset in the West bracket.

In that same slideshow, I also opined that the Florida Gators were the best storyline due to the efforts of Florida head coach Billy Donovan to make the Gators relevant again in college basketball.

The reason I thought BYU should be questioned is they had seven straight opening round losses in the big dance.

The last time BYU experienced any success of any sort in college basketball's hallowed playoff was way back in 1992.

The reason Florida was my pick as the best storyline was due to the recent disappointment the Gators had experienced with two NIT appearances preceding this year's No. 10 seed after the Gators won back-to-back championships in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.

After today's 99-92 double overtime victory by BYU, that monkey, the one that has become the symbol of futility, now has jumped off the Cougars and landed squarely on the aforementioned Coach Donovan's back.

Behind Jimmer Fredette's game-high 37 points, and with a big assist from Michael Loyd Jr. and his career-high 26 points, BYU was finally able to stave off a game Florida Gator team that was led by Kenny Boynton and his 27 points.

As BYU celebrates advancing to the round of 32, the questions should start buzzing around Donovan and his underachieving Gators.

To be fair, the 2007-2008 Florida team was stripped of most of their championship team through graduation and early departures to the NBA.

That year should be written off, and if anything, Donovan should be commended for getting his team to the NIT that year.

But what about last year?

A loss to UMass last year in the semifinals ended the Gators' NIT aspirations, such as they were, for postseason success.

Now comes this year's early departure after compiling a mediocre 21-12 record in what I admit is a fairly competitive SEC.

This is not to say that Billy Donovan's job is in jeopardy. It isn't.

But it can be suggested that the heat is being turned up a bit as the Florida Gators head into the 2010-2011 season.

Next year had better be accompanied by a fair dose of success, or Donovan likely will be scrutinized unmercifully by the administration and Florida's fans.

Now for most coaches, two championships in six years would be a scenario that they would sell their souls for.

However, Florida has now become spoiled by success, and the yardstick by which Gator fans measure their teams isn't necessarily the same as others measure their college teams' achievements.

Is it fair? No.

But that is the price paid for success when the empty bellies of fans and boosters never seem to fill.

Good luck, Billy Donovan.

You're going to need it.