Gators’ Hodge looks to finish on high note
GAINESVILLE (AP) – Walter Hodge’s favorite memory at Florida, aside from winning consecutive national championships, was when the Gators closed out the 2006 regular season with a 79-64 win at Kentucky.
It gave Florida its first four-game winning streak against the Wildcats and propelled coach Billy Donovan’s team to its first title.
“That was really special,” Hodge recalled Thursday.
Hodge probably needs another win over Kentucky to avoid finishing his career in the NIT. The team’s lone senior will be honored before Saturday’s game against the Wildcats, and he wants nothing more than to snap a three-game losing streak and improve Florida’s chances of earning a berth in the NCAA tournament.
It would be fitting since winning has defined Hodge’s career.
The 6-foot guard from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, broke the school record for victories with No. 113 last month, a number that could stand for some time at Florida. It’s a mark that Hodge takes pride in, but one he certainly would trade for another run in the NCAA tournament.
“It’s hard when you put everything into this program and you don’t get the result you want,” Hodge said, “but that’s life. You have to keep going.”
The Gators (21-9, 8-7 Southeastern Conference) have lost five of their last seven games, far from the last-season push they needed to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. They probably need a win against Kentucky (19-11, 8-7) and at least a couple more in next week’s conference tournament to avoid the NIT for the second straight year.
Hodge and his teammates acknowledged their precarious position, but he quickly pointed out that one win can turn things around.
“If we win this game, we can do something special,” he said. “We just have to win this game and get that confidence back.”
Hodge’s confidence has never been a problem for the Gators.
He came to Gainesville the year after Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green, spoke broken English and had no clue he would cut down so many nets and take home two championship rings his first two years. He quickly became known for his sense of humor, his ramblings in Spanish and his ability to knock down shots.
His role was simple: provide an offensive spark in limited minutes off the bench. Winning came easy. It’s been much more difficult the last two years.
Florida lost eight of 11 games down the stretch last season and missed out on the NCAA field for the first time in a decade.
The Gators thought things would be different this time around, but even though they have improved in some areas, the results have been pretty much the same.
Hodge has done his part. He’s averaged 13.8 points the last six games and shot 41 percent from three-point range and hasn’t missed a free throw.
Donovan said Hodge brings much more to the floor than scoring, too. Donovan offered an example. Against Tennessee on Sunday, freshman guard Erving Walker was playing well, so Donovan kept Hodge on the bench. Instead of complaining, Hodge just cheered.
“He never says a word, doesn’t cop an attitude, doesn’t pout, just knew (Walker) was doing well and knew that was probably the best thing for the team,” Donovan said. “That’s the thing I’ve always admired is he’s always put the team above himself and always put Florida above himself.”
Although Hodge would like to be able to teach his young teammates a thing or two about the NCAA tournament, he might have to settle for leaving them with something else.