Can Florida basketball keep the momentum going against Maryland in the Sweet 16?
Can Florida basketball keep the momentum going against Maryland in the Sweet 16?
If you didn't believe in Florida basketball before Sunday, you do now.
It wasn't just that the Gators beat UConn — they ended a dynasty.
Down late. Off rhythm. Outplayed for most of the second half. And still, Florida found a way. Walter Clayton Jr. found a way. And now, the Gators are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017.
There was a moment in the second half against the Huskies when it looked like Florida might fold. UConn, the defending champs, had seized control. The Gators couldn't buy a bucket.
Then, Clayton flipped the switch.
The All-American scored 13 of his 23 points in the final eight minutes, including two ice-cold threes from the right wing that turned the game upside down.
His performance, along with big plays from Will Richard and Thomas Haugh down the stretch, sealed a 77-75 win that ended UConn's pursuit of a third straight national title.
Head coach Todd Golden called it a "program win". And he's right. He's built this team piece by piece, and now it's paying off.
Now, what's Florida's reward for making it past the Round of 32? A Thursday night date in San Francisco with fourth-seeded Maryland, a group that just won its own March Madness thriller on a buzzer-beater against Colorado State.
Down one with 3.6 seconds left, Derik Queen took a high-arching fadeaway off the glass as the horn sounded to give the Terrapins a Sweet 16 bid.
Thursday night's game is all about contrasting styles.
Florida wants to run, get out in space and score in bunches. They're deep, athletic and play faster than anyone Maryland has seen.
But what do the Terrapins do? They slow their opponents down. Maryland isn't deep like Florida, but their starting five is tough, experienced and well-coached.
It won't be easy, but Florida is the favorite. Not by a whole lot, though.
The Gators didn't play their best game against UConn — and they still won. That's what should concern Maryland.
If Clayton clicks from the jump and if the supporting cast can contribute, this is a game that the Orange and Blue should win.
But March doesn't do "should". It does wild finishes. Fadeaway game-winners. Late threes. Bench players stepping into spotlight moments. Maryland has seen it. Florida just survived it.
Now they both step into the storm, and only one walks out still dancing.
How to watch Florida-Maryland
The No. 1 Florida Gators face off against the No. 4 Maryland Terrapins in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, March 27. That game will be played in San Francisco, California, with tipoff slated for 7:39 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TBS.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
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