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The second week of the 2025 NCAA Tournament is here, and this time around, the top-seeded Florida Gators have made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017. But Todd Golden's gang has much more work to do to reach their ultimate goal: a national championship.
So far, the Orange and Blue have beaten the 16th-seeded Norfolk State Spartans and two-time defending champions, the eighth-seeded UConn Huskies, to make it to the third round of competition. Next up are the fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins, who finished tied for second in the Big Ten this year and lost to the eventual conference tournament champions, the Michigan Wolverines.
Florida is favored by seven points early on — and why not? They are the hottest team in the country right now, even after needing a late rally to prevail over UConn. ESPN's writing staff, consisting of Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello and Joe Lunardi, also unanimously pick the Gators to prevail in their Sweet 16 predictions.
"Florida is a tough matchup. It's difficult to corral Walter Clayton Jr. and the Gators' other playmakers. Opponents get caught in switches off screens, because they have to do that to defend a team ranked second in adjusted offensive efficiency, where Florida shines," Medcalf begins.
"The Gators can score in bunches. But they also have the size — four players in the rotation are 6-foot-9 or taller — to handle Maryland's big men — Derik Queen and Julian Reese — around the rim."
"Todd Golden recruited Martin, one of the heroes of Florida Atlantic's 2023 Final Four run, for his talent and experience," Metcalf notes. "And Martin has delivered for the Gators, averaging 15.6 points per game since the start of the SEC tournament. Look for another major effort from Martin in a Florida win."
The Gators will take on the Terrapins on Thursday, March 27, for the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in San Francisco at the Chase Center. Tipoff 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.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: March Madness: Predicting Florida-Maryland in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
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So far, the Orange and Blue have beaten the 16th-seeded Norfolk State Spartans and two-time defending champions, the eighth-seeded UConn Huskies, to make it to the third round of competition. Next up are the fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins, who finished tied for second in the Big Ten this year and lost to the eventual conference tournament champions, the Michigan Wolverines.
Florida is favored by seven points early on — and why not? They are the hottest team in the country right now, even after needing a late rally to prevail over UConn. ESPN's writing staff, consisting of Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello and Joe Lunardi, also unanimously pick the Gators to prevail in their Sweet 16 predictions.
ESPN explains why Florida will win
"Florida is a tough matchup. It's difficult to corral Walter Clayton Jr. and the Gators' other playmakers. Opponents get caught in switches off screens, because they have to do that to defend a team ranked second in adjusted offensive efficiency, where Florida shines," Medcalf begins.
"The Gators can score in bunches. But they also have the size — four players in the rotation are 6-foot-9 or taller — to handle Maryland's big men — Derik Queen and Julian Reese — around the rim."
ESPN's Player to Watch: Alijah Martin
"Todd Golden recruited Martin, one of the heroes of Florida Atlantic's 2023 Final Four run, for his talent and experience," Metcalf notes. "And Martin has delivered for the Gators, averaging 15.6 points per game since the start of the SEC tournament. Look for another major effort from Martin in a Florida win."
ESPN's score predictions for Florida vs Maryland
- Borzello's prediction: Florida, 80-75
- Medcalf's prediction: Florida, 84-77
- Lunardi's prediction: Florida, 85-75
Next up for Florida
The Gators will take on the Terrapins on Thursday, March 27, for the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in San Francisco at the Chase Center. Tipoff 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.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: March Madness: Predicting Florida-Maryland in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Continue reading...
