NCAA Men's Tournament History: Florida Gators' Track Record Under Billy Donovan

As Florida gears up to face UC-Santa Barbara in the first round, I wanted to reflect on the program's successes and misfortunes in the NCAA tournament during the Billy Donovan era.

The Florida Gators basketball program has truly come into its own since Donovan’s arrival in 1996. The Gators have been a constant lock in postseason play since the 1997-98 season. During his tenure at the helm, he has reached the pinnacle of college basketball twice and has had several interesting dates with Cinderella in March.

Be warned, Gator fans. There are a few bad memories on the slides, but there several wonderful memories mixed in as well.

Now, let's take a trip down memory lane.

1999 NCAA Tournament: Lost to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16

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18 Mar 2001: Casey Calvary #31 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee. The Bulldogs defeated the Sycamores 85-68.Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport

In just his third season as coach, Donovan guided the Orange and Blue to the tournament in 1999. The team used their previous season’s NIT bid as a launching pad.

Florida beat Penn in the first round and survived an overtime scare against Weber State in the second round. Donovan’s squad faced then-unknown Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 of the West regional. This matchup put the Zags on the map of the college basketball world.

Florida clung to a one-point lead in the waning seconds of a game marred by a controversial finish. The Bulldogs missed a shot, but got a tip in from forward Casey Calvary, who appeared to go over forward Brent Wright’s back in the process. With 4.4 seconds remaining, Florida’s prayer for a miracle went unanswered as guard “Fast” Eddie Shannon’s half court heave hit the backboard, then bounced off the front rim to give Gonzaga the 73-72 win.

2000 NCAA Tournament: Lost to Michigan State in the National Championship

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17 Mar 2000: Forward Mike Miller #13 of the Florida Gators launches the game winning shot to lead Florida to a 69-68 overtime win over the Butler Bulldogs during their first-round NCAA East Regional game at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North C

Despite losing Shannon, forward Greg Stolt and center Obiari Nnanji, Donovan and the Gators were back in the Big Dance for the second consecutive year. The Gators head coach reloaded with highly-touted prep players such as forwards Matt Bonner and Donnell Harvey and guards Brett Nelson and Justin Hamilton.

Florida entered the tournament as a No. 5 seed matched against the No. 12 seeded Butler Bulldogs in a game that rung in the first NCAA tournament of the new millennium with a bang. Overtime was needed to decide the outcome against the evenly matched teams. The upstart Bulldogs looked as if they finally had the upper hand with eight seconds remaining in overtime. With Butler up by one, guard Lavall Jordan, an 83 percent free throw shooter, bricked both foul shots.

Guard Teddy DuPay raced down the court and dished the ball to forward Mike Miller on the left wing. Miller faked left, dashed towards the rim and made a memorable buzzer beater to give Florida a 69-68 win. With the play titled “Home Run,” the Gators managed to break the glass slipper over Cinderella’s head in a moment considered the ninth best buzzer beater in NCAA tournament history.

Florida easily defeated former Gator head coach Lon Kruger’s squad in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. In the Sweet 16, the Gators faced off against Duke, who ran the Gators out of Cameron Indoor Stadium with a 30-point beating a year earlier. But the night belonged to the baby Gators, who pulled off the shocking 87-78 upset of the No. 1 seeded Blue Devils.

In the Elite Eight, the Gators faced Oklahoma State, who was led by current ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb and future first-round pick Desmond Mason. The Cowboys were no match for the Gators, who reached the Final Four for only the second time in school history.

Florida played North Carolina in the National Semifinal. The Tar Heels were handed a 71-59 defeat, and Florida advanced to the championship game for the first time in school history.

Unfortunately, the Gators fell short 89-76 to Tom Izzo’s veteran Michigan State group, who made it to the Final Four in 1999.

Despite the loss, the 1999-2000 squad will always be remembered for three things: setting the tone for future success, capturing the hearts of fans at a “football” school and winning a then-school record 29 games.

2001 NCAA Tournament: Second-Round Loss to Temple

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8 Dec 1999: Lynn Greer #14 of the Temple Owls stands on the court during the Great Eight game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Owls defeated the Bulldogs 64-48.

The 2000-01 team underwent a slight transformation as they bid adieu to Miller, Harvey and guard Kenyan Weaks. Nevertheless, the Gators had a stellar season and were rewarded with a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance. After beating Western Kentucky in round one, the Gators were dismantled 75-54 by Temple in the second round.

Ironically, New Orleans was the site of the football team’s first national championship, but proved to be Donovan’s defeat. This loss was the first of a string of first or second round losses for the Orange and Blue.

2002 NCAA Tournament: First-Round Loss to Creighton

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16 Mar 2000: Daymeon Fishback #23 of Auburn takes a shot as Terrell Taylor #23 and Donnie Johnson #44 of Creighton defend during the first round of NCAA regional action at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Auburn won 72-69. DIGIT

In 2002, Florida received the dreaded No. 5 seed. Florida reached the title game two years earlier as a No. 5 seed, but no such luck this time. The Gators didn’t make it out of the first round. The glass slipper fit for Creighton, who upset the Gators 83-82 in double overtime. In a shot shown often during March Madness, Terrell Taylor’s three and the ensuing airplane ride celebration sealed Florida’s doom.

2003 NCAA Tournament: Lost in the Second Round to Michigan State

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TAMPA, FL - MARCH 23: Maurice Ager #13 of the Michigan State Spartans takes a shot over Matt Walsh #44 and Justin Hamilton #12 of the University of Florida Gators in the second round of the South Region of the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Champi

The 2002-03 season marked the arrival of the program’s future with guards Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh. Florida earned a No. 2 seed in the tournament and more importantly, were able to play their first two games at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

After thrashing Sam Houston State in the first round, the Gators suffered a humiliating 68-46 defeat at the hands of none other than Michigan State.

2004 NCAA Tournament: Manhattan Upsets the Gators in the First Round

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RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 18: Dave Holmes #15 of the Manhattan Jaspers is covered by Bonell Coles #42 of the Florida Gators during the first round game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the RBC Center on March 18, 2004 in Raleigh, North Car

The Orange and Blue entered the 2004 NCAA tournament having lost nine games, and suffered a blowout loss to Kentucky in the SEC tournament final. Did I mention that forward Christian Drejer bailed on the team midseason to sign a pro contract overseas?

Once again, Florida was seeded No. 5—only to lose to relatively unknown Manhattan 75-60.

2005 NCAA Tournament: Second-Round Loss to Villanova

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NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 20: David Lee #24 of the Florida Gators goes through Will Sheridan #50 of the Villanova Wildcats on his way to the basket in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at the Gaylord Entertainment Center o

The 2004-05 team will be remembered for three things: the arrival of the Oh-Fours (Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green), the ending of an eight game losing streak to Kentucky and winning the SEC Tournament final for the first time in school history (70-53 over Kentucky).

They received a No. 4 seed in the tournament and dodged another first-round exit as they defeated Ohio 67-62 to advance to the second round. Florida blew a 20 point lead in the game.

In the second round, the Gators were suffered a 76-65 loss to Villanova. This game marked the final games for David Lee, Roberson and Walsh.

2006 NCAA Tournament: National Champions

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INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 03: The Florida Gators celebrate after defeating the UCLA Bruins during the National Championship game of the NCAA Men's Final Four on April 3, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Gators defeated the Bruins 73-57 to be

Once again, Florida carried momentum into the NCAA tournament with a 49-47 win over South Carolina, who swept the regular season series over the Gators. Unlike the past five seasons, the Gator squad had very little trouble with the first two rounds. They disposed of South Alabama and Wisconsin-Milwaukee respectively to advance to the Sweet 16.

The Orange and Blue survived in the Sweet 16 against a resurgent Georgetown team thanks to a crucial three-point play by Brewer in the final moments of the game. Brewer nearly gave every Gator fan a heart attack when he fell and allowed guard Darrel Owens to shoot a wide open three. Owens missed and Florida held on to win 57-53.

In the Elite Eight, Florida got a bit of retribution for the previous season’s defeat.  They bullied Villanova’s renowned four-guard lineup to cruise to a 75-62 victory and earned a trip to the Final Four.

In the national semifinal, the Gators blew out George Mason 73-58. George Mason, who stunned No. 1 seed Connecticut in the Elite Eight, proved, without a doubt, to be the best Cinderella team of all time.

Florida kept up their dominance with a resounding 73-57 win over UCLA to claim Donovan and the University of Florida’s first national championship.

To this day, Jim Nantz’s “as good as it gets” line, quoted immediately after the horn blew to end the game, is heard during the introduction of college basketball on CBS.

Ironically, the RCA Dome proved to be the 2000 Florida team’s demise, but the 2006 team’s greatest triumph.

2007 NCAA Tournament: Back-to-Back Championships

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ATLANTA - APRIL 02: Head coach Billy Donovan and his Florida Gators celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game at the Georgia Dome on April 2, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by

After shocking the world with the national championship in 2006, the Gators set out to defend its title. With the targets on their back all season, Florida showed their poise going into the 2007 NCAA tournament. Florida routed Arkansas for their third consecutive SEC Tournament title.

In the first round, Florida hammered Jackson State, but got all they could handle in a second-round win over Purdue.

In the Sweet 16, the Gators faced a familiar foe—Butler. This time, the stakes were higher. The winner advanced to the Elite Eight. Though the contest was tight, no buzzer-beating heroics were needed as Florida earned the win.

The Elite Eight saw Lee Humphrey drain eight threes en route to a win over Oregon and a second consecutive trip to the Final Four.

For the second consecutive year, the Gators had their way with the Bruins with a 76-66 win. The win put Florida back in the title game to face Ohio State.

The game with Ohio State served as the second between the two teams. Florida had throttled the Buckeyes by 26 in the O’Connell Center a few months earlier. The Gators fought against several bad calls that pitted their big men in foul trouble. In the end, Florida prevailed 84-75—giving Billy Donovan and crew back-to-back championships.

The team’s 34 wins topped the previous record of 33 by the 05-06 team.

2009 NCAA Tournament: First-Round Loss to BYU

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OKLAHOMA CITY - MARCH 18: Jimmer Fredette #32 of the BYU Cougars drives for a shot attempt against the Florida Gators during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men�s basketball tournament at Ford Center on March 18, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo

After a two year hiatus, Donovan and crew returned to March Madness in 2010. The Gators fought valiantly, but lost to BYU 99-92 in double overtime. Jimmer Fredette proved to be too much to handle, as he scored a game-high 37 points.