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Billy Donovan shares excitement for Florida to make 2025 March Madness run
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Billy Donovan is the most accomplished coach in Florida basketball history. Donovan took Florida basketball to new heights, guiding the program to its first 2 national championships. Now, the home floor is named for the legendary coach who went 467-186 during a decorated UF tenure (1996-2015).
Donovan has been out of college basketball for 10 years as a head coach in the NBA, but he hopes to see his former team go far in the NCAA Tournament. The current head coach of the Chicago Bulls was recently asked about the Gators ahead of their Round of 64 matchup with Norfolk State.
“I was really, really happy for them. I mean, I wish I could see more games than I do with our season going on,” Donovan told WRUF’s Regan Roberts. “There’s still a lot of people inside the athletic department, even inside the basketball facility that were around when I was there. To see them get a No. 1 seed and to see them be in the position to really, maybe have a great run in the tournament, certainly, I’m very excited for all of them.”
While in Phoenix for #CJCxARZ, @SportsCJC’s @reganrobertss got a chance to ask Bulls coach and UF legend Billy Donovan his thoughts about the Gators heading into the NCAA tournament. pic.twitter.com/uo4dXdyJd0
— Ryan Hunt (@rynhnt) March 20, 2025
Under Donovan, the Gators memorably won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and ’07. He would take Florida to the NCAA Tournament 14 times in his tenure. In addition to the 2 titles, Donovan also reached the Final Four in 2000 and 2014.
Florida is a No. 1 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, the third in program history and first since 2014. The Gators are a popular pick to win it all, entering March Madness with a 30-4 record after winning the SEC Tournament. Donovan’s last 3 SEC Tournament titles preceded Final Four trips (2006, ’07, ’14). Gator Nation is hoping Golden’s squad can keep that streak going.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
