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Werner's been through best and worst with Gators

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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Aug 29, 2009 8:01 PM ET
     
 

GAINESVILLE, Fla.

While Urban Meyer's team puts the finishing touches on its preseason before preparing to battle for another national title, Dan Werner takes to the court across the street hoping to get the other Florida Gators back to respectability. "It's tough because we've let it slip," said Werner, the lone remaining link to Florida's vaunted back-to-back national championship teams in 2006 and 2007. When Werner sat on the bench as a wide-eyed, seldom-utilized freshman in 2007, there's no way he could have envisioned what would happen over the next two seasons in Gainesville. It looked too easy. The Gators were unstoppable. "There were a few bumps in the road, but nothing major," Werner recalls. It seems like an eternity ago that Joakim Noah was yelling and screaming, Corey Brewer was smiling and Lee Humphrey was canning trifectas. "It sure does," admits Werner. Werner wasn't brought in to replace Al Horford. He knows that. He's a skilled forward from suburban New Jersey who only wound up in Gainesville after Herb Sendek left N.C. State. But Werner was brought on, along with former and current teammates such as Nick Calathes, Alex Tyus and Chandler Parsons, to make certain the Gators wouldn't disappear off the national radar for long. The first NIT appearance was more than acceptable. Head coach Billy Donovan had lost all five starters and even backup big man Chris Richard. I mean, Walter Hodge was the leading returning player, and let's face it — he is fine as your first or second guard off the bench. But last season, there was no excuse for failing to go dancing for the second consecutive season. "It's been frustrating," Werner said. "When I got here, I thought it was a given to go to the tournament every year. Obviously, I was dumb and foolish." "I feel like I've let down the guys," he added. The Gators welcomed five freshmen Werner's sophomore year and a handful more last season. "We didn't know how to work," Werner said. "The last two years we haven't earned Coach Donovan's trust." This year, even though the Gators lost their most talented player in versatile sophomore guard Nick Calathes, the transition may be easier since Donovan will have to integrate just two freshmen into the mix — prolific scoring guard Kenny Boynton and skilled 6-foot-9 forward Erik Murphy.
If Calathes had returned instead of signing a contract to play in Greece for more than $1 million per season, Florida would have been a virtual lock to end its two-year absence from the NCAA tournament. However, with most of the talent pool returning in the SEC, this team isn't assured of anything. You don't have to tell that to Werner. "If you look at the stats, we lost our best player," Werner said. "We've got a lot to prove, and I think it's fair that people don't mention us as a top 25 team. We haven't done anything to earn someone putting us in there." At least now Donovan will have depth and the ability to play guys at their natural positions. Tyus, at 6-foot-7, has been forced to play in the middle for the past season, but that'll change now that 6-foot-9, 245-pound Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin is eligible this year. Tyus will move back to power forward and battle with fellow forwards Parsons and Werner for playing time. Diminutive New York point guard Erving Walker, a scoring point guard, will run the team and will likely be joined by Boynton in the backcourt. "This is the most competitive and intense it's been since my freshman year," Werner said. "We've got more guys now. There will be more competition in practice. If you're not playing, go sit down because we don't need you." What Werner and the Gators need is to be relevant again. "I'm tired of what's gone on for the last two years," Werner said.
Tagged: Georgetown, Florida

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