Florida gets tested Friday against Michigan State

If anybody knows what Billy Donovan is going through at Florida, it is Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

Been there, done that.

The Spartans are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their 2000 national title this season, making Friday's 8 p.m. semifinal game of the Legends Classic in Atlantic City perfect timing. The Gators and the second-ranked Spartans are both 4-0.

The opponent in the 89-76 Spartans' 2000 title win in Indianapolis was Florida. It was the Gators' first trip ever to the title game. They would be back. So would Michigan State.

But both programs have learned through the years how to pay the price of success. Izzo's 2000 team was torn apart by departures to the NBA and didn't threaten to win another title for several years. Ditto for Donovan.

It's a cycle that seems to churn every time a program climbs back to the top, as well.

Florida is trying to get back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years after winning back-to-back national titles. Izzo, set to become MSU's all-time leader with 341 victories if he wins tonight, led the Spartans to a national title game appearance last April. He knows that climb well.

"The problem is when you have too good a team or too good of players,'' he said. "I think his (players) were more built than when he got them. In other words, I just think his staff and he did a great job with those guys. You know, we had a couple of down years, too, (after 2000) and we were able to sneak into the tournament.

"I can feel for him and understand what he went through. I know in 2001 we lost a ton of guys. ... Rebuilding is hard. There are only a few schools that get to reload. The rest of us rebuild and it's difficult.''

Izzo thinks better days are coming to Gainesville.

"I think he's doing a good job. He's got a very good point guard (Erving Walker) back,'' he said of Donovan. "(Alex) Tyus is a very good player inside and (Vernon) Macklin is, I think, going to be good for them. He's got some good young kids that are in his rotation now. And I think that thing is heading back.

"But when you lose kids as freshmen, sophomores or even juniors, it's difficult. It's very, very difficult."

How does Izzo keep rebuilding while the NBA continues to take key players away at bad times?

"I think we've stuck to our standards here,'' he said. "We still defend and rebound pretty well. We're a pretty good fast break team where we can get some easy baskets. .. The other thing we've had, I think we've had depth with versatility. Not always great players but players who have fit in and we've developed some depth.''

Donovan's team showed some promise with a surprisingly easy win against FSU, 68-52, on Tuesday night. He said afterward that players from a year ago had taken on a new, tougher attitude. Such talk would make Izzo smile knowingly. It's part of the return to success under his game plan.