Record: 26-7, 12-4 SEC
RPI: 30
Coach: Billy Donovan, 18th season, 13 NCAA tournament appearances
Last NCAA tournament appearance: Lost to Louisville in the Elite Eight (2012)
Notable Wins: Wisconsin, Marquette, Kentucky, Missouri
With a wealth of talent, the one to watch for the Gators is center Patric Young. Guard play has allowed Billy Donovan to spread the floor and put up points all year, but when it comes to shutting opponents down, Young has carried much of the load. The 6-foot-9, 249-pound junior contributes 10.3 points a game, but he also pulls down an average of 6.2 rebounds, and averages just shy of two blocked shots per outing. More than anything, he is an imposing presence inside, which allows Donovan to play big without giving up anything in the back court.
The Gators field the experienced team in the tournament. Erik Murphy and Kenny Boynton have played in nine NCAA Tournament games. Young and guard Scottie Wilbekin have played in eight. Casey Prather has seen action in five, Mike Rosario has been in four and Will Yeguete has been in three. Other teams put veterans on the floor, but nobody comes close having as much postseason experience as Florida. Going to two straight Elite Eights and bringing almost everybody back has its benefits.
Northwestern State, the tiny school from Natchitoches, La., has caused quite a stir this season with their offensive output. Scoring an average of 81 points per game and averaging more than 72 offensive possessions, the Demons lead the NCAA in scoring. They do it with warp-speed tempo and a floor full of shooters.
DeQuan Hicks is the player to watch if the Demons can keep this one close. He averages 14.1 points a game and 5.8 rebounds, and is the man who wants the ball down the stretch.
Despite winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, making it to the Final Four and the championship game in 2000, winning five SEC regular season titles and three SEC Tournament titles, Billy Donovan has only been SEC Coach of the Year twice: 2011 and 2013.
