Indianapolis – Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley has been soaking all of this up.
His Gators are back in the Final Four. And they’re playing against the favorite program of his youth – UCLA.
Foley grew up in New Hampshire but had an affinity for the Bruins.
“I grew up in that era,” Foley said. “I loved watching them, particularly Bill Walton and obviously the Lew Alcindor teams. I loved the team that won the championship that didn’t have any of those big guys. So, for me personally, it’s an honor to play those guys.”
None of this, however, should be misconstrued as Foley having any split loyalties. He is Florida through and through, and wants nothing more than to bring Florida’s first basketball title back to Gainesville.
“If we can be successful (tonight) against a team that is the epitome of tradition and success, it would be wonderful,” Foley said.
Farmar to Florida?
UCLA guard Jordan Farmar could be Florida guard Jordan Farmar.
The Bruins sophomore was recruited by Florida coach Billy Donovan about the same time UCLA was undergoing a coaching change, from Steve Lavin to Ben Howland. Farmar visited Gainesville.
“He really made a poor choice, didn’t he?” Donovan joked.
“I think Jordan would like the University of Florida a lot,” Donovan said. “But at the same point, maybe with what Ben was able to talk to him about after he got the job, maybe made him feel more comfortable staying close to home to play.”
Meanwhile, UCLA freshman forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was recruited to the Bruins from Montverde Academy in Florida. Mbah a Moute has been a find for the Bruins, averaging 9.2 points and 8.1 rebounds this season.
Donovan was asked if he saw Mbah a Moute play in high school.
“I wasn’t sure if he was what we needed at the time,” Donovan said. “But he made a very nice decision for himself.”
Footnotes
UCLA brings a 12-game winning streak into tonight’s game. … This is the fourth time teams from the Pacific 10 and SEC will play for a national title. The most recent time was in Indianapolis as well, when Arizona beat Kentucky to win the 1997 title. … UCLA is 26-5 in 16 Final Four appearances. … With a win, Donovan would become the third person to play in a Final Four and win one as a coach, joining Bob Knight and Dean Smith.
