SEC Quarterfinal Friday: Gators Roll, Wildcats vs Tigers Round III
The top four seeds in the SEC are finally taking the floor today in the Georgia Dome. In the first quarterfinal of the day the #1 team in the nation, the Florida Gators, took the floor against the Missouri Tigers. Mizzou hung in for the first half in a game they had to have to secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament. A last second dunk by Ryan Rosburg tied the game at 29-29 as Mizzou held the Gators scoreless the final 3:25 of the half.
Florida came out in the second half and put the clamps on the Tigers offense as they scored the first seven points of the second half, but Mizzou then scored five in a row to cut the lead to 36-34. That is when Florida took control. A great assist from Scottie Wilbekin to Wil Yeguete made it 40-36. Yeguete then stayed back to pressure the inbounds play which resulted in Wilbekin stealing a back court pass then throwing it in to Yeguete as he was going out of bounds. He then came back in behind the arc and Yeguete kicked it back to him for a three to make it 43-36. Then another steal and a bucket by Patric Young made it a nine point game in a matter of 20 seconds. Missouri never recovered.
Florida was lights out form three all game long and it kept them in it until the other parts of their game kicked in. The Gators shot 6-12 from three in the first half and ended the game 12 of 21. Wilbekin was 5 for 6 for his 15 points. Michael Frazier was 5 of 7 for 15 points and Dorian Finney-Smith was 2-4 as he scored 10 points. If not for a couple of ill advised threes, one from Kasey Hill and one from Wil Yeguete, the Gators would have been nearly perfect from outside. The inside game was a bit weak though and will need to improve as the competition stiffens.
The second game of the day pits the South Carolina Gamecocks against the red hot Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee looks to be safe on Selection Sunday thanks to winning their last four SEC games, most by a wide margin. In the last three games they beat the Vanderbilt Commodores 76-38, the Auburn Tigers 82-54 and the Mizzou Tigers 72-45. They will be a tough match up for the Gamecocks who have won two games in two days. Yesterday they pulled a big upset that may cost the Arkansas Razorbacks a bid in the Big Dance 71-69.
Tonight’s games should be good ones as the LSU Tigers take on the Kentucky Wildcats for the third time this year and the home school, the Georgia Bulldogs take on the Ole Miss Rebels, the defending tournament champions.
The Tigers and Wildcats split their regular season games, with each team winning at home. The Tigers nearly pulled off a sweep as they led by one point in overtime, but a Julius Randle putback with about 4 seconds left won it for UK.
The Kats win in that game and their win against the Alabama Crimson Tide a week ago at Rupp by 10 are the only games they have won in their last seven games. Until then they trailed the Gators by only one game and had them at home with College Game Day in the house. But a 10 point loss to Florida seemed to send them spiraling as they wound up six games back and tied with Georgia for second place.
The Bulldogs are a team needing to win the tournament despite a 12-6 conference mark. They were only 6-6 in non-conference play and are currently looking like they will go to the NIT unless they can win it all this weekend. To do this they first must stop Marshall Henderson who got hot last night to lead the Rebels past the Mississippi State Bulldogs despite going down 44-35 at the half. Ole Miss also needs to win the SEC Tournament to advance to the Big Dance.
Bovada has odds on tonight’s games:
LSU vs Kentucky– Bovada has LSU +4.5 EVEN and UK -4.5 EVEN ATS. After watching the first two meetings this year between these teams we will go with LSU +4.5. The Tigers have to have this to keep their NCAA hopes alive but a loss for UK will be damaging to them as well. They may drop to a seven or eight seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Ole Miss vs Georgia– Ole Miss is +1 -115 and Georgia is -1 -105 ATS. We like the Bulldogs with the home crowd behind them. Take UGA -1 -105.
