Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS -- On the chalkboard of the Florida locker room was the message that told it all. "40 Minutes." The Gators start running as soon as the ball is tossed in the air and they don't let up until the horn sounds. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to their style of play, just five guys scurrying around like dogs chasing their tails. Of course, it all makes perfect sense to the man who orchestrates this chaos. "Every team in the country practices their half-court offense," said coach Billy Donovan, whose team meets Michigan State in the national championship game Monday night. "We try to be as disruptive as possible and take teams out of what they practice on a regular basis. That's the essence of what we're trying to do." Donovan's don't-take-no-for-an-answer approach to recruiting has given him the 10-deep roster he must have to keep up the pressure for an entire game. In Saturday's semifinal victory over North Carolina, nine guys played between 13 and 20 minutes. The only exception was star Mike Miller, who was on the court for 29 minutes. "Most teams can't do that," forward Brent Wright said. "But they get caught up trying to play 'Billy Ball.' They can play that way for maybe 35, 38 minutes. But when they get to 39, even 39½, they start wearing down." North Carolina was ahead 48-42 with 15 minutes remaining but couldn't hang with the Gators at the end. Florida (29-7) closed the game with a 16-6 run, holding the Tar Heels without a point over the final 2:44. Michigan State, which slogged its way to a 53-41 victory over Wisconsin in the semifinals, is ready to run with the Gators. "I am a little happier to be playing Florida," Spartans star Mateen Cleaves said. "I'm not saying it's not going to be tough and physical, but we pretty much can get up and down and try to play our style of basketball." Donovan, who was schooled in this style by Rick Pitino, focuses on several key statistics to determine if the Gators are following orders: |
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