NDIANAPOLIS - For Michigan State's veteran team, last night's 89-76 NCAA championship game victory was a crowning moment - and it was the culminating moment for its four seniors.
For Florida, a team with 10 freshmen and sophomores, it was a pit stop in a journey they hope will end with a similar moment of triumph next year in Minneapolis.
''You know it's been a great season,'' said Florida sophomore center Udonis Haslem, who scored a game-high 27 points. ''You hate to end it like this, but if we look back on all the good times, we've accomplished a lot. We came together as a family and made this run to the championship.''
Sophomore forward Mike Miller, who may have played his last game at Florida if speculation about him turning pro is correct, also heaped some praise on the Gators.
''For a team that was young and didn't know what to expect coming into the situation, we did a great job,'' said Miller.
Florida coach Billy Donovan also saw reason for optimism.
''To me, from last year to this year, I saw great strides,'' said Donovan. ''What we've got to do as a program is make the next stride, that next step.''
A buzz around Peterson
In its search for a new coach, Georgia Tech apparently has turned to Appalachian State's Buzz Peterson. He reportedly moved to the top of the list when Delaware's Mike Brey turned down an offer from Tech ... Although Michigan State finished with 14 turnovers, the Spartans played almost 12 minutes before comitting their first one - a key to success ... The Spartans, at 56 percent, were only the sixth opponent this season to shoot better than 50 percent against the Gators ... This is the first title for the Big Ten since 1989, when Michigan won. Seven conference teams reached the Final Four in between.
Pitino responds
Celtics coach Rick Pitino, on hand to watch his former player and assistant Donovan guide the Gators, had a strong response to a Channel 7 report that he has been contacted by North Carolina and Kentucky about coaching jobs. ''In 26 years of coaching, this is the dumbest thing ever reported,'' he said. ''It is so dumb, so hideous, I can't even begin to comment on it. And I told them [Channel 7] it was totally false and ridiculous to report it, that they would only wind up looking foolish. I have a deep friendship with [Kentucky coach] Tubby Smith and great respect for North Carolina. This is journalism at its worst.''
Player audio
