Big East
NCAA Tournament ticket: Won Big East Tournament title and automatic bid.
How they got to Phoenix: Beat Davidson, 69-62, in round of 64; beat New Mexico, 59-56, in round of 32; beat Michigan State, 57-44 in Sweet 16.
Stats leaders: Points: G/F Kyle Kuric, 12.9. Rebounds: C Gorgui Dieng, 9.1 Assists: PG Peyton Siva, 5.6. Blocks: Dieng, 3.2. Field goal percentage: Dieng, 54.1. 3-pt. percentage: G Chris Smith, 39.6.
Top wins: Vanderbilt, Marquette, Notre Dame and Michigan State.
Three keys to victory
1. Defend the arc: Florida was the nation’s 28th best 3-point shooting team this season at 38.3 percent. The Gators had an off-night against Marquette but water finds its mark. The Cardinals generally use four players to defend the arc and rotate well to help C Gorgui Dieng.
2. All for one: Louisville is playing the underdog role to the hilt, even if the athleticism of its guards belies such labels. The Cardinals are actually the higher seed in this game but Las Vegas has installed the Gators as 1 1/2-point favorites so the bulletin board material remains.
3. Limit Beal’s touches: Florida freshman guard and future NBA player Bradley Beal has shouldered the offensive load for a cold-shooting Gators club. Louisville’s players said Friday they’d like to deny him the ball and limit his touches so he can’t get on a roll.
Florida Gators (26-10)
Conference: SEC
NCAA tournament ticket: At-large bid
How they got to Phoenix: Beat Virginia, 71-45, in round of 64; beat Norfolk State, 84-50, in round of 32; beat Marquette, 68-58, in Sweet 16.
Stats leaders: Points: G Kenny Boynton, 16.0. Rebounds: G Bradley Beal, 6.7. Assists: G Erving Walker, 4.5. Blocks: F/C Erik Murphy, 1.1. Field goal percentage: F/C Patric Young, 61.6. 3-pt. percentage: Murphy, 41.3.
Top wins: Florida State, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Marquette.
Three keys to victory
1. Rain 3s: Florida was 28th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage during the season at 38.3 percent and six players have made 20 or more 3s. The Gators haven’t shot as well in the postseason but they’ll likely need a better perimeter effort against one of the nation’s best defensive teams.
2. Take a ride down Beal street: Guard Bradley Beal has been a multi-dimensional force in the Tournament, averaging more than 16 points while rebounding, assisting, stealing balls, blocking shots and defending opponents’ power forwards. If the freshman does indeed leave for the NBA after one season, he’ll have left Gators fans with pleasant memories.
3. Keep Siva out of the lane: Louisville’s point guard can break down any defense with his penetration. He averages 5.6 assists (9 against Michigan State), but also averages 3.5 turnovers. He’s been on a nice run during the team’s seven-game winning streak. Louisville is 21-3 when Siva has five or more assists.
