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NCAA Tournament: Steve Forbes tells team “great Florida ... ain’t coming out of that tunnel” (VIDEO)

Steve Forbes

East Tennessee State coach Steve Forbes shouts from the bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

AP

East Tennessee State coach Steve Forbes had a message for his team before their game against Florida. He wanted them, as a 13-seed, not to conflate this Florida team, a four-seed, with the Gator program that won back-to-back titles a decade ago.

Forbes reminded his Buccaneers that Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer are now in the NBA, not in the Florida locker room.

“I know the difference between good and great,” Forbes said. “I’ve seen great Florida, and I’ve seen good Florida. Understand this. Noah, Horford and Brewer, they ain’t coming out of that tunnel. They ain’t coming out of that tunnel today.

“They’re coming out of that tunnel with guys just like you.”

Forbes has been mentioned as a potential candidate for higher-level jobs this spring, and he might warrant it just on the strength of this blend of trash and pep talk.