Florida's season came to an end a couple of days earlier than the Gators hoped when they lost in the semifinals of the NIT. Even so, the young players redeemed themselves after an embarrassing loss in the SEC tournament and collapse late in the regular season.

The Gators won two games at home by big margins and then beat Arizona State on the road by 13 points -- matching their biggest win of the season on an opponent's court -- to advance to the NIT semifinals.

They then led a veteran Massachusetts team for a half before fading in the second half and losing 78-66.

But coach Billy Donovan, who had scolded his players after the loss to Alabama in the SEC tourney, banning the team from the usual practice facility and not allowing them to wear gear with the school logo, was encouraged.

A rare poor shooting night, not lack of effort or intensity, did in the Gators this time.

"I feel better than I did maybe three weeks ago," Donovan told the Gainesville Sun.

He added that the key now is for the Gators, who have no seniors on the roster, to learn from their experience.

Donovan nurtured his young Gators -- two freshmen, two sophomores, and a junior started 34 of the 36 games -- by keeping them in the state of Florida for all but one game in the first two months of the season, and the result was a 24-12 final record. Only a handful of Florida teams have won more games in a single season.

Throw in an outstanding recruiting class to the returning roster and the Gators look to add to that number significantly next season -- and contend with Tennessee in the SEC Eastern Division.

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