Sports
RVC Native Billy Donovan Eyes NCAA Title
Donovan looks to lead Florida Gators to third national championship.
Rockville Centre's Billy Donovan is no stranger to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
The longest tenured coach in Florida Gators history led the team to its only two national championships consecutively in 2005-06 and then again in 2006-07.
This season, the Gators enter what is considered one of the most well-balanced touraments in history as a serious contender. Donovan's Gators finished the 2012-13 regular season atop the SEC with a 14-4 conference record and a 26-7 overall record.
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An SEC championship game upset loss to Ole Miss set Florida back a few steps, but may have been good for the team to get out of the way before the big tourney.
The Gators enter the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed in the South Division where they will take on No. 14 Northwestern State in the opening round Friday at 7:27 p.m.
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Donovan, now 47, has been the coach at Florida since 1996 when he was just 29 years old. He recorded his 400th win with Florida earlier this season.
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