Miracle comeback from Florida?

[TheSportsPredictor]

They were down like 30 points with 14 minutes left, now I check in with 2:42 left and they are down 9. Can they do it?

 

[Ellis Redding]

No.

 

[HejiraHenry]

What he said.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

I still don't see how UT blew that huge lead.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Billy Donovan is not Rick Pitino, and Bruce Pearl is not Dale Brown.

 

[Hammer Pants]

I still don't see how UT blew that huge lead.

They've blown a few big leads this season. Part of it is because Tennessee is small but quick and relies on playing at a certain pace to win. When it's going well, it's going really well. Then either they try to slow it down or get tired and the opponent makes a run. Happens all the time. They can go LONG periods of time without scoring for a team that scores so many points because they can score so quickly when they have runs — 3, steal, layup, steal, 3 — and eight points just like that. Then they won't score for three minutes. Sometimes they give up long runs (a few 10-or-more-to-0 runs I can think of).

Also, Florida's pretty good.

 

[Riddick]

Is Ohio State as good as its ranking? Haven't seen them too much, but what I've seen was only ok.

 

[John]

If Florida winds up a 2-seed, I wouldn't want to be the 1 in that bracket.

 

[kingcreole]

If Florida winds up a 2-seed, I wouldn't want to be the 1 in that bracket.

I don't know ... something isn't right about Florida.

 

[WSKY]

Bye, bye No. 1 seed. I got 10 bucks says this team is out in three games.

 

[Hammer Pants]

If Florida winds up a 2-seed, I wouldn't want to be the 1 in that bracket.

I don't know ... something isn't right about Florida.

Lack of desire, perhaps?

 

[Oz]

Is Ohio State as good as its ranking? Haven't seen them too much, but what I've seen was only ok.

Probably not. And OSU probably would be the trendy No. 1 seed in polls not to make the Final Four, which means it probably would make it.

Re: Gators, absolutely hilarious to see this collapse. Three double-digit losses in four games? Nice.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

If Florida winds up a 2-seed, I wouldn't want to be the 1 in that bracket.

I don't know ... something isn't right about Florida.

Lack of desire, perhaps?

I'm thinking that ****ty non-conference schedule Florida played is coming back to haunt the Gators.

That and Florida sucks on the road.

 

[Oz]

Honestly, I don't remember the Gators' non-conference schedule. But I do remember their loss to KU, which right now would be another argument against Florida for a No. 1 seed if those teams are in the discussion.

 

[andyouare?]

Honestly, I don't remember the Gators' non-conference schedule. But I do remember their loss to KU, which right now would be another argument against Florida for a No. 1 seed if those teams are in the discussion.

How long ago was that game? I think the Gators clinching the SEC last week and having nothing left to play for has a lot to do with their form. They had a net cutting ceremony and everything. Mental exhaustion. Whatever. If they win the SEC tournament, they're still a No. 1 seed.

EDIT: Plus their defense really seems to be lacking, which, as any coach will tell you, is all about desire, hustle, blah, blah, blah. Looks like they hit the snooze button.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Honestly, I don't remember the Gators' non-conference schedule. But I do remember their loss to KU, which right now would be another argument against Florida for a No. 1 seed if those teams are in the discussion.

How long ago was that game? I think the Gators clinching the SEC last week and having nothing left to play for has a lot to do with their form. They had a net cutting ceremony and everything. Mental exhaustion. Whatever. If they win the tournament, they're still a No. 1 seed.

The KU game was in Nevada as part of a holiday tournament. I believe it was the second game in as many days for both schools.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

They were down like 30 points with 14 minutes left, now I check in with 2:42 left and they are down 9. Can they do it?

Here's the thing: I would think TheSportsPredictor wouldn't even have to ask.

 

[Hammer Pants]

Florida still has the best talent in college basketball. They would ****ing destroy either of the Big 10 schools if they met on a neutral court.

Absolutely Florida should still be a No. 1 seed.

If Florida is absolutely a No. 1 seed with the way they've played the past few games, then doesn't the SEC absolutely deserve more than four teams in the tournament? I understand the argument that those two aren't connected, but I think they are.

On the other hand ... who gets in? You could argue that none of the West teams deserve to get in, but Mississippi State is absolutely one of the 30 or so most talented at-large teams. Watch them if you don't believe ... their athleticism is outstanding. What about Georgia? Bama is uber talented but can't handle the ball for **** with Steele hurt, and their big studs in the middle disappear at times.

If UF is a 1, where are Vandy and Tennessee seeded then? I think UT's RPI is 7, and the Vols played four games without Lofton. Vandy lost to two Southern Conference teams and at Tennessee by 27, but the Dores have some nice wins.

Can the conference with maybe the No. 1 overall RPI get just four? Is that fair? Just curious.

 

[Oz]

Honestly, I don't remember the Gators' non-conference schedule. But I do remember their loss to KU, which right now would be another argument against Florida for a No. 1 seed if those teams are in the discussion.

How long ago was that game? I think the Gators clinching the SEC last week and having nothing left to play for has a lot to do with their form. They had a net cutting ceremony and everything. Mental exhaustion. Whatever. If they win the SEC tournament, they're still a No. 1 seed.

Sorry, but I'm not into making excuses for teams. Either they're playing worthy of a No. 1 seed or they're not. And if you're going to chalk that game up as irrelevant because they played that game months ago, then I suppose you could dismiss KU's losses to Oral Roberts and DePaul just the same. Doesn't work that way. You judge each team's body of work, then seed teams accordingly.

And Hammer Pants, to answer your question, I would say no to more than four teams in the SEC. While there's not a single SEC team with a losing record, the downside is that there are a lack of great teams to legitimately deserve tournament berths. A 19-9 Alabama would probably be the fifth, but they're 6-8 in the SEC and sit third in the West division. Hard to make a case for them these days.