The No. 1 seed in the East Region Florida Gators(31-4) will take on No. 8 seed UConn Huskies(24-10) in the 2nd Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This marquee matchup will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina Sunday afternoon.
The Gators dominated Norfolk State in the Round of 64 95-69. UConn escaped against the Oklahoma Sooners 67-59. The Huskies also made history in their 1st Round victory. It was their 13th straight win in the NCAA Tournament. It tied Duke’s 1991-93 run for the second-longest NCAA tournament streak ever. Who wins on Sunday to punch their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen?
Florida Gators Dominate In Opening Round
The Gators had a tremendous season and dominated Norfolk State. UF jumped on their opponent early in the game and never took their foot off the accelerator. They took a 21-point lead into halftime which allowed them to rest their key players heading into what they hope is a deep tournament run.
Guard Walter Clayton Jr. is the team’s leading scorer and was solid in the opening round. He scored 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Clayton Jr. is playing great at the moment. He has scored 20+ points in five of their last six games. Clayton Jr. must maintain his level of play for the Gators to reach their full potential. Florida’s defense was also strong. They limited Norfolk State to two three-pointers. That is a great recipe for the Gators to advance deep into the tournament.
UConn Huskies Survive and Advance
UConn showed their championship mettle in their win over Oklahoma. The Huskies had to overcome tough offensive stretches in the second half to emerge victorious. They went scoreless for nearly four minutes in the second half. UConn’s offense was not at their best in the 1st Round. They shot 42.9% from the field and 24% from three-point range. If the Huskies do not have a better performance from their offense against Florida, they will have no path to victory.
Even though the Huskies had a poor offensive showing, they relied on their defense to squeak out the victory. They held the Sooners to 32.1% shooting from the field and 17.6% from deep. Forward Alex Karaban, a crucial part of the team’s back-to-back National Championships, was held to 13 points. He must be better for the Huskies to move on.
Final Thoughts
Florida is nearly a 10-point favorite. While that is justified, UConn has a championship pedigree that cannot be undervalued in postseason play. Even though the Huskies do not seem as formidable as in years past, Head Coach Dan Hurley will have his team ready to play. This game will pit coaching and championship pedigree against a superior roster. On the heels of back-to-back titles, UConn’s tournament run will end on Sunday.
