As Florida gets ready to take on Georgia on Wednesday night, national pundits are still trying to figure out just how dangerous they believe the Gators will be during March Madness. Outside shooting continues to be the weakness of this squad, but Florida’s defensive prowess has created fits for opponents all season long.
Combined with their offensive efficiency being better than advertised, there is one key stat that showcases why Florida is going to be an agent of chaos one way or another during March.
Florida continues march to SEC title
As it stands, Florida has conceded just one run against them of at least ten points or more. That came during Auburn’s 12-0 run during the early stages of last month’s home loss, a run Florida overcame before Auburn pulled away towards the end.
It puts them in rarefied air as one of just three teams in the country to have surrendered only a 10-0 once this season. Arizona and Utah Valley are the other two teams that can claim this stat. Michigan has had it happen to them twice. Duke and Houston have had it happen to them six times this season.
Outside of the 18-point deficit Florida had against Auburn, the Gators have never truly lost contact with anyone this season. Even last year, Florida allowed a 10-0 run or more 11 times throughout the season. Perhaps just as notable, Florida themselves have gone on 23 runs of at least 10-0 through 23 games. That puts them on pace to have more 10-0 runs this year than they had last year.
It’s indicative of the fact that Florida is going to be a tough out for anyone during the NCAA Tournament. They keep finding a way to blow teams out, and their Auburn loss feels like a blip rather than a trend.
Florida will take on Georgia in Athens before hosting Kentucky over the weekend.