SB Nation NCAA Tournament 2011 - Southeast Region
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The 2011 NCAA Tournament has its first lopsided halftime score. No. 2 seed Florida is having no issues with No. 15 seed UC Santa Barbara, taking a 43-19 halftime lead in a first-round Southeast region game.
The Gators jumped ahead 16-5, then scored 12 straight points to open up a 35-13 lead with 4:36 remaining. Many felt the Gators were a weak No. 2 seed, but they are proving otherwise in this game at least. No player is in double figures in scoring, but the team as a whole is shooting 58 percent from the field.
UC Santa Barbara, on the other hand, only had six made field goals in the entire half. The Gouchos also committed 10 turnovers in the first half, in a horrific display of offensive ineptitude.
For more on this game, Florida fans should visit Alligator Army.
March Madness resources: Printable 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket ... Full 2011 NCAA Tournament schedule.
A loss to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament finals didn't stop Florida from receiving a No. 2 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket on Selection Sunday as the committee likely took the Gators body of work, which included the SEC West regular season crown, into account. Florida draws Big West Tournament champion UC Santa Barbara, a matchup that should cause the Gators little trouble. On Thursday at 6:50 p.m., Florida and UC Santa Barbara tip it off in Tampa, live on TBS.
The Gauchos, one of the greater nicknames in college basketball, come in as a heavy underdog after stumbling through the Big West regular season schedule, finishing at 8-8. But in March, it's all about getting hot at the right time, and UC Santa Barbara did just that, winning three games in three days, capped by a win over Long Beach State, to take home the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Florida, on the other hand, has been tough to peg at times. Wins over Kansas State, Xavier and Kentucky were great, but losses to Central Florida, Jacksonville and South Carolina are head-scratching. Florida did finish the season with only three SEC losses -- to the Gamecocks, Mississippi State and a road game at Kentucky -- a feat in itself.
Star Watch: Looking at Florida, I find it impossible to pick one. So let's go with three: Chandler Parsons, Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker. The three boast nearly the same offensive efficiency numbers and all use upwards of 20 percent of the Gators' possessions.
For UC Santa Barbara, the offense runs through Orlando Johnson. The 6-foot-5 junior uses 32.3 percent of the Gauchos' possessions and takes 34.8 percent of the shots while on the floor, all with an offensive rating of 112.8.
Prediction: Florida rolls in this one, 75-60.
More Reading: For more on the Gators, head over to Alligator Army.
Need help picking your bracket? Check out SB Nation's full 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions, picking every game of March Madness, or our region by region breakdowns for the East Region, West Region, Southeast Region, and Southwest Region.
Did your team miss the 2011 NCAA Tournament? We have you covered: check out the 2011 NIT bracket.
March Madness Scores: Florida Easily Defeats UC Santa Barbara
Florida was a suspect No. 2 seed in the eyes of many when the NCAA Tournament bracket came out, but the Gators sure didn't look like it in their first game. The Gators rolled over No. 15 seed UC Santa Barbara, 79-51, making it a rout early.
The Gators jumped ahead 16-5, then had a 12-0 run when the Gauchos cut the led to 23-13. That made the score 35-13, and it pretty much spelled the end of the competitive portion of the game. UC Santa Barbara didn't quit, but the Gators were just too strong.
Erving Walker led the Gators with 18 points, as four players scored in double figures. That list includes SEC Player of the Year Chandler Parsons, who nearly posted a triple double with 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Orlando Johnson had a game-high 21 points to lead the Gauchos.
Here is an updated look at the Southeast Region of the 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket.
No. 1 Pittsburgh def
. No. 16 UNC-Asheville; 74-51, will face ButlerNo. 8 Butler def.
No. 9 Old Dominion, 60-58; will face winner of Pittsburgh-UNC-AshevilleNo. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 12 Utah State, March 17, 9:57 p.m., truTV
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 13 Belmont, March 17, 7:27 p.m., truTV
No. 6 St. John's vs. No. 11 Gonzaga, March 17, 9:45 p.m., CBS
No. 3 BYU vs. No. 14 Wofford, March 17, 7:15 p.m., CBS
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Michigan State, March 17, 9:20 p.m., TBS
No. 2 Florida def.
No. 15 UC-Santa Barbara, 79-51, will face winner of UCLA-Michigan StateMar 17 8:46p by Mike Prada - 0 comments