First Half Score: #7 Florida 41 - #4 Louisville 33
The first half was all about the three point shooting of Florida. The Gators high-powered offense attack, which ranked 2nd in the SEC only behind Kentucky in scoring per game during the season, was predicated on the three point ball. During the regular season, the Gators were 4th in the NCAA in three point attempts per game at 25 and led the nation in three point makes at just under 10 per game. The Gators caused Louisville so many problems from behind the arc because they spread the floor with all of their three point shooters. Erving Walker had 2 three pointers, Kenny Boynton hit two threes, Bradley Beal opened the game with two early three point field goals, and Florida's versatile forward Erik Murphy added two threes during the first half. The Gators were 8 of 11 from three point land and shot the ball at a ridiculously high 72.7 percent from deep.
Although Florida deserves a lot of credit for knocking down their jump shots, Louisville needs to do a much better job of identifying and closing out shooters. During the half, Erving Walker hit two three pointers from the top of the key within a minute of each other and both times there wasn't a Cardinal defender in sight. Florida is way to good of a shooting team to be getting wide open looks from three. The Cardinals also need to stop getting sucked in by penetration and leaving open three point shooters.
Louisville's full court pressure forced 5 Gator turnovers but it also led to open three point field goals in transition for Florida. Although the Cardinals forced 15 turnovers against Michigan St. in the regional semifinals with their backcourt press, they may need to loosen up the pressure to prevent the Florida three point shooting.
The Cardinals may also need to get out of their matchup zone and instead just play man to man defense.
Louisville's full court pressure forced 5 Gator turnovers but it also led to open three point field goals in transition for Florida. Although the Cardinals forced 15 turnovers against Michigan St. in the regional semifinals with their backcourt press, they may need to loosen up the pressure to prevent the Florida three point shooting.
The Cardinals may also need to get out of their matchup zone and instead just play man to man defense.
Louisville really struggled offensively when Peyton Siva went to the bench with his 2nd foul with 6:45 remaining in the first half. Siva did a terrific job of creating open jump shots and layups for his teammates by penetrating into the lane and attacking the rim. Siva had 5 points and 5 assists before he had to go to the bench for the rest of the half. When Siva went out, Louisville was down 22-21. By the end of the half, Florida was leading 41-33.
If Florida continues to shot this well from three, they will make their 5th Final Four appearance in school history and their 4th under head coach Billy Donovan.
Final Score: #4 Louisville 72 - #7 Florida 68
After being red hot from three during the first half, Florida severely struggled from behind the arc during the second half and this led to prolonged scoring droughts for the Gators. After a Patric Young dunk with 8:14 remaining in regulation put the Gators up 65-54, Florida scored just three points for the rest of the game and made just one field goal on 12 shot attempts down the stretch. The Gators were 0 for 9 in the second half from three, as their offense spurted without the long ball.
Although foul trouble to Peyton Siva, Kyle Kuric, and Chane Behanan plagued the Cardinals, they were able to overcome the foul issues and get major buckets in the second half, especially from Russ Smith and Chane Behanan. Smith had 10 points in the second half including two huge free throws with 16 seconds left to put the Cardinals up by three and force the Gators into taking three point attempts in the final seconds to try and tie the game. Smith and Behanan combined for 24 of Louisville's final 26 points and led the 26-14 Cardinal run in the final 12 minutes.
For their fourth straight tournament game, Louisville and their pressure defense forced a ton of turnovers. They forced Florida into 8 turnovers in the second half and frustrated the Gator guards by guarding them tight up and down the floor and giving them no space to dribble penetrate.
Rick Pitino has done it again. Pitino, who is the only coach to ever lead three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, and Louisville) to the Final Four, will be returning to the National Semifinals for the 6th time and the 2nd time at the helm of Louisville. Pitino joins Denny Crum (6), Tom Izzo (6) Adolph Rupp (6), Roy Williams (7), Mike Krzyzewski (11), Dean Smith (11), and John Wooden (12) as the only coaches to have reached at least 6 Final Fours.
It will be Louisville's 9th Final Four appearance and just their second in the last 26 years since 1986. Louisville joins Ohio St. (10), Kansas (13), Kentucky (14), Duke (15), North Carolina (18), and UCLA (18) as the only schools to have reached at least 9 Final Fours.
The Cardinals will be looking for their first National Championship since 1986 when Pervis Ellison became the second player, at the time, to ever win the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player award as a freshman joining only Arnie Ferrin when he did so in 1944 for Utah.
If the Kentucky Wildcats are able to knock off the Baylor Bears in the South Regional Finals, it would set up an unbelievable Final Four matchup between the hated rivals from the Bluegrass State. It would be the Kentucky rivals 5th matchup in the tournament and 1st in the Final Four and 1st since they met in the 1984 Sweet 16.
If Florida continues to shot this well from three, they will make their 5th Final Four appearance in school history and their 4th under head coach Billy Donovan.
Final Score: #4 Louisville 72 - #7 Florida 68
After being red hot from three during the first half, Florida severely struggled from behind the arc during the second half and this led to prolonged scoring droughts for the Gators. After a Patric Young dunk with 8:14 remaining in regulation put the Gators up 65-54, Florida scored just three points for the rest of the game and made just one field goal on 12 shot attempts down the stretch. The Gators were 0 for 9 in the second half from three, as their offense spurted without the long ball.
Although foul trouble to Peyton Siva, Kyle Kuric, and Chane Behanan plagued the Cardinals, they were able to overcome the foul issues and get major buckets in the second half, especially from Russ Smith and Chane Behanan. Smith had 10 points in the second half including two huge free throws with 16 seconds left to put the Cardinals up by three and force the Gators into taking three point attempts in the final seconds to try and tie the game. Smith and Behanan combined for 24 of Louisville's final 26 points and led the 26-14 Cardinal run in the final 12 minutes.
For their fourth straight tournament game, Louisville and their pressure defense forced a ton of turnovers. They forced Florida into 8 turnovers in the second half and frustrated the Gator guards by guarding them tight up and down the floor and giving them no space to dribble penetrate.
Rick Pitino has done it again. Pitino, who is the only coach to ever lead three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, and Louisville) to the Final Four, will be returning to the National Semifinals for the 6th time and the 2nd time at the helm of Louisville. Pitino joins Denny Crum (6), Tom Izzo (6) Adolph Rupp (6), Roy Williams (7), Mike Krzyzewski (11), Dean Smith (11), and John Wooden (12) as the only coaches to have reached at least 6 Final Fours.
It will be Louisville's 9th Final Four appearance and just their second in the last 26 years since 1986. Louisville joins Ohio St. (10), Kansas (13), Kentucky (14), Duke (15), North Carolina (18), and UCLA (18) as the only schools to have reached at least 9 Final Fours.
The Cardinals will be looking for their first National Championship since 1986 when Pervis Ellison became the second player, at the time, to ever win the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player award as a freshman joining only Arnie Ferrin when he did so in 1944 for Utah.
If the Kentucky Wildcats are able to knock off the Baylor Bears in the South Regional Finals, it would set up an unbelievable Final Four matchup between the hated rivals from the Bluegrass State. It would be the Kentucky rivals 5th matchup in the tournament and 1st in the Final Four and 1st since they met in the 1984 Sweet 16.
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