INDIANAPOLIS - Matt Bonner, the pride of the Granite State, soaked up the atmosphere following Florida's 71-59 triumph over North Carolina in Saturday's national semifinal. He was asked to elaborate on being 40 minutes away from a national championship.
''Right now, I'm just trying to enjoy the sights, enjoying the atmosphere,'' said the forward from Concord, N.H., one of the Gators' talented reserves and a primary reason the team was playing for the national title.
''Probably [Saturday night] it will sink in,'' he added, ''and that's all the motivation we'll need.''
The Gators didn't win the title, falling, 89-76, to Michigan State, as Bonner went 0 for 3 from the field and didn't score.
There was a time when one of the freshman's biggest thrills was meeting pro wrestler Ric Flair on campus. ''Meeting him and Dick Vitale, that was cool,'' he said.
Bonner, a Concord High standout and one of the most decorated players in New Hampshire history, probably would be popular, too, had he gone someplace else, particularly if he had played locally. But he chose a program loaded with highly touted talent, and the players had put egos and fanfare aside for the sake of trying to win a national crown.
Among the more popular questions asked of Florida's starters was how they accepted the team concept after coming to the program as go-to guys at their high schools, after winning national recognition, and after being recruited by some of the top programs in the country.
Think of how the reserves must have felt. Bonner and teammate Brett Nelson of West Virginia - considered the best guard out of that state since Jerry West - hadn't started all season.
Donnell Harvey, considered the nation's No. 1 prospect, started just nine games. Two other reserves, Major Parker and Kenyan Weaks, also entered as highly touted recruits.
But rather than being mired in dissension and worried about playing time, the subs forged an identity as arguably the best bench - offensively and defensively - in college basketball.
That was why Florida was such a dangerous team during the season. It had 10 players who averaged at least 13 minutes and 3.5 points per game. No starter averaged more than 28.5 points and 14.2 rebounds; reserves provided as much offensive firepower as the regulars.
They also entered last night's game with fresh legs for Florida's stifling full-court pressure, which had worn teams down, particularly in the tournament. Entering the game, the 6-foot-9-inch Bonner was averaging 13.7 minutes, 5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and had missed just four free throws (26 of 30) all season.
He was one of the primary reasons the perimeter-oriented Gators were solid inside as well. ''With Donnell Harvey, Udonis Haslem, Brent Wright, and Matt, we have four guys that I feel very, very comfortable throwing the ball inside to,'' said Florida coach Billy Donovan. ''Good things happen when we get those guys the ball inside.
''People don't understand what Brent and Matt go through from a physical standpoint. Those guys are the front men on the press, chasing guys like Jason Williams from Duke and Ed Cota from North Carolina. They've got to go rebound, outlet, set pick and rolls. The physical demands on our front-court players are extreme.''
Each likes watching other role players do the dirty work, even though he could be the main scorer elsewhere.
''We're all consumed with winning, and that's why we're willing to put egos aside,'' said Weaks, the only senior on the team.
Bonner and his mates could have won it all last night but came up short.
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