SEC Teams Exceed Expectation at Tourney Time

 
 

On this Monday, after the first full weekend of the NCAA Tournament, you’ve probably already torn up your tournament bracket selections.
Major upsets of national powerhouses like Duke, Syracuse, Ohio State and North Carolina have left those headliners done for the year and watching some unlikely newsmakers capturing all the glory.
Though the SEC only placed three teams in the Big Dance — Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky — all of them have found a way to advance into the Sweet Sixteen. They all have good reason to believe they’ll keep on dancing.
The Florida Gators cruised into week two of tourney. They’re set to take on the UCLA Bruins on Beale Street in Memphis, Tenn. on Thursday at 8:45 p.m. The Gators opened their tournament run with a 67-55 victory over Albany last Thursday. On Saturday, Florida defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers in round three.
Coach Billy Donovan’s Gators only allowed the Panthers to 45 points, while Florida’s potent offense netted 61. Scottie Wilbekin led the Gators in scoring with 32 points.
When the Tennessee Volunteers take the court on Friday night against Michigan in Indianapolis at 6:15 p.m., it will be the fourth game that the Vols have played in the tourney. Tennessee opened its NCAA run last Wednesday night, defeating Iowa before taking on UMass in Round 2. The Volunteers rolled past the Minutemen and Mercer to advance to week two of the tourney.
The Kentucky Wildcats opened their tourney trial against Kansas State. Big Blue defeated the Wildcats before taking on the undefeated Wichita State Shockers on Sunday. The only shock coming out of that game was Wichita State’s inability to keep their record spotless. The Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16 on Friday night in the late game against in-state rival Louisville.
If Kentucky and Tennessee both win their Friday night games games, they’ll play each other in the Elite 8. The winner will advance to the Final Four in Dallas.
–Adam Brown, Sports Editor of HottyToddy.com