This Bonner didn't fit in at Florida

[IHateUGAlyDawgs]

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/2 ... 044/sports

He figured this would happen eventually.

Not with something on the line.

But Luke Bonner, who like his brother Matt is blessed with an analytical mind, had already calculated the possibility that he'd go up against Florida during his career.

“I did think we'd play against them for some reason,” Bonner said. “I figured that since Coach (Travis) Ford and Coach (Billy) Donovan are friends they'd schedule each other for a regular-season game.

“I didn't think it would be at this venue.”

The venue is Madison Square Garden where Florida and UMass will face off in the first semifinal game of the NIT. It's the same arena where Luke watched his brother play for Florida in a pre-season NIT tournament.

How many times did he watch the Gators and cheer them on? In Gainesville, in New Jersey, in New York? Luke Bonner was a recognizable face behind the Gator bench so many nights. Not because he looks like Matt, but because everyone who covered Florida got to know the 6-foot-8 teenager was Matt Bonner's brother.

Now he plays against the team he used to cheer for, against his brother's coach who still has a close relationship with the family.

“It will be weird,” Bonner said. “It was unbelievable watching those games. I remember going down there during my brother's freshman year and watching Florida play FSU in basketball and then the next day play them in football. I've never seen a sporting atmosphere like that.”

There was a mutual interest between Florida and Luke Bonner during his senior season of high school in New Hampshire, but it never blossomed.

It wasn't a good fit for a number of reasons. There's the whole following in your brother's footsteps. Florida's style of play and depth at his position were issues.

“And I'm more of a northern body anyway,” he said.

For Billy Donovan, the fact that Luke has found his niche in college basketball is a bigger deal than having to face the brother of one of his favorite players.

“I'm happy for Luke,” Donovan said. “The Bonners are great people. The most important thing to me is he's doing well. We looked at Luke. We liked him a lot. But we weren't quite sure he was the best fit. And when you're dealing with someone whose brother was here and had so much success, I think making sure it is the best fit is really important.”

Bonner thought that best fit would be at West Virginia, but after a year of playing sparingly he decided to transfer to Massachusetts.

“I just wanted to get closer to home, somewhere I felt more comfortable,” he said.

After sitting out a year, Bonner has settled into his role as a backup center at UMass. Now listed at 7-foot-1, he is averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds a game. Against Syracuse in the NIT quarterfinals, he had a career-high 13 points and six rebounds.

And, here's a shocker for any of you who know Matt (four years in school, one contested B) Bonner— Luke is a pretty bright guy.

He has already graduated and is taking courses for his Master's degree in sports management. He decided to stretch it out over two years so he can play again next year as a fifth-year senior.

“It's very, very strange to be playing college basketball and have already graduated,” he said. “But one day I just realized I could graduate early and get my Master's out of this, too.”

Bonner also has a blog on the UMass Web site — The World According to Luke. After each entry, you get a song of the day and a movie of the day. The Decemberists, the Pixies, Radiohead, “Best in Show” are among his favorites.

The guy has taste.

Of course, the big question about Tuesday's game is WWMD?

What Will Matt Do?

The man has a banner with his name and number hanging up on the wall of the UF practice facility. He played in a Final Four for Billy Donovan. He can't root against the Gators, can he?

Hey, blood is thicker than water, even if it's colored orange and blue.

“I've talked to my brother about it,” Luke said. “Matt's a big-time Gator. I can't see him or anybody in my family ever cheering against Coach Donovan.

“But he obviously wants me to win.”

Other family members will be in attendance at the Garden, but Paula Bonner won't be among them. A car accident — suffered on the way back from watching daughter Becky Bonner work as an assistant on the Louisville women's team — sidelined the matriarch of the family for a bit with a leg injury.

“It was scary at first,” Luke said. “Someone hit a patch of black ice and lost control. So she can't make it, but my sister is going to come. It's funny because we have so many existing relationships with people at Florida. We're used to going through them for tickets. Now, we're going through UMass.”