(Orlando, FL) – The 4th seeded Florida Gators advance to the Sweet 16 for the tenth time in program history and their first time with second- year head coach Mike White, as they top the 5th seeded Virginia Cavaliers 65-39. The Gators were led offensively by Junior Small Forward Devin Robinson who had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but the victory had much to do with the Gator’s stifling defense. “That’s about as well as we’ve played defensively,” coach Mike white said. “We just had to get them uncomfortable and play our tempo,” Robinson added. At one point in the contest, the Gators went on a 21-0 run, a deficit the Cavaliers could not overcome.
The Cavalier’s star players, Senior guard London Perrantes and Junior guard Marial Shayok, both struggled from the field, as Perrantes went 2 for 12 and Shayok 2 for 9, respectively. “If we’re not shooting well, it’s hard for us,” Cavalier’s head coach Tony Bennett said. The Virginia Cavaliers were held to just 17 points in the first half, which was a season-low.
The Gators will go on to the Sweet 16 where they will face the Wisconsin Badgers, who recently shocked the college basketball world by defeating the number 1 seed Villanova Saturday afternoon, 65-62.
Written By: Adrian Manguit, Eagle News Service US, Florida