By PAUL GOTHAM
Four days away from the 25th anniversary of perhaps the greatest buzzer beater in NCAA Tournament history, University of Florida Gator Chris Chiozza showed his own flair for the dramatic.
With four seconds remaining in overtime and Florida trailing by two, Chiozza raced the length of the floor and pulled up just beyond the three-point arc for the game winner as No. 4-seed Florida rallied to defeat No. 8-seed Wisconsin Badgers, 84-83 in the East Region semi-final at Madison Garden, early Saturday morning.
Florida’s win set up an all-SEC region final with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
“I just knew I had four seconds and I was trying to get down the court as fast as I could and if somebody was open I was going to pass it,” Chiozza said. “I was really trying to get to the rim, but they did a good job of bumping me and slowing me down and that was the only shot I had, so I had to take that one.”
Chiozza finished with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting on the night. The game-winning triple was his first from behind the arc in the contest.
“I saw I had a little bit of time left, so I tried to get my feet set as best I could,” the junior guard said. “I was able to do that and had enough time to shoot it.”
Chiozza’s shot ended a game which saw Wisconsin score the last eight points in regulation to force overtime and eventually take a five-point lead in the extra period.
“With four seconds Chris knows he has anywhere from four to six dribbles, not three or four like most guys,” Florida Gator coach Mike White said. “And boy, he utilized them.”
KeVaughn Allen paced the Gators with a program record for NCAA Tournament play with 35 points on 11-of-24 shooting. The sophomore guard converted nine of 10 free throws and hit four treys.
“In the second half, I think we just got things changed and started defending,” Allen said. “I think we did a pretty good job on just staying together and staying poised and just coming together as a team and just to get this win.”
Canyon Barry kept Florida close when he blocked a Kahlil Iverson dunk attempt with :34 to go in overtime. With Wisconsin leading by two, Iverson got behind the Gators full-court press and went in undefended when Barry swooped in and knocked away the attempt.
“Barry made a heck of a play,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “He needs to recognize he’s coming behind him, finish out in front of him, not try to dunk it.”
The loss ended the careers of Wisconsin Badger seniors Vitto Brown, Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig and Zak Showalter. A group which advanced to the Sweet 16 in each of the last four seasons – the only program in the country to accomplish that feat.
“I can’t thank those guys, specifically the four seniors, enough for their time and dedication and commitment that they have made to our university and our program,” Gard noted. “This is a tough way for them to go out and how they battled back, came from 12 down, it’s kind of a microcosm of how they have navigated through the program.
“They have fought back at adverse times and tonight was a great testament to their Will and never give up attitude. So, proud of them, obviously this is hard to say to watch it like this, but in time it will get better and we’ll appreciate even more the contributions those four specifically made.”
Christian Laettner‘s buzzer beater on March 28, 1992 sent the Duke Blue Devils to the Final Four with a triple overtime defeat of the Kentucky Wildcats in the East Region final. Duke went on to win its second straight national title from there.
The game was the first to go overtime in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Chiozza’s shot was the first buzzer beater of the 2017 dance.
Florida and South Carolina will meet on Sunday. A 2:20 pm tipoff is slated. The teams split their regular season series.
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