GAINESVILLE – Florida coach Billy Donovan said he is trying to reach out to his former star, Joakim Noah, after Noah was suspended for two games at the suggestion of his Chicago Bulls teammates.

Noah was suspended by interim coach Jim Boylan last Friday after Noah reportedly got into a confrontation with assistant coach Ron Adams during a morning shoot-around. His teammates voted unanimously to suspend him a second game for other issues he’s had all season long.

“I left a message for him yesterday and I sent him a text message,'' Donovan said. "I'm trying to actually catch up with him. I hope he's doing okay. I don't know all what's behind the fact he's been suspended two games, but I just called him as a friend and someone who coached him and tried to reach out to him.’’

Noah has reportedly been late to team functions and violated rules designated by Chicago’s veterans. Donovan said he spoke with Noah extensively before he left Gainesville about the rigors of being a professional and the extreme differences between college and the professional ranks.

"It's so different in the NBA,'' Donovan said. "You know if you're late, you get fined. If you don't do what you're supposed to be doing, if you're not dressed properly, you get fined. There's a level that you have to have, and sometimes you don't have the same cohesiveness and bond (as college). Some of these guys have got wives and they've got kids and there's maybe not that hanging out in the locker room kind of thing. So I think this is all new for Jo. But I think Jo's frustration is nothing more pure than he wants to win. I don't think he's upset because he's not getting shots, I think he just wants to win. And I think if there's one thing I always admired about Jo is no one dislikes losing any more than he does of anybody I've ever coached. But for me to pass judgment on what's going on there, I don't know. I just know that probably a lot of it, just knowing Jo's personality stems from him wanting to win and maybe coming out and saying some things that didn't sit well with the team and coaching staff and he got suspended those two games.''