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Florida basketball: Gators start their March Madness run today

By Jeremy Klump

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Head coach Mike White of the Florida Gators watches game action against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half of their second round game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. Florida defeats Vanderbilt 69-63. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Head coach Mike White of the Florida Gators watches game action against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half of their second round game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. Florida defeats Vanderbilt 69-63. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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It’s March 19, but today it’s officially March. March Madness is here, and the No. 7 seed Florida Gators are ready to try and make a magical run. Florida basketball enters the NCAA tournament after losing in the SEC tournament.

However, anything can happen in March!

The Gators may not be a favorite to win the tournament, but that means nothing once the madness starts in March. Florida kicks off their 2021 NCAA tournament against No. 10 seed Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech ended the year with a 15-6 record. Their best player and the go-to guy is forward Keve Aluma. The 6-9, 235-pound star averages 15.6 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, and two assists per game. If the Hokies are going to defeat the Gators, it will be behind Aluma’s dominance.

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Along with Aluma, Virginia Tech has been getting some help from two of their guards. Sophomore Tyrece Radford averages 11.9 points per game, and sophomore Nahiem Alleyne averages 10.3 points per game.

For Florida, it all starts and ends with sophomore guard Tre Mann. If Florida is going to win the NCAA Tournament, it will be because Mann was the man. The 1st team All-SEC guard averages 16 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game this season. He is the Gators’ star, and if he is off, the Gators will not win.

Florida will need Mann to get some help, and junior forward Colin Castleton will likely be that guy. Castleton averages 12 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. The 6-11, 231-pound Gator has struggled in his last two games, only scoring six and four points.

Nothing is certain in March, but one thing we can all agree on is how lucky we are to have March Madness back. After COVID-19 ruined the 2020 tournament, March is officially back today! Good luck to all the teams in the tournament, and Go Gators!

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