Hail Florida Hail
Fansided

Florida basketball: Gators survive OT thriller to start March Madness

By Jeremy Klump

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 19: Colin Castleton #12 of the Florida Gators celebrates a block against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 19, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 19: Colin Castleton #12 of the Florida Gators celebrates a block against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 19, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

That was a fantastic game to kick off March Madness for the No. 7 seed Florida Gators. This Florida basketball team started slow, and they did not look great, but they survived in overtime to advance to the next round of the NCAA tournament beating the No. 10 seed Virginia Tech 75-70.

Tre Mann needed to be the man for Florida, but the 1st-Team All-SEC guard did not get off to the start that Florida had hoped for. Luckily for the Gators, junior Colin Castleton showed that in March, legends are born!

Castleton played one of his best games of the season, scoring 19 points and securing 14 rebounds. The Gators needed someone to help Mann carry the load, and what a perfect time for Castleton to step up and do it.

Florida actually was trailing at half, down 33-27. It was one of those games where you thought to yourself, ‘Is Florida really going to lose in the first round?” Luckily, head coach Mike White had his men ready to go in the second half, and Florida played a lot better. It had looked like Florida would sneak into the next round, but Virginia Tech did not give up.

Florida and Virginia Tech ended the first game of the NCAA Tournament tied 64-64. You could not have written a better storyline for College Basketball, but this was not good for the Gators. The fear of being bounced in the first round against the No. 10 seed was real, but that is when Mann showed he was the man!

The overtime went back and forth, but with 25 seconds left and the Gators up 71-70, Mann hit a step-back three-pointer to go up four. It was an iconic shot and could be one of the first highlights played on their championship video if they can win it all. Twitter erupted after Mann’s incredible shot, and the Gators would hold on to win 75-70.

It was officially March, but March Madness officially felt like it was here.

Mann ended the game with 14 points, four assists, and secured three rebounds. If the Gators win in the next round, Mann will undoubtedly need to play his best basketball. Luckily for the Gators, Castleton did just enough for Florida to pull through.

Florida will play the winner of No. 2 seed Ohio State and No. 15 Oral Roberts University on Sunday, March 21.

Go Gators!

Home/Florida Gators News