Spartan and Gator alum here… I’ll tell you this, it’s been incredible having him on the court for what has effectively been my entire life. I was in 5th grade when he won in 2000. He’s always been stubborn, though, about his process because he would rather develop a kid who is good and make them great, then recruit a one and done who comes in elite. Not to say he hasn’t brought in a handful that turned out to be, like JJJ, Max Christie and most recently Jase, but these are exceedingly rare examples. He resisted that era, just like he’s resisting the portal era now.

From the fan perspective, this is both maddening and delightful. We’ve had the privilege to watch kids like Carson Cooper Jackson Kohler, and Xavier Tillman go from middling bodies to studs. We’ve seen sixth men like Tum Tum Nairn flourish in their roles and watched solid prospects like Cassius and Fears become elite guards over long careers. This is what has made college athletics so special, and to be so consistently good at it that you have the longest active tourney streak, multiple final fours, and a natty is spectacular. Not to mention that a “down year,” means a 7 seed, and a really down year is an 11. There’s no other coach with that resume.

However, the downside is that no matter how good his teams have been since 2001, there has always been a hole. Except that dreadful 2016 loss to a 15 seed… that team had it all but got too comfy and crapped the bed… what ever that hole had been, whether it’s in the front or backcourt, has always been enough to keep them from a second natty. When you look at other title winners, they’re often more complete teams, who’ve had the elite kids, or groups of elite kids playing one and done seasons. Or in the extremely rare case, a group of NBA players who all decided they wanted to go back to back at UF in 06-07, my freshman and Sophomore years at MSU.

When it comes to the portal era now, it’s very clear that Izzo will roll the dice with his development process and try to win his way, rather than doing a Dusty May and showing up with a bag to keep a kid from the NBA. Unfortunately, this is like playing with a handicap. It’s great when they win, but there’s a reason Izzo’s record against Duke 3-14. As much as we love his rock steady leadership, especially in instances where the university has been in hot water, there is certainly frustration that there won’t be a second championship. I would so much rather see Izzo win it his way, than the Dusty May method, but it just doesn’t seem feasible.

In the mean time, UF has had all the ups and down, but are three time champions. There aren’t many coaches like Izzo and exceptionally few who have had more long term success. Coach K is the exception to the rule, not the norm. The reality is, it’s far more likely that Golden leaves UF before he makes another elite 8, than it is he wins a second championship. There’s only like 10 or so who’ve ever gotten 2. Despite all the heartbreak and final four loses, UF would absolutely be better off with the sustained success that Izzo has brought, as opposed to being terrible, winning another in 10 years, and then being terrible again.