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The last time these teams met, a mere 10 days ago, an exhausted and weary Tide team was facing its 6th straight ranked opponent, and mired in a 2-3 stretch on Senior Night. It was a back and forth game, on the scoresheet at least. But it was apparent early on \u2014 despite \u2018Bama even grabbing a second-half lead \u2014 that Florida was the better team that night. <\/p>\n
Ten days and two ranked wins for the Tide later, and Alabama now relishes the chance to exact revenge on the Gators, a team who \u2018Bama also has to thank for its late-season inflection point and commitment to getting tougher. <\/p>\n
After that loss, a player-led meeting generated a more resolved Crimson Tide. Alabama proceeded to go to the Plains and knock off No. 1 Auburn (which Florida had also done), and then for an encore handed No. 15 Kentucky their worst loss in SEC Tournament history last night. <\/p>\n
But Florida also gained a measure of vengeance in the SECT, thoroughly pummeling a Missouri team who had dealt them their only home loss of the season. There are just four teams remaining in the SEC Tournament: the top four seeds, with at least two of them likely to get 1-seeds in the NCAAs. I still maintain that the winner of this game will likely join the Auburn Tigers as that other 1-line for the conference. (Barring something weird-but-just-as-equally probable, like Alabama losing a rematch to the Vols, which would probably give us the perverse reality of the SEC semifinal runners-up being one-seeds). <\/p>\n
Can it be the Tide? Let\u2019s see what they need to do to swing the barest of upsets here. <\/p>\n
Spread: Florida -3.5<\/strong><\/p>\n Opponent KenPom:<\/strong> 4th (3 offense, 9 defense, 62 tempo) UA Ken Pom<\/strong>: 6th (4 Off, 26 Defense, 1 Tempo) What went wrong in \u2018Bama\u2019s 99-94 home loss? Perhaps we should begin by going to the preview for that game, when we warned of the Gators\u2019 offense: <\/p>\n You have…to have enough beef on the blocks to limit the Gators to a one-shot possession. Teams like Tennessee are positioned to do that, so it\u2019s no coincidence that they handed UF their worst loss of the year. Likewise, Georgia got the best of Florida by likewise winning their battles down low, while harassing Gata into one-and-done trips down the floor. <\/p>\n And while Florida is not a fast <\/em>team, it will take quick shots if they spot a good look early into their possession. Like Auburn, they also generate a lot of their tempo from fast breaks off turnovers. It is a very challenging, 94-foot offense that is just as good scoring off mistakes as they are finding their own points. <\/p>\n * * * <\/p>\n For The Love Of God, Hit Your Free Throws \u2014 I hate to sound like a broken record here, but yes, this is another game that is going to be decided by a razor-thin margin.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Did Alabama do any <\/em>of those things? <\/p>\n No. No they did not. <\/p>\n Alabama was positively murdered on the boards (50-35), allowing Florida 26 second-chance points and 50 of their 99 total in the paint. Alabama did not <\/em>prevent the breakout, and got smoked by the Gators in break points, 22-10. Alabama also <\/em>did not hit their free throws, having a third straight game shooting in the 60s. <\/p>\n To all of that mess, Mark Sears decided to take a third of the team\u2019s total shots from the floor, and Alabama\u2019s season-long bugaboo reared its ugly head: defending the pick and roll. <\/p>\n For Alabama to get the win this time around, it\u2019s going to have to do a lot more things better than it did on that bitter Saturday afternoon \u2014 even marginally so. <\/p>\n And the winner of this one, I firmly believe in my heart of hearts, is your final No. 1 seed. Deservedly. So, why not us?<\/p>\n How To Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n ESPN, 2:30 Central, Saturday 15 March 25<\/p>\n Prediction<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps there\u2019s just too much \u2018Bama in me, but Florida c<\/em>an be gotten by the right kind of team, one with a reliable perimeter game and that forces its style of play. The Gators have been bad enough to lose to Vandy, not just the great team that beat Alabama and Auburn on the road. They were better than Alabama for one day. That\u2019s what we take away from it, I tell my guys. But if<\/em> Alabama forces their game, and plays defense the way they play offense \u2014 with that enthusiasm \u2014 they will <\/em>win. <\/p>\n I think Alabama gets it done…but it sure as hell won\u2019t be easy. This is possibly the best team in America, rankings aside. <\/p>\n Now, which team am I referring to? <\/p>\n Call me a homer. <\/p>\n Alabama 93<\/strong> Hope for the best, Here\u2019s your game thread. Sound off below <\/strong><\/p>\n
Opponent Evan Miya: <\/strong> 4th (8 offense, 9 defense, 47 tempo)
Opponent Bart Torvik: <\/strong> 4th (5 offense, 13 defense, 65 tempo)
Opponent NET: <\/strong>4 (8-4 <\/strong>Q1, 17-4 Q1\/Q2); Q1 opponent for the Tide
Opponent RPI:<\/strong> 4
Opponent Best Win:<\/strong> @ Auburn (3)
Opponent Worst Loss:<\/strong> @ Georgia (33)<\/p>\n
UA Evan Miya<\/strong>: 5th (3 Off, 29 Defense, 1 Tempo)
UA Bart Torvik:<\/strong> 5th (3 Off, 25 Defense, 1 Tempo)
UA NET Ranking:<\/strong> 6 (12-7 Q1, 20-7 Q1\/2)
UA RPI<\/strong>: 2
UA Best Win: <\/strong>No. 2 (N) Houston
UA Worst Loss: <\/strong>No. 26 (N) Oregon<\/p>\n
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Florida 90<\/strong><\/p>\n
Roll Tide. <\/p>\n
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