Time to bust out some Fats.
“I’m going to need two pair of shoes. When I get through walkin’ me blues. When I get back to New Orleans.”
(7) Florida (26-10, 10-6 SEC) vs. (4) Louisville (29-9, 10-8 Big East)
Florida trails the all-time series vs. Louisville, 1-7, including 0-2 under head coach Billy Donovan. UF is 43-31 all-time vs. current Big East schools and 17-9 under Donovan. Since the 2005- 06 season, UF is 8-3 against Big East competition. The Gators are 3-1 under Donovan vs. Big East foes in the NCAA Tournament, including 1-0 in the Elite Eight with a 75-62 win over Villanova in UF’s 2006 run to the national title. Florida also earned an Elite Eight win vs. then-Big East foe Boston College, 74-66, in 1994. Donovan is looking for his fi rst win against his former head coach, holding an 0-6 mark vs. Pitino.
Donovan’s Marshall squad and early Florida teams were both 0-2 vs. Kentucky, while the Gators are 0-2 vs. Louisville in Donovan-Pitino matchups.
Florida is appearing in its 15th NCAA Tournament, holding a 32-12 record all-time with two national championships, three trips to the national final and four Final Four appearances. This season marks the 12th NCAA Tournament under head coach Billy Donovan. With a 28-9 mark in the tournament, Donovan’s .757 winning percentage in the tournament is third-highest among active coaches, trailing only Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams. Donovan has coached the Gators to both of their national championships and all three championship game appearances in three Final Four trips. Since 2006, the Gators are 18-2 in the NCAA Tournament. Florida is making its sixth Elite Eight appearance in program history, holding a 4-1 mark in its previous five appearances. The Gators are in their fourth Elite Eight in the past seven years (since 2006) and have reached back-to-back Elite Eights twice in that span.
Louisville will be looking to advance to its ninth NCAA Final Four on Saturday. Louisville is tied for seventh in NCAA Final Four appearances, last reaching that plateau in 2005. The Cards have reached the Sweet 16 on 18 occasions and have advanced to the Elite Eight three of the last five seasons. Only seven coaches have coached more Final Four teams than Pitino’s five, a feat matched by four others. Pitino is the first coach to lead three different teams to the Final Four. Louisville’s NCAA Final Four teams: 1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 2005. This is the 12th occasion the Cardinals have reached the NCAA Elite Eight. Louisville has an 8-3 record in regional championship games. UofL advanced to its 1986 NCAA Championship by way of the West Region, reached its 2005 Final Four through the West, and have a collective 14-5 record in that region. Louisville has a 3-1 record when facing a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament (1980, 1986, 2004, 2005). The Cardinals improved to 13-7 when playing as a No. 4 seed. Louisville is 40-8 in NCAA Tournament play when the Cards are the higher seed as it will be in Saturday’s game vs. No. 7 seed Florida. U of L Coach Rick Pitino has a 32-6 record when his team is the higher seed in NCAA Tournament action.
All-Time NCAA Final Four Appearances
North Carolina . 18
UCLA ………….. 17
Duke ……………. 15
Kentucky ……… 14
Kansas ………… 13
Ohio State ……. 10
Louisville ……… 8
Indiana ………….. 8
Michigan State .. 8
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
Florida …………………………………..Category……………………Louisville
76.1 ___________________Points Per Game __________68.3
64.8 _________________Opp. Points Per Game ________60.6
.463 _________________ Field Goal Percentage _______ .424
.423 _______________Opp. Field Goal Percentage ______ .377
.380 _______________ 3-Pt. Field Goal Percentage _______ .316
.341 _____________ Opp. 3-Pt. Field Goal Percentage ______ .300
9.7 ____________________ 3-Pts. Per Game _____________5.9
6.1 __________________ Opp. 3-Pts. Per Game ___________5.5
.714 ________________ Free Throw Percentage __________ .685
+2.8 ___________________Rebound Margin ____________ +1.7
14.8 __________________ Assists Per Game _____________ 13.5
11.0 _________________ Turnovers Per Game ___________ 14.3
12.7 ______________ Turnovers Forced Per Game ________ 15.6
6.4 ____________________Steals Per Game _____________9.0
3.4 ___________________ Blocks Per Game ____________4.9
Billy Donovan, Rick Pitino have friendly showdown in Florida Gators-Louisville Cardinals matchup
Just two wins from Bluegrass Heaven
The tale of Billy the Kid and Ricky the Old Man
Louisville players bought into coach Pitino’s rosy outlook at a gloomy time
#2/2 SYRACUSE (33-2) vs. 7/7 OHIO STATE (30-7)
Syracuse and Ohio State have met six times previously and the Buckeyes have won four of those matchups. The most recent contest came in the semifinals of the 2007 NIT Tipoff. Ohio State won, 79-65. Syracuse’s last triumph against the Buckeyes came in the semifinals of the 2000 Great Alaska Shootout, a 77-66 decision.
The Orange last reached the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2003, a year that ended with an NCAA Championship for Syracuse. Coach Boeheim has a 3-1 record in Elite Eight games, winning in 1987, 1996 and 2003, and losing in 1989.
Thad Motta is in his eighth season as head coach at Ohio State. A former head coach at Butler and Xavier, he has guided Ohio State to a 220-64 record during his tenure. The Buckeyes have made six NCAA Tournament appearances in that time and reached the championship game in 2007.
Syracuse…………………………… Ohio State
34-2……………….W-L…………..30-7
9-1…….Last 10……….8-2
4-1…………..Last……… 54-1
74-2………PPG………75.0
60.6…………OPP PPG………..59.4
+13.7…………Margin…………+15.5
.468…………..FG %……….. .482
.385……….FG % DEF……… .406
.348………..3PT %……….. .333
.315………..3PT % DEF……….. .324
.694…………FT %………….. .703
34.9…………RPG…………..37.1
36.3……….OPP RPG………29.5
-1.4……….Margin……..+7.6
15.4…………Assists PG………..14.8
10.5……….Turnovers PG………11.8
6.9………Blocks PG……..3.1
9.2………Steals PG……..7.3
Jim Boeheim’s belief in the zone defense carries Syracuse into the Elite Eight
Syracuse has persevered through adversity to get to NCAA’s Elite Eight
Jared Sullinger presents a huge challenge for Syracuse’s centers
Ohio State’s Sullinger on facing Syracuse’s zone: “We’ve got to throw the first punches.”
Dare I say Scoop Jardine is making good decisions.
And then he forces a three at the top of the key and picks up a cheap foul.
Scoop taketh, Scoop giveth and Scoop giveth away again.
How obvious is it that Ohio State missed Sullinger in the first half?
Scoop is. Surprising.
Amazing what a little movement against the zone does. No they are exchanging that hi-low. They’re adding the baseline cut. Keeping the zone honest. Oh yeah – and Sullinger helps, too, Smitty.
Scoop is eventful to say the least. That was a great penetration and kick to Triche for the 3.
The amount of fouls being called is ridiculous. Both teams are in the bonus with over 12 minutes to go?
Buford is killing Ohio State right now. Somebody tell Buford to stop shooting from the outside.
Rey, that movement you mentioned seems to have disappeared. Last couple of possessions have been back to what they were in the first half.
Sullinger is fatigued? He hasn’t even played 20 minutes. I blame the high number of calls on Jeff Anderson. He is the reserve official sitting at the scorer’s table.
Yeah. They just mentioned how Sullinger looks fatigue. Scoop is running a pick-and-roll clinic tonight.
I love it when the Subaru commercial with the Pogues’ “If I should fall from the grace of God” comes on!
The wife just came in with a good point. Sullinger has guys hanging on him and he holds his position for so long sometimes, that will wear on you.
Who has more dunks this year: Jared Sullinger or Brittany Griner?
I think Brittany Griner has more.
Hahahaha
Just for the record, I am tweeting that, but giving you credit.
Back to the guards imploding late in the game.
Why????
Why are they trying to strip the ball on Syracuse players going up for lay-up with less than a minute to go? Why give them the opportunity for a three point play?
Wondering that same exact thing.
Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor. Not good numbers at all. Defenses made the offenses work for this win.
Smitty called it. Ohio State won the boards 37-22. The Buckeyes had more defensive rebounds (24) than SU had total boards.
Another game right?
This is the part about March Madness I hate.. Only two games!!
Credit OSU for showing balance on offense. They never fell in love with the jumper. They only took 13 threes. Just enough to keep SU honest but not so many to create a liability.
Their bread and butter is pounding the ball into Sullinger and Thomas. I give them credit for sticking to what they do best, even against the Syracuse zone.