(1) Florida vs. (8) Connecticut
What: NCAA Tournament / 2nd round
When: Sunday, 12:10 pm (ET)
Where: Lenovo Center / Raleigh, N.C.
Records: Florida (31-4) / Connecticut (24-10)
TV: CBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, and Tracy Wolfson)
Radio: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD / Stations list (with Sean Kelley, Lee Humphrey, and Steve Egan)
Ticket info
Projected Starters
| Connecticut | Position | Height / Weight | Class | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Karaban | F | 6-8 / 225 | Junior | 14.3 pts / 5.3 reb / 2.8 ast |
| Samson Johnson | C | 6-10 / 225 | Senior | 7.4 pts / 3.3 reb |
| Liam McNeeley | F | 6-7 / 210 | Freshman | 14.2 pts / 6.1 reb |
| Solo Ball | G | 6-3 / 190 | Sophomore | 14.6 pts / 3.6 reb |
| Hassan Diarra | G | 6-2 / 195 | Senior | 7.8 pts / 3.6 reb / 5.7 ast |
The Breakdown
SETUP: The fourth-seeded Florida Gators will face the eighth-seeded Connecticut Huskies in the second round of the NCAA West Region. Florida secured their spot by defeating Norfolk State, the 16-seed, 95-69 in the first round. Meanwhile, UConn, the two-time defending national champions, triumphed over Oklahoma, a 9-seed, 67-59. The winner will move on to the Sweet 16 scheduled for Thursday in San Francisco.
SERIES: Historically, UConn leads the series 5-1, having won the last five contests since the 2013-14 season. This includes a buzzer-beater victory that ended the Gators’ record 30-game winning streak and a 63-53 elimination in the Final Four. Their last matchup on December 7, 2022, resulted in a 75-54 win for UConn, who dominated the game with both offense and defense.
Tale of the Tape
| Florida | Statistics | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| 85.7 | Scoring | 77.1 |
| .473 | Field-goal percentage | .478 |
| .354 | 3-point percentage | .351 |
| 69.2 | Scoring defense | 67.8 |
| .400 | Field-goal percentage defense | .420 |
| .293 | 3-point percentage defense | .346 |
| 3rd | KenPom.com overall ranking | 32nd |
| 1st | KenPom.com offensive efficiency | 15th |
| 10th | KenPom.com defensive efficiency | 78th |
| 61st | KenPom.com adjusted tempo | 343rd |
| 4th | NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ranking | 32nd |
| 19th | Overall strength of schedule ranking | 77th |
The Gators
In their previous matchup, the Gators quickly built a 32-point lead against Norfolk State but allowed the opposition to make a late run toward the end of the first half. Coach Todd Golden is likely concerned about this lapse in focus, knowing it could be costly against UConn. Despite scoring a program-record of 53 points in the first half, defensive lapses allowed Norfolk State to score effectively, stressing the importance of tightening their defense.
The Huskies
Under the seventh season of Coach Dan Hurley, UConn has established itself as a formidable opponent, winning consecutive NCAA championships. Their recent victory over Oklahoma marked their 13th straight win in NCAA play. The Huskies excel with a slow-paced, efficient offense and strong shot-blocking defense, though they have had challenges defending beyond the arc.
Bottom Line
This matchup is crucial, as it promises to be one of the standout games in the tournament’s second round, likely providing a challenging atmosphere for Florida.
Email Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
