February has its moments. Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, Presidents’ Day and Mardi Gras are all lumped into the shortest month on the calendar.In college basketball, it’s crunch time. This is the time when basketball teams across the country try to build portfolios impressive enough to win over the hallowed NCAA tournament selection committee. Currently, No. 2 Kentucky, No. 17 Tennessee and No. 20 Vanderbilt appear to be the only “locks” to get in the tournament from the Southeastern Conference. Florida, Mississippi State and Ole Miss still have work to do. Let the games begin. COACH DONOVAN ENJOYING GATORS’ COMEBACKFlorida coach Billy Donovan has had a few rough years. Anything could be considered rough after winning back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007, but the Gators have not made an appearance in the NCAA tournament since. This Florida team (19-8, 8-4) is not as elite as the title teams, but it is in the thick of tourney contention. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Gators slated as a No. 11 seed, while Sports Illustrated’s Andy Glockner picks them as a No. 8 seed. “After ’06 and ’07, a lot of guys left, and the guys we had here were thrown into the fire,” Donovan said. “They had to figure out how all this works on their own. I do think for our team, looking at where they were and where we’re at now, it’s really been an interesting and enjoyable process for me.”Donovan’s squad has important games ahead if it wants to solidify its tournament status. The Gators welcome No. 17 Tennessee on Tuesday, while No. 20 Vanderbilt and No. 2 Kentucky loom ahead on the schedule. “It’s not about the past,” Donovan said. “It’s about right now. Everybody wants to go to the NCAA tournament. Some teams are obviously in better positions than others, and some teams are trying to work their way in.”SOUTH CAROLINA READY FOR ROUND 2 WITH ‘CATSCall Devan Downey “Wildcat kryptonite.” South Carolina’s senior sensation lit up No. 2 Kentucky for 30 points the last time the two met in a 68-62 Gamecocks win.  The loss was Kentucky’s first and only loss of the season. The Wildcats welcome South Carolina to Rupp Arena on Thursday to try to avenge the lone blemish on their season. South Carolina coach Darrin Horn said he’s seen significant improvement in the Kentucky coach John Calipari’s team since their first meeting. “I think you just see continued growth,” Horn said. “They’ve got a lot of young guys. They’re learning things not only for the first time at this level, but for their program with it being a transition year in Cal’s first year.”Downey’s numbers have dipped since the upset, but the senior is still averaging 22.7 points per game — good for tops in the SEC. “He went through a stretch there, especially against Kentucky, where he was playing at a level and in a way that was unparalleled in all of college basketball for a two week stretch,” Horn said. “I think he was just on such a tear those few weeks that now that it’s come down, it’s sticking out a little.”VARNADO EYEING NCAA BLOCK RECORDMississippi State senior forward Jarvis Varnado is set to enter the history books. Varnado, after his seven-block outing against LSU on Saturday, is only seven blocks away from becoming the most prolific shot-swatter in NCAA history. With four regular-season games remaining, the record should be well in hand for Varnado. The senior averages five per game. “Anytime you’re the all-time leader in college basketball of anything, that’s really impressive,” said Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings. “It’s been very impressive to watch. He’s grown as a player too. He’s got a high basketball IQ. He’s much more than just a shot blocker.”The Bulldogs will host Alabama on Wednesday before traveling to South Carolina on Saturday.–Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]