Billy Donovan has lost it

Ripping his team following its SEC Tournament loss apparently wasn't enough for Billy Donovan. The Florida coach recently banned players from the school's $12 million facility and also said they couldn't wear any Florida attire as a motivational tool.

The two-time defending national champs lost eight of their last 11 and are headed to the NIT, which clearly did not sit well with Donovan.

"When you have great success like we've had," Donovan said. "I think it's very, very easy to become complacent and to lose sight of how good things are around here and to have an attitude of, 'I'm at Florida. This is just what's going to happen.'"

For the past four days, the Gators have been unable to get into the facility which contains the locker room, practice court, video room, weight room and both national championship trophies.

Football coach Urban Meyer employed similar motivational tactics in the summer of 2005, barring players from the locker room and preventing them from wearing anything with orange and blue or the Gators logo on it. Florida went on to win nine games for the first time in four years and took home the national title the following year.

Which brings me to my question: Is Donovan a moron or genius? Sometimes players need extreme tactics like this to reach their full potential. My feeling, however, is that Donovan has gone too far. I think he could have achieved the same result without publicly embarrassing his players.

I understand that a point needed to made, but to do it in this manner reflects poorly on Donovan, the wishy-washy prima dona who has clearly been spoiled by two national titles. It seems to me that Donovan cares more about himself than his players, which I find troubling.

Time for "Billy the Kid" to grow up

For the Florida Gators, there will be no chance for a three-peat after losing to Alabama 80-69 in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament Thursday. They've now lost four straight and eight of their last 11.

The game itself was not nearly as compelling as the post-game comments from Florida coach Billy Donovan, who absolutely laid into his young team. A couple that stood out:

You know, it's hard for me to be excited going forward because I don't see things getting fixed, you know?

I'm not necessarily really that excited about these guys being sophomores to be honest...I don't think people change a whole lot, and I don't think you've seen the basketball team change at all this year. So it's hard for me to get overly thrilled or excited.

While I understand Donovan's frustration, to publicly humiliate a group of young men the way he did is just uncalled for. If you want to rip your players, do it in private, not at a post-game press conference.

I used to be a big fan of Donovan, but it seems as though he's been spoiled. He's forgotten how he lucky he was to have had a once-in-a-lifetime group of players. Even worse, he's forgotten how to coach.

Donovan expected this team to play with the same fire and passion as Joakim Noah and the rest of them Gator Boys, which just wasn't fair. He needed to bring that out of them. Instead, he gave up on them. The fact that Florida did not improve over the course of the season says more about Donovan as a coach than it does about his players.

And I still can't believe those comments. "Billy the Kid," it's time you grow up.

Get Ready...

Tomorrow, it begins. Twelve teams, one goal: the coveted SEC Championship. For teams such as Vandy, Tennessee, and Mississippi State, this is a chance to pad their stats and seedings for tourney time. And for pretty much everyone else... it's win or go home.

Four back-to-back-to-back-to-back (whew!) play-in games are being held tomorrow, starting at Noon CT at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Here's what I think is going down...

GAME 1: LSU (SEC West 4 seed) vs. South Carolina (SEC East 5 seed)

You know what? LSU's firing of coach John Brady mid-season may not have been politically or personally correct, but the Tiger's have been on a (relative) tear as of late. South Carolina's quick guards can run some teams ragged, but LSU won't let that happen.

Tigers 68
Gamecocks 63

GAME TWO: Vanderbilt (SEC East 3 seed) vs. Auburn (SEC West 6 seed)

So, Vanderbilt is the 17th ranked team in the country and a lock to go dancing. And Auburn is, well... I don't know what they are, but they aren't going to beat Vandy.

Commodores 80
Tigers 61

GAME THREE: Florida (SEC East 4 seed) vs. Alabama (SEC West 5 seed)

Florida has probably slipped off of that all-important "bubble", so they'll have to beat the Tide to at least have a shot of going dancing. But it isn't going to be easy- 'Bama proved they can grind out and win big games, as evidenced by their OT victory vs. our Commodores. Anyways, maybe Al Horford will skip Hawks practice and come to the game to provide some motivation and love. I guess it's better than having some 6-11 crazy dude with a ridiculous ponytail and major gap between his teeth showing up in the locker room and scaring all of the freshman.

Florida 61
Alabama 58

GAME FOUR: Ole Miss (SEC West 3 seed) vs. Georgia (SEC East 6 seed)

This game is scheduled to tip off at 9:45, but I wouldn't stay up if you have to get up early on Friday, like me (screw you 8 o'clock English!!!). Ole Miss and superfrosh Chris Warren just beat Georgia on the road, and on top of that, the Rebels are a team on a mission: to not embarrass themselves by missing out on March Madness after that stellar start to the season. Warren, Eniel Polynice, and David Huertas will be too much up top, Dwayne Curtis and Kenny Williams will be too much down low, and the Rebels will roll in a grind it out game despite Georgia's home team advantage.

Rebels 75
Bulldogs 62