Playing in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament is a dream most young basketball players aspire to make a reality, but very few get the opportunity to do so. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of the ones who do.
Well, except for the players at Wisconsin over the last four years. For them, making the Sweet 16 is business as usual.
Since 2014, Wisconsin has accumulated more NCAA Tournament wins (13) than any other team. The Badgers have four consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, two Final Four appearances and a National Championship appearance in that time.
Wisconsin brings in a ridiculous amount of post-season experience, as four of its five starters were a part of each of those teams.
“I think that it’s a big factor,” Mike White said on Wisconsin’s experience. “They know exactly what to expect. They’ve been there. They’ve not only been there, but they’ve been there and had success there. They’ve gotta be extremely confident.”
For Florida, it is quite the opposite situation. Less than a week ago, Kasey Hill was the only Florida player with any experience in the tournament. Now, the Gators are two games in and headed to the Sweet 16.
In its first tournament appearance under White and the first appearance since 2014, the Florida basketball program is relearning what it means to play on a stage of this magnitude.
Luckily for the Gators, while they lack in tournament experience, they bring in an abundance of maturity, which could help close that gap.
Florida players are still getting used to being a part of the biggest event in college basketball, but have handled adversity well so far and been in the right mindset.
“I’m just having fun with it, enjoying my time here in the tournament,” said junior forward Devin Robinson. “It’s just fun playing with my guys. We’re winning, everyone’s playing together, it’s a loose and free atmosphere and everyone’s focused on one goal. It’s just enjoying it. You don’t get that many opportunities like this in a lifetime, so just to be put in this position is a great thing. I’m just trying to enjoy every minute of it.”
Robinson has been Florida’s biggest key to success so far in the tournament, playing two of his best games of the season against ETSU and Virginia. The Gators will look to him to be a leader and play with the offensive and defensive consistency he has shown as of late.
“It’s good to see him play the way he’s been playing the last two games,” said junior guard Chris Chiozza. “He’s had games like that throughout the season, but to see him put back-to-back games like that, especially at this time of the season, it’s a huge boost to this team on both ends of the court. He can affect the game so many ways with his length and athleticism. When he’s playing like that, he’s one of the best players in the country and it makes us one of the best teams in the country.”
This could be the first tournament game the Gators will miss the experience and presence of John Egbunu, as Wisconsin brings in a huge lineup and possibly the best frontcourt Florida has faced all season.
Three starters, Nigel Hayes, Vitto Brown and Ethan Happ, stand at least 6-8. The duo of Hayes and Happ has been a nightmare for teams all season, as both average 13.8 points per game and combine for 15.7 rebounds per game.
Wisconsin’s experience and size to matchup with Florida’s lacking inside presence has left the Gators as just narrow favorites, despite being four seeds higher. Once again, Florida enters the game with a chip on its shoulder, ready to prove doubters wrong.
“If you have a bullet in your chamber, might as well use it,” White said. “I understand why a lot of people will pick Wisconsin in this one. I totally understand that, and I think our guys understand it too. Maybe it’s an added motivation, maybe it’s not.”