The Top Dog: Florida
There is no question that the top dog in the Final Four is the Florida Gators. They are the tournament’s number one overall seed and have won 30 consecutive games.
From top to bottom, Florida appears to have the championship mettle. They are lead by a group of experienced players, including SEC Player of the Year, Scottie Wilbekin, and strongman Patrick Young. They have solid depth off the bench. Coach Billy Donovan has already won two national titles. Their pressure defense and rebounding has wrecked havoc throughout the season and tournament. They are calm and composed under pressure. They are unselfish as a group and have flashed moments of sheer dominance. Throw these things into the mixing bowl and it would seem that the Gators have the championship recipe.
On paper and film, Florida seems to be lacking one true weakness, however. If they get into foul trouble or struggle making outside shots, they could face a difficult task of playing for the program’s third national title. Making the Gators play a different style is easier said than done, though. They have met each challenge this season head on and are battle tested. Right now, the Gators are paper champions, but we all know that championships aren’t won on paper. They are the favorites this weekend but they can be beaten. Just ask the UConn Huskies, the last team to beat the Gators and their opponent in the Final Four.
Keys to Victory: Florida must play their brand of basketball, take care of the basketball, and dominate the boards. They will need to make shots in order to get into their full court pressure and increase the tempo of the game. Pat Young and Will Yeguete will have to protect the paint and Michael Frazier II will have to continue to knock down open threes. Look for Scottie Wilbekin to be his usual steady self. UConn beat the Gators on a last second shot in December. Don’t think for a moment that the shot won’t be on the minds of the Florida players. It could be another motivational factor in the Gators’ dreams of cutting down the nets.
