I was going to do a whole scouting report and whatnot, but the experts (ha ha, "experts") typically do it better. I'm just a hack with a computer and an internet blog. But I'm damn good at scouring the web and posting links. So read these... Or don't, and just skip ahead, where I give you my shitty scouting report and prediction for the game.
From The Daily Press: Virginia heads to the NCAA tournament to play Florida
From The Gainesville Sun: Virginia, Florida a Contrast in Styles
From Streaking the Lawn: First Thoughts on Virginia's NCAA Tournament Matchup with the Florida Gators and March Madness 2012: Florida vs Virginia: A Good Matchup
Please tap those links, especially the two from Streaking the Lawn. Those guys do a great job. In fact, if you're not already following that blog, you should. (You can also see their updates on our handy-dandy blogroll, titled "READ THEEZE." Look to the right and scroll down the page a little bit.)
Anyway... Virginia vs. Florida.
This is what I posted on the Florida 247 site:
Hey guys, die-hard Virginia fan here. I just wanted to drop in and say hello, and wish you guys luck on Friday (but not too much luck, ha ha). I think Florida really got screwed by the committee with its seeding --- your team deserved at least a 5-seed, imho. So it's a bad break for UVA (we deserved our 10-seed, no complaint about that) in that we have to play a 7-seed that is much better than a "regular" 7-seed.
That fight you gave Kentucky in the SEC tournament was impressive. Looks like Billy D. has gotten the team back into a groove after losing Yeguete. I'll be honest --- as a Virginia fan, Boynton, Beal, and Walker scare the crap out of me. I'm hopeful and somewhat confident that Jontel Evans (our lockdown guard) can contain one of those three for most of the game, but I'm not sure we have an answer for the other two. We'll really need Mike Scott to deliver one of his best games of the season (and he's given us some really BIG games), and we'll need a #2 scorer to step up in a big way in order to even keep this game close. I have faith in our coach, our ACC player of the year runner-up, and our disciplined pack-line defense... but this is a tough matchup against a really gifted Gator team. I hope it's a good, close, hard-fought game.
Also, right up front, let's make a pact: Whoever wins on Friday, let's agree to wreck the bracket by upending Mizzou on Sunday. Deal?
Thanks guys, and again, good luck! It's a shame one of our teams will see its season end on Friday, as both are capable of deep tourney runs.
And this is what I posted on the Virginia 247 site:
I think the Gators have saucer eyes for Missouri, a team that does exactly what UF does, but does it much, much better. UF might be looking past Virginia a little bit, which would be perfect. Lowly 10-seed, limited offensively. Sleepwalk into Friday, Florida.
The really good news for us is that we run a system that can be the total antidote to their winning formula. If we can take care of the basketball and do a good job of closing out on their shooters.....
I do know one thing: They have no answer for Mike Scott. They want to compare him to Arnett Moultrie, but Mike is much quicker and has a much better mid-range shot. I think they'll be shocked by his scoring efficiency.
And another thing: They are underestimating Joe Harris, Jontel Evans, and especially Sammy Zeglinski. I think Jontel will contain Erving Walker, and Sammy will be able to "bother" Boynton. If Joe Harris can stay in front of Bradley Beal, we could be in business. They have the ability to go unconscious shooting the three, but if we can hold them around the 33% mark, we should be able to keep the game close.
One thing I worry about is the size/power advantage Patric Young holds in the post. We have to box him out hard and keep him off the boards. If Akil Michell can continue his aggressive play from the NC State game, it could factor in heavily to our chances of winning.
I'd like to see Jontel take the ball to the basket a lot in this game. Make these guys try to contest shots. I think if we get even officiating (a big "IF," but maybe I'm just shell-shocked by the egregious work of the ACC refs), Florida will pick up some ticky-tack fouls. They're very undisciplined on that side of the court.
I hope it's a good game. They have the ability to blow us out, in that they put better shooters and athletes on the floor at every position. I just think we're significantly better coached, and run a much more cohesive, reliable system. It's the classic talent vs. skill game. Can't wait.
Finally, here are some blurbs from the national media...
ESPN's Jason King:
Best round of 64 coaching matchup -- Florida’s Billy Donovan vs. Virginia’s Tony Bennett (West Region) -- The Gators have won two NCAA titles under Donovan, who likes to push the tempo. Meanwhile, no coach is as good at controlling the pace of a game as Bennett, whose team averages 63.1 points a game. Only one team in the last month (Maryland) has cracked the 70-point barrier against Virginia, and the Terps needed overtime to do it. The contrast in styles between these two coaches should make the game interesting.
ESPN's Eamonn Brennan:
Virginia may be the most intriguing No. 10 seed in the bracket. UVa has plenty of flaws, especially on the offensive end, but its slow-down style and that tricky defense are anathema to the majority of teams in this bracket.
Second-Round Game To Watch
No. 2 Missouri versus No. 7 Florida/No. 10 Virginia: Florida may well come out of its first-round matchup with Virginia, and if it does, the guard matchups could be fascinating. But even if Florida falters, Virginia's brutally slow style will provide a fascinating contrast with Missouri's attack. Either way, it's going to be interesting.
ESPN's Keith Lipscomb and Chris Fallica:
Beware of the double-digit ACC seeds in the early rounds. With NC State and Virginia receiving No. 10 seeds, at least one ACC team has been seeded 10th or worse in seven of the past eight years. Of the seven previous teams, five of them advanced to at least the round of 32.
Before this year, 10 ACC teams have been seeded 10th or worse since 1985, and seven of them pulled off the upset in the round of 64. Last year, Florida State did so and actually came up one point short of reaching the Elite Eight, losing in overtime to VCU.
7 versus 10: No. 7s have won 65 of 108 meetings (60 percent), and only twice in the past 18 years has either seed won all four meetings (No. 7s in 2007, No. 10s in 1999). It's been such a seesaw recently that each seed has taken three of four twice each in the past four tournaments.
SI's George Dohrmann:
Juiciest Matchup: No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Virginia
Talk about a contrast in styles. The Cavaliers slow the game to a crawl and try to win by getting just enough offense -- most coming from senior forward Mike Scott, who averages nearly 18 points per game -- while frustrating teams with their "Pack Line" defense, which was best in the ACC, allowing less than 54 points per contest.
Florida, meanwhile, likes to play up-tempo and shoot a lot of three-pointers, and the Gators have five players who average at least 10 points a game. On defense, Florida is merely adequate, and that may be too generous a description. It is the turtle vs. the hare, great defense vs. great offense, and like most No. 7 vs. No. 10 games you could make a good case that either team will be victorious.
Grantland's Mark Titus:
Double-digit seed most likely to make the Sweet 16 — Virginia
I know — this pick doesn't make any sense because I just wrote that Virginia is a good matchup for Missouri and that Florida is just a poor man's Mizzou (in essence, both of Virginia's first two opponents match up well with the Cavaliers). But here's the flip side to that: These are also good matchups for Virginia, because the Cavaliers' style could gum up Florida and Missouri's high-scoring offensive machines. UVA plays great defense and slows the tempo, which could frustrate Florida and Missouri since both of those teams want to play up-and-down. The Gators and Tigers aren't nearly as good when they score in the 60s. If Virginia can slow down the game, guard the 3-point line, and get Mike Scott going, they could pull off a pair of upsets this weekend.
COVERS' Larry Hartstein:
Team that could screw over your bracket: No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers (22-9)
Under coach Tony Bennett, who picked up the “Pack-Line” defense from his dad’s Wisconsin teams, the Cavs lead the nation in defensive efficiency. They hold opponents to 53.7 points. Teams do not get easy baskets against UVA.
Senior forward Mike Scott probably should have won ACC player of the year over Tyler Zeller. Scott (18.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg) shoots 56 percent from the field, 81 percent from the foul line.
True, the Cavs have no bench. But with the long TV timeouts in the NCAA tournament, depth is overrated.
After frustrating Florida, Virginia likely would face another run-and-gun team in Missouri.
That's it and that's all. Sorry for the shoddy formatting. Lots of copy & paste without regard for your reading aesthetics tonight. Suck it.
By the way...
65-61, Virginia over Florida. Book it.
Great recap, man.
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