Pat Dooley’s Back Nine: Yes, Florida Men’s Basketball Did Win National Championship

The Back Nine comes at you after another perfect weekend in Gainesville. Remember this when it’s July and you can cook bacon on the roof of your car.

10. In the last few days I have had multiple people say this to me, “I wake up every morning and wonder – did we really win the national championship?” Yes, you did, Gator fans, I have DVR evidence. And, yes, I have watched all but the first game of the tournament multiple times. Well, just the second halves. That’s when they get really good. I also have to admit that I still have a hard time believing that happened. I also tell my wife all the time that as much as I enjoyed it, I wouldn’t want to go through it every year. It’s too intense. Aw, who am I kidding? Bring it in 2026.

11. Look, we all know that college sports are so far out of whack that it may be impossible to bring them back to reality. Don’t even try to figure out who is playing where right now. It’s impossible. But the bottom line is that you have to evolve. You may have to evolve again, but if you don’t take advantage of the portal and NIL, you’ll be looking for a job. With all of that said, I am entering the portal as a 70 year old with artificial knees and no eligibility remaining. I figure I should be able to get somebody to bite.

12. Florida’s baseball team went to Starkville, Miss., and I was hoping for two-out-of-three. That’s what happened, but you know that when you win the first two you start thinking sweep. Alas, the pitching let Florida down again and the Gators now sit at No. 23 in RPI, but with a 6-12 conference record and an elite Arkansas team coming to town. Kevin O’Sullivan isn’t going to have any fingernails left by the time we get to the SEC Tournament.

13. There is this false narrative that if Florida makes the NCAA Tournament they will go on a run like it did a year ago that ended with a deep run in Omaha. All teams are different and this team could just as easily go two-and-barbecue. The key is figuring things out well enough to Scotch-tape your staff together and find a summer sensation in the playoffs. All things are possible, but it would ease a lot of angst if the Gators could start beating the really good teams in this conference. They’re good enough, they’re smart enough and, doggone it, people like them.

14. I have to give the Florida softball team a ton of credit for getting smacked with a seven-spot in the first inning of a huge series with Alabama and coming back to win the next two games, including a Korbe Otis walk-off Saturday. Florida may have 10 losses this year, but if RPI is any indication the Gators will be a national seed. Florida is No. 2 in RPI and the SEC has seven of the top 10. All 15 schools who play softball are in the top 32. The Gators face USF on Wednesday then go to Baton Rouge for one of those Saturday-Monday series. And that is followed up by a home series against four-time defending champion Oklahoma. Buckle up.

15. I want everyone to wish a belated birthday wish to Steve Spurrier. He turned 80 on Easter Sunday and if you had told a 12-year-old little boy in St. Augustine that he would one day be hosting a podcast with Coach Spurrier, well, I wouldn’t have believed my good fortune. Steve has been such a big part of my life as a player, a coach and a friend. Happy birthday HBC!

16. I don’t know that there is any sport more nerve-wracking than gymnastics, especially at the NCAA Finals. Florida had one mediocre event and it kept the Gators out of the Flipping Four. The good thing is that LSU didn’t make it either. And that the SEC won another natty with Oklahoma taking the title.

17. Only one more lacrosse match for the 14-2 Gators as they face Arizona State on Saturday morning at 10. Think about how weird it is to have Florida and Arizona State playing a Big 12 lacrosse match. Next week, it’s the Big 12 Tournament in Boulder, Colo. Now, that sounds like a good road trip.

18. We were fortunate enough to be invited to a beautiful wedding Saturday and I have to give credit where it is due. The bride was beautiful (Kaitlin) and the playlist was really good. Still, I came up with my own:

* “To Leave Something Behind” by Sean Rowe.

* “End of Beginning” by Djo. My oldest daughter is at Coachella checking Joe Keery.

* And for an old one, “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds. It was suggested by my former boss at The Sun. You’re welcome.

WRUF.com sports columnist Pat Dooley can be heard on “The Tailgate” along with Jeff Cardozo from 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday on 98.1-FM/AM-850 WRUF.