The University of Florida’s basketball team had to wait for more than 80 years before finally winning an NCAA championship. After starting the 2005-06 season unranked, the Gators surprised the world right out of the gate by stringing 17 straight wins, which is the best start in school history. A few months after, Florida claimed the national title after defeating the UCLA Bruins.
The next season, the Gators proved they were not a one-trick pony as they won the title again. They also became the first team since 1992 to earn a back-to-back championship.
Several factors came into play during Florida’s success, and one – or five – of them were the team’s starters: Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Lee Humphrey, and Taurean Green. Collectively, this group was called “The 04s” because they were all recruited by Florida in 2004.
Individually, these hoopsters displayed plenty of skills on the court. As a matter of fact, three of them, Horford, Noah, and Brewer, are currently playing in the NBA. The former two have received many All-Star selections and season awards between them, and Brewer is an in-demand role wing player. While Humphrey and Green never found success in the NBA, they were feared shooters during their collegiate career.
Talented as they were, “The 04s” showed that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. It was their unselfishness and team chemistry that propelled them to the top of the sport. After winning their first title, all of them could have left college and entered the NBA Draft, but they opted not to. They all agreed to return and rewarded themselves with a legacy that only a few basketball players could ever boast of.
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Michael Volitich 
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