Scouting Florida, Maryland ahead of 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 matchup
Scouting Florida, Maryland ahead of 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 matchup
The top-seeded Florida Gators' success so far in the 2025 NCAA Tournament has earned the program its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2017. It took a blowout win that left a bit to be desired over the 16th-seeded Norfolk State Spartans in the first round and a white-knuckle comeback victory over the two-time defending national champions, the UConn Huskies, in the round of 32 to get back to this promised land.
But the work is far from over with four games left before the Orange and Blue can hoist the championship banner back inside the O'Connell Center. First, Todd Golden's gang has to get past the fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins who finished tied for second with the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten during the regular season and behind the Michigan State Spartans.
It certainly does not get easier but the Gators are the hottest team in the nation right now and are up for the challenge. With a few days remaining before the next battle, CBS Sports writer Cameron Salerno scouted each team in the Sweet 16, including Florida and Maryland, and had the following to offer.
CBS Sports scouting report for Florida
"Florida rolls into the West Regional as the team to beat. The Gators withstood a heavyweight fight against two-time reigning national champion UConn to advance to the Sweet 16. Florida's offense starts and stops with All-American Walter Clayton Jr., who is arguably the best guard in the country," Salerno begins.
"Florida can overwhelm teams with its size down low and has the perfect blend of depth and star power to make a deep run. Florida ranks No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency and 10th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. The Gators don't have many weaknesses."
CBS Sports scouting report for Maryland
"Maryland has one of the most talented starting lineups in this country. It starts with star big man Derik Queen, a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Queen and fellow frontcourt mate Julian Reese — the brother of former LSU star Angel Reese — are a dynamic duo with each capable of finishing with a double-double every night," Salerno notes.
"You can't forget about the guard play on this team, either. Ja'Kobi Gillespie (14.7 points per game), Rodney Rice (13.8) and Selton Miguel (12.0) all average double-digit points. Maryland did finish ranked No. 314 in bench minutes, and part of that is because the starting lineup is that good."
How to watch Florida-Maryland in Sweet 16
The Gators will take on the Terrapins on Thursday, March 27, in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Tipoff at the Chase Center in San Francisco is scheduled for 7:39 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally 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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