Florida Gators Basketball: 4 reasons Florida will reach the Final Four
By Ryan Kately
No. 4: Anything can happen in March
The 7th seeded Florida Gators basketball team is a longshot to make the Final Four. However, after all, crazier things have happened in March. In the NCAA Tournament’s history, only three 7th seeds have reached the Final Four, and all have happened recently. Most recently in 2017, when 7th seeded South Carolina beat Florida in the Elite Eight to make the Final Four. Michigan St. reached the Final Four in 2015 before losing to Duke in the National Semifinal. The other 7th seed to reach the Final Four was the 2014 UConn Huskies. They won the entire tournament ironically, beating Florida in the National Semifinal and then beat Kentucky in the National Championship.
Florida has already had success as a 7th seed.
In 2012 when the Gators were seeded 7th, they made it to the Elite Eight by making an impressive run before losing to Louisville 72-68 in the Regional Final. In that 2012 tournament, Florida beat the 10th seed, 15th seed, and 3rd seed before their Elite Eight loss to Louisville.
There is no doubt Florida will have a tough road to the Final Four being played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. I am, for one, just excited to have a tournament this year after having to wait two years since the last time I could fill out my bracket and be able to watch some quality college basketball at noon on a Friday at work.
There is nothing like the allure that March Madness brings this time of year. That Gators will be fired up and ready to go because of the year off. And for those four reasons above, I will have Florida in my Final Four.