Gators trying to keep '06 title out of mind

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida's national championship banner hangs from the rafters at the O'Connell Center, high above the court and somewhat out of sight.

Coach Billy Donovan wanted it that way, sending a clear message that this season has nothing to do with last year's title run. The championship rings also were tucked away, along with those hats and T-shirts the players wore as they danced in Indianapolis.

The Gators, even with all five starters and their top seven scorers returning, purposely shied away from talk about repeating by calling this a different year, with a different team and different goals.

Now, with the NCAA tournament about to begin, it's getting considerably tougher to avoid.

"We've talked about it a little bit," guard Lee Humphrey said Monday. "We're aware that we've won a lot of games here at Florida and done a lot of stuff that never happened in school history, and we've got a chance to do something that's never been done in a while. We'd love to do that."

Top-seeded Florida (29-5) opens the NCAA tournament Friday in New Orleans against Jackson State, trying to become the first team since Duke in 1992 to repeat as national champions.

The Gators realize it won't be easy. History, coaches and former players agree.

"I don't think they'll do it because it's really, really hard," former Duke star Christian Laettner said. "I'll be surprised if they are able to repeat and I'll be very impressed if they're able to repeat. But I don't think they're going to be able to do it. It's just too hard because there's such a huge target on your back and because it's one loss and you're out, you're done. It's just so hard.

"They are a very good team and they're well coached, but I'll be really, really, really surprised if they're able to win it again."

Laettner's team was the last to accomplish the feat, beating Kentucky at the buzzer in the East Regional final to advance to the Final Four.

"It's really about us," Donovan said. "It's about what we need to do. Our guys know that everybody's going to play very, very well. We're going to get everybody's best shot. I think we all agree that went on all year long and our guys have handled themselves very, very well. ... People do two things to you: they either take you into the past or they take you into the future.