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Article: Florida Versus Maryland Sweet Sixteen Preview

Discussion in 'Nuttin but Net' started by ETGator, Mar 24, 2025.

  1. ETGator

    ETGator Long-Time Gator Stuck In East Tennessee Moderator VIP Member

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    By: Eric Fawcett -- March 23, 2025

    After winning a thrilling game over UConn the Florida Gators now know their Sweet Sixteen opponent–the Maryland Terrapins. While Florida’s matchup with the Huskies had its fair share of drama it was nothing close to what happened in Maryland’s thrilling win over Colorado State to advance to see the Gators. Colorado State, a 12-seed who only made the Tournament after winning the Mountain West autobid, was leading for much of the game until Maryland was able to go up by 2 in the final minute. With just 6 seconds left Colorado State’s Jalen Lake hit a massive three-pointer to put the Rams up by a single point, leaving Maryland without any options. Then, in the final possession of the game, freshman Derik Queen had an isolation in the middle of the floor that saw his driving attempt largely cut off, re-routing him towards the baseline and further from the hoop. With time expiring he rose up and put up an off-balanced prayer, and as the buzzer sounded–it kissed off the glass and fell through the net, giving Maryland a thrilling buzzer-beating victory.

    Florida Versus Maryland Sweet Sixteen Preview | GatorCountry.com
     
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  2. rserina

    rserina GC Hall of Fame

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    Don't know enough about how Maryland operates out of screens offensively, but very curious to see how we defend off the ball and in help situations. Do we trust our bigs enough to body up theirs defensively without help? How do we limit their threes? The easiest way to lose this game is to give too much attention to Queen and Reese, and to let them get hot from the arc. We played with fire in that first half against UConn. And if we don't get stops and then use those to get out in transition or into our early clock offense, it's gonna be real hard to score against the in the halfcourt.

    Love that our path is not easy, though. We are playing good teams with solid coaches and tough matchup for us. Opportunity to see where Golden is in terms of tournament chops. Would frankly like to know how many head coaches have made deep runs having never on a tournament game previously, let alone won won national titles. Kevin Ollie is the only guy to win it in the modern era.
     
  3. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

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    Steve Fisher?
     
  4. rserina

    rserina GC Hall of Fame

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    Yes, but the definition of an abnormal situation, haha
     
  5. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

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    Had he even head coached a single college game before that run? I don't recall one. I could be wrong.
     
  6. rserina

    rserina GC Hall of Fame

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    Believe he took over for the tourney as interim
     
  7. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

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    That is what I recall. He took over when Frieder took a job elsewhere (Arizona State IIRC) and the Michigan AD (Bo Schemblecher sp?)appointed Steve Fisher as the interim head coach and fired Frieder because he wanted a "Michigan man" leading the team.

    Then we got the Fab Five.
     
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  8. audiogatorjim

    audiogatorjim GC Hall of Fame

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    BD had us in the tourney a staggering 7 years in a row, before the two championships. I believe that’s correct. I don’t think we made it in his first few years at UF.
     
  9. bogator

    bogator GC Hall of Fame

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    He made the championship game in 2000, his fourth season. Made the tournament in his third
     
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  10. reaves2alvarez

    reaves2alvarez Senior

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    But after that first FF he went home the 1st weekend for 5 straight years in the tourney and a lot of Gator fans were openly wondering if he was the answer. How wild is that.

    “Wes Chandler was Percy Harvin before Percy Harvin was born.”
     
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  11. gatordavisl

    gatordavisl VIP Member

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    Truth
     
  12. Spurffelbow833

    Spurffelbow833 GC Hall of Fame

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    And four straight Elite Eights after the championships, including a Final Four. Making four straight deep runs in the tournament is an amazing feat.