GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Billy Donovan has been here before, coaching a red-hot team seemingly destined for big things in March.

Sometimes, those teams have gone all the way. Other times, they have come close. Then there are the times where boundless possibility ends in stinging disappointment for Donovan’s Gators.

It remains to be seen where Donvoan’s current team   now ranked No. 8  ends up. But Saturday’s 83-52 dismantling of then-No. 17 Missouri continued to raise expectations for the Gators, who fell a game short of the Final Four the past two seasons.

The key, Donovan said, will be for his team not to let up as it moves forward, beginning Wednesday night at Georgia.

“For me, it’s just all about getting better,” Donovan said. “Better than we were yesterday, better than we were the day before that and constantly trying to improve.”

It will be hard to improve much on Saturday’s performance.

The Gators were clicking from the opening tip, scoring by layup or dunk on seven of their first eight baskets to build a 15-2 lead. Florida never looked back.

But if the Gators (15-2, 4-0 SEC) need to be reminded how fleeting success can be, they face the perfect opponent next.

“I think that will help us keep our focus at practice the next couple days,” senior forward Erik Murphy said. “Similar situation to last year. We beat them at home and they got us there. We’re trying to prepare and not let it happen again.

Georgia (7-10, 1-3) lost 77-44 Jan. 9 in Gainesville and has shown few signs it can handle Florida, the odds-on favorite to win the league.

Donovan, though, will be looking for signs with his team to prevent complacency from settling in after four SEC wins by an average margin of 26.8 points.

“The human nature in all of us is to want to relax,” Donovan said. “My job as a coach is to try to take these guys out of their comfort zone.

“If you want to be comfortable, you’re never ever going to reach your true potential.”

In 17 seasons at Florida, Donovan has coached many teams with potential. Some realized it, while others did not.

Donovan’s 2005-06 squad never gave in to success or failure. The Gators began 17-0, had two- and three-game losing streaks, and eventually closed the season with 11 straight wins en route to the national championship.

The so-called ‘04s the four-man collection of Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green  won again the next season to set the standard for Florida basketball.

The 2001-02 Gators won 11 of 12 games to close the regular season, but lost in the second round of the SEC Tournament to Ole Miss, followed by a 75-54 loss to Temple in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

• MCT Campus