NCAA Tournament 2017 Sweet 16: Grading Each Team’s Title Hopes

Florida Gators (4) – East Region

Dominant barely begins to describe the performance that the Florida Gators put forth in facing the Virginia Cavaliers in the Round of 32. Though both teams were tested in their tournament openers by mid-major schools, they seemed to be different calibers of teams when they met over the weekend. Florida held UVA to a mere 39 points in the entire game to earn an emphatic trip to the Sweet 16.

Virginia looked completely unprepared in that matchup in the Second Round, without question. However, it was also a testament to just how good the Gators defense and, subsequently, the team as a whole can be. Florida has thrived on their ability to get stops and force turnovers all season, ranking third in the country in KenPom’s Adjusted Defensive Efficiency.

Despite Wisconsin being a quality veteran team, I see Florida getting past them and into the Elite Eight. At that point and beyond, though, it feels up in the air. If their defense performs at anything less than an elite level, that makes them susceptible to getting beat. What’s more, the fact that they don’t have a true high-level center following the season-ending injury to John Egbunu, leaving them vulnerable (or more so) on the interior. They have their flaws, but never full count out a defense capable of clamping down like the Gators—I’ll show myself out.

Chances: Middle of the Road