Minneapolis – It happened early Sunday and may have been lost among the mass of rebounds, blocked shots and intimidating dunks the towering Florida Gators made in their 75-62 regional title win over top-seeded Villanova.
But a curious technical foul on Villanova guard Allan Ray early in the game sure changed the momentum for good.
Villanova led 14-11 and appeared hot with four outside baskets. Florida took a 15-14 lead but Ray was fouled on a drive. He exchanged a few words with some Gators players and immediately was assessed a technical.
Florida’s Taurean Green not only made the two free throws, but Florida retained possession and Corey Brewer responded with a 3-pointer. The Gators scored three of the next four baskets and suddenly Florida led 27-16.
“It was just a little pushing and shoving that went on and a couple words were exchanged,” Ray said.
Added Villanova coach Jay Wright: “I still don’t know what was called there. I never got a clear explanation. I think they are correct. I just didn’t understand it.”
No 1’s in Final Four
Second-seeded UCLA, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Louisiana State and No. 11 George Mason mark the first time the Final Four hasn’t had a top seed since 1980. That Final Four, also in Indianapolis, included a No. 2 Louisville, No. 5 Iowa, No. 6 Purdue and No. 8 UCLA.
This also marks the first Final Four that didn’t include at least one team from the Big East, Big Ten or Atlantic Coast conferences since the Big East began in 1979-80.
Experience helped
Little did Florida coach Billy Donovan know how his 76-65 loss to Villanova in last year’s second round would help Sunday.
“I think they had a chance to go against (Randy) Foye and Ray and the one thing that you can’t really notice on film with their team is their level of quickness at the 4 and the 5,” Donovan said, “and the level of pressure that they place on the basketball.”
Footnotes
Joining most outstanding player Joakim Noah on the all-tournament team were Florida forward Al Horford, Boston College forward Craig Smith, Green and Foye, who had a game-high 25 points. … It was Florida’s school-record 31st win. … Villanova’s 21.1 percent shooting wasn’t the lowest for a first half this season. It shot 20.7 at South Florida (6-for-29) on Jan. 24.
