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| Senior Lamar Patterson (21) goes for a jam in matchup with Duquesne on November 30 |
Many casual followers of the NCAA Tournament will look at Saturdays One-Nine matchup between the Florida Gators and Pittsburgh Panthers as just that, a One-Nine matchup in the third round of the tournament. However, there is no guarantee that the tournament's number one seed, the Florida Gators will make it out of the first weekend of the Big Dance. The Gators potentially face the toughest third round matchup of any of the top seeds. With the efficient offense, and tenacious defense (all four starters outside of big man Talib Zanna notched two-plus steals) unleashed against Colorado on Thursday evening, Jamie Dixon's squad is primed to come into their Saturday matchup firing on all cylinders. Expect to see a heavy dose of Seniors Talib Zanna and Lamar Patterson, as well as a solid backcourt presence from underclassmen Cameron Wright and James Robinson.
The potential for a third round upset in the Tournament's South Region is deeper than Pitt's stellar second round performance and Florida's escape from their matchup with 16-seed Albany. Pittsburgh has played up to snuff all season long, featuring only one double-digit loss to Duke, at the time ranked 17th in the Nation. Many of the players on Jamie Dixon's squad boasts a Big East pedigree of playing in high pressure situations against incredibly talented teams before their transition to the ACC this year. Florida's journey to the tournament's top overall seed has been far less strenuous, and seeing consecutive tough match-ups could spell the end to their Championship hopes. If Pittsburgh's front-court can force the issue, and their defense can stay aggressive and under control than Florida is in for a monumental task to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
The potential for a third round upset in the Tournament's South Region is deeper than Pitt's stellar second round performance and Florida's escape from their matchup with 16-seed Albany. Pittsburgh has played up to snuff all season long, featuring only one double-digit loss to Duke, at the time ranked 17th in the Nation. Many of the players on Jamie Dixon's squad boasts a Big East pedigree of playing in high pressure situations against incredibly talented teams before their transition to the ACC this year. Florida's journey to the tournament's top overall seed has been far less strenuous, and seeing consecutive tough match-ups could spell the end to their Championship hopes. If Pittsburgh's front-court can force the issue, and their defense can stay aggressive and under control than Florida is in for a monumental task to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
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