#3 seed Florida Gators (26-7, 14-4 SEC) vs. #14 seed Northwestern State (23-8, 15-3 Southland)
Erwin Center (capacity: 16,292), Austin, Texas. 7:27 p.m.
TV: truTV
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network
Throughout the season, our bread-and-butter has been the ability to make 3-point shots. The Gators have made 277 out of 728 shots from behind the arc this season, good for 38%. That amounts to about 22 3-point attempts per game. Senior guard Kenny Boynton has started to get back on track these last two games, while senior guard Mike Rosario regained his shooting touch in Sunday's SEC Championship loss to Ole Miss. The big question is senior forward Erik Murphy. Ever since his career-high performance against LSU on Friday, he has gone 1/9 from deep in the two games since. Murphy is the best shooter on the team and it's really the first time all season where he's been in a little funk as it pertains to shooting. I look for the First Team All-SEC performer to get back to his old ways in today's game.
2. Experience
Nearly everyone on this year's active roster has seen action in an NCAA Tournament game, excluding junior forward Will Yegeute, who missed both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments last season after suffering a broken foot against Auburn late in the regular season, sophomore Jacob Kurtz, and the four freshmen (Michael Frazier, Braxton Ogbueze, DeVon Walker, and Dillon Graham). While there may be first half jitters for everyone, the experience shouldn't be as unbearable as it would be if this was their first time playing in the Tournament. The classic saying, "You can't teach experience," is very true. For example, the University of Miami has been one of the best teams all season and is favored by some to win it all, but not one of the their players has played in an NCAA Tournament game. Experience can go a long way in determining how far you go in the Tourney and I think it will benefit the Gators immensely.
3. Shot selection
Shot selection has been an issue with only two players, Boynton and Rosario. At various points during the season, either guard has taken an ill-advised shot at the most crucial times. The loss at Tennessee was a prime example of this. During the first half, the Gators settled for too many 3-pointers instead of getting the ball inside. I've found that when the Gators find themselves taking too many three's, it's going to be a dogfight until the final whistle with Florida struggling to put opponents away. With junior center Patric Young's improved offensive play around the basket, it's essential that the ball finds its way to him. He's playing with supreme confidence and we need to utilize that. Young's shooting 60% so he should start to become a prime offensive target.
4. Enjoy the moment
The easiest way for players to relax is to enjoy the moment. Take pride in the fact that you're a number three-seed in the NCAA Tournament. You're given a clean slate as every team is equal now, 0-0. Records and stats are thrown out the window because the NCAA Tournament helps to determine a true champion. Don't underestimate any team because that's how you get beat. Savor the moments, whether good or bad, because you'll remember them for the rest of your lives. It truly is a wonderful experience to know that all the hard work the players put in over the offseason and during the regular season has come to fruition with a berth in the Big Dance, not to mention being the third-seed in the South Region with a legitimate chance to make it to the Final Four in Atlanta. True champions make their names in March and that's how players will be remembered. With all the experience that the Gators have, that could go a long way to determining their fate.
Final score prediction: Florida 83 - Northwestern State 52
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