The Gators are tired of chasing the past.
The memories of last year have critics predicting another late-season collapse, and the shadows cast by two national championships have left a group of players - most of whom were still in high school at the time - stumbling in the dark.
They took their first step toward brighter skies Wednesday.
After a slide that saw UF (20-6, 7-4 Southeastern Conference) lose three of its last four games and drop all the way to fourth in the SEC East, the Gators are back in the win column thanks to an 83-74 victory against Alabama (13-12, 3-8 SEC) in the O'Connell Center.
"I really get and understand the expectations here," UF coach Billy Donovan said. "My first two years here were losing seasons. I have a level of appreciation for starting over."
The victory marks the 11th straight season UF has posted 20 or more wins and kept the Gators perfect at home this year.
Guard Nick Calathes led the way with 22 points and center Alex Tyus played well down low, scoring 16 and grabbing seven rebounds.
Alabama cut the UF lead - which was as high as 15 earlier in the game - to 55-50 midway through the second half.
It was the kind of game the Gators have found ways to lose earlier in the season.
This time, they pulled out a win, making their final six foul shots.
"I understand all their flaws, and all their flaws can be seen," Donovan said. "Sometimes we get a little bit fatigued or get tired, or they're young or they're thinner or they're not quite as big. Yeah, they get pushed around a little bit, but they're giving me everything they have."
The Gators have tended to fatigue and fade down the stretch this year, a vice Donovan said can be explained by lack of depth.
The surprising transfer of point guard Jai Lucas before the season and injuries to Adam Allen, and more recently Allan Chaney, have left Donovan with a short bench.
"No one wants to talk about the fact that two starters are gone from last year," Donovan said.
He added that it's unfair to expect this team to live up to the expectations of the ones that came before it.
Right now, the coach points out, his players are simply trying to find their own path.
"They're not Noah, Horford, Brewer and Green and Humphrey. They're not those guys," Donovan said. "It's not even about them upholding a standard of what those guys did. It's about them trying to create their own legacy. That time's over with. That happened two years ago."
One thing is certain: If the Gators hope to make it back to the NCAA Tournament, they need to find their identity soon.
"Now is really the time to focus and get wins," guard Erving Walker said. "We can't be losing anymore."
ANY GIVEN WEDNESDAY: Prior to the game, Donovan showed the team a motivational video that combined Al Pacino's locker room speech from the movie "Any Given Sunday" with highlights from the season.
Donovan said the video was an attempt to build team unity.
The ploy seemed to work.
"Al Pacino, that guy's tough," Calathes said.
