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Seniors with class: Florida's Parker, Wright

 
Published March 19, 2001|Updated Sept. 9, 2005

Florida's 75-54 loss to Temple ended the careers of seniors Major Parker and Brent Wright, who comprise the most successful senior class in UF history.

UF was 14-15 their freshman season, losing to Georgetown in the first round of the 1998 NIT. They finish their careers with 89 victories and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the 1999 Sweet 16 and 2000 championship game.

"I thank Major Parker and Brent Wright because those two kids have provided a lot of memorable moments for Florida basketball fans," coach Billy Donovan said of his first UF recruits.

"What they have done for this program is unmatched. You can look at the records books and find a lot of guys who scored more points and had more assists and rebounds. It would be difficult to find two better competitors, warriors and winners. This team is going to miss those two guys greatly."

Wright finished the season on the bench with a fractured foot. Parker had five points against the Owls.

LOW VOLTAGE: Florida's 54 points was the lowest total in Donovan's five seasons, matching a 79-54 loss to Kentucky on Feb. 18, 1998. It has lost six of the eight games in which it scored fewer than 60 points in Donovan's tenure.

CHART-TOPPER: With four three-pointers, guard Brett Nelson became UF's leader in NCAA Tournament play with 21, surpassing former star Mike Miller's 18. He matched UF's record for consecutive games with at least one three, held by Craig Brown, at 29.

MR. PERFECTION: Temple guard Lynn Greer is 17 of 17 from the free-throw line in two tournament games. Adding three games in the Atlantic-10 tournament, Greer is 39 of 40.

TIP-INS: Florida forward Matt Bonner had his 10th double double of the season (13 points, 11 rebounds). Temple guard Quincy Wadley scored 37 first-half points in the Owls' first two NCAA Tournament games: 20 against Texas and 17 against Florida. Florida scored just two fastbreak points and nine points off nine turnovers against the Owls.

_ JOANNE KORTH