Road warriors! Gators make a case for a No. 1 NCAA seed

Alex Condon scores over Bama's Grant Nelson (UAA Photo)

If ever there was a case to be a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, the Florida Gators made it Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa. In taking down Alabama (23-7, 12-5 SEC), 99-94, the Gators made a statement that they might very well be the best team in the Southeastern Conference, certainly one of the four best in the country.

Prior to Wednesday night, both Joe Lunardi (ESPN) and Jerry Palm (CBS) had No. 1 Auburn and No. 5 Tennessee as No. 1 seeds from the SEC with the Gators perched on the No. 2 line. Lunardi and Palm might want to re-think their brackets. No doubt Southeastern Conference regular season champion Auburn (27-3, 15-2 SEC) will be the No. 1 seed even with Tuesday night’s loss to Texas A&M in College Station. That’s the same bunch of Aggies that the Gators physically pounded into submission five days ago. Tennessee, meanwhile, lost to unranked Ole Miss (21-9, 10-7 SEC) in Oxford Wednesday night.

Florida, meanwhile, made it eight wins in its last nine games, plus clinched a second place finish in the SEC and the double bye at the SEC Tournament that goes with it. Because the SEC is the nation’s strongest conference by a wide margin, second place should be worthy a No. 1 seed. The Gators can solidify their claim to a No. 1 Saturday when they host Ole Miss in the regular season finale.

Should the NCAA selection committee need further evidence, the Gators are the only team in the country with wins over two No. 1 ranked teams (Auburn and Tennessee). If the Gators aren’t the only team in the country to beat two top ten teams (Auburn and Alabama) in true road games, then they are on the short list. The Gators have five wins over ranked teams – then No. 1 Tennessee, No. 1 Auburn, No. 8 Alabama, then No. 12 Texas A&M and then No. 22 Mississippi State.

Florida belongs in the discussion of the few teams truly capable of winning a national championship in large part because the way Todd Golden has constructed his roster. He plays 10 guys, five inside and five on the perimeter. The Gators have five guys 6-9 or taller. Not many teams can match Florida’s size. Golden has five shooters, all of them capable of burying opponents with a barrage of 3-pointers.

Want a rock fight? The Gators are ever so happy to oblige. Want a track meet? Florida can run with anyone. The Gators are deep enough that Golden can sub in and out with barely any noticeable dropoff.  

“I think we’re one of the best teams in America and to do that you have to go on the road to beat good teams,” Golden said. We did that with Auburn and we did that tonight with Alabama.”

Florida didn’t just beat Alabama Wednesday night. The Gators physically overpowered the Crimson Tide as evidenced by the rebounding stats. Alabama came into the game leading the nation in rebounding but the Crimson Tide was no match for the Gators. Florida won the battle of the backboards by 15, 50-35. 

Florida converted 16 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points. The Gators dunked on Bama eight times and scored 24 points on layups. This wasn’t anything close to what Alabama head coach Nate Oats envisioned when the game tipped off.

“We knew they were a tough rebounding team,” Oats said. “We’re usually better than that, when we go into a game knowing we’ve got the rebounds. It seemed like they beat us to about every 50-50 ball. They obviously destroyed us on the glass.”

In the final 15 minutes of the game, the Gators went from five down to as many as 14 up. Alabama was ahead 52-47 when the Gators went on a 13-3 run that completely changed the game’s complexion. On the offensive end, things got started with threes by Walter Clayton Jr. and Thomas Haugh sandwiched a fast break dunk by Will Richard, to tie the score at 55-55 with 14:45 to go.

A little bit of defense helped put the Gators ahead for good when Clayton made the best defensive play of the game when he blocked a three by Alabama’s Mark Sears. Twelve seconds later Richard threw down another dunk to give Florida a lead that was never relinquished at 57-55 with 14:10 left in the game.

It was 62-57 when Clayton and Alex Condon took the game over. Condon scored 10 of Florida’s next 17 points with Clayton assisting on a pair of spectacular alley-oop dunk finishes. Clayton’s fast break layup with 5:41 left in the game gave the Gators a 14-point lead at 79-65.

Alabama wouldn’t go away, chipping as many as 10 points off Florida’s lead but the Gators always had answers – an alley-oop dunk by Condon on an assist from Clayton, a 3-pointer by Tommy Haugh on another assist by Clayton, a thunder dunk by Alijah Martin and plenty of free throws. Down the stretch the Gators went 12-15 at the foul line.

Condon had the best game of his career, certainly the best since his injury at Mississippi State. The 6-11 sophomore finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, one assists, one steal and two blocked shots. Clayton, who was in an offensive funk for the last three games, broke out with 22 points to go with five rebounds, eight assists and a blocked shot.

“I thought Walter did a great job controlling the game – eight assists, one turnover, five rebounds, 22 points and just really kept us poised, making great decisions,” Golden said. “Condo obviously had his best game as a Gator tonight. Just did a remarkable job finishing around the rim, hitting big threes in the first half, just playing with great physicality and effort and setting the tone.”

Those two had plenty of help. Haugh chipped in with 12 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot. Martin finished with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Rueben Chinyelu had nine points, 11 rebounds, one blocked shot and two steals.

This was a statement win for Golden and the Gators. The loss to Georgia a week ago was a fluke but coming back to beat the Aggies soundly at home, then beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa should more than make up for that one night.

Florida might be the most versatile team in the country, one that can win any style. While Golden and the Gators would prefer to run teams out of the gym, they are every bit as capable of pounding teams into submission. The have scorers, rebounders and defenders. They’re big, they’re quick and they’re deep.

The evidence that Florida belongs as a No. 1 seed is compelling. Florida’s regular season finale at the O-Dome Saturday (6 p.m., SEC Network) against a very good Ole Miss team should provide all the confirmation needed.

SEC BASKETBALL

Wednesday’s scores

No. 5 FLORIDA (26-4, 13-4 SEC) 99, No. 8 Alabama (23-7, 12-5 SEC)

Ole Miss (21-9, 10-7 SEC) 78, No. 4 Tennessee (24-6, 11-6 SEC) 76

Oklahoma (18-12, 5-13 SEC) 96, No. 15 Missouri (21-9, 10-7 SEC) 84

Saturday’s games

Ole Miss (20-9, 9-7 SEC) at No. 5 FLORIDA (26-4, 13-4 SEC)

No. 7 Alabama (23-7, 12-5 SEC) at No. 1 Auburn (27-3, 15-2 SEC)

South Carolina (12-18, 2-15 SEC) at No. 4 Tennessee (24-5, 11-5 SEC)

No. 22 Texas A&M (21-9, 10-7 SEC) at LSU (14-16, 3-14 SEC)

No. 19 Kentucky (20-10, 9-8 SEC) at No. 15 Missouri (21-9, 10-7 SEC)

No. 25 Mississippi State (20-10, 8-9 SEC) at Arkansas (18-12, 7-10 SEC)

Vanderbilt (20-10, 8-9 SEC) at Georgia (19-11, 7-10 SEC)

Oklahoma (18-12, 5-12 SEC) at Texas (17-13, 6-11 SEC)

BUSTING BRACKETS IN THE SEC

No. 8 Alabama (23-7, 12-5 SEC): If Alabama falls on the road at Auburn Saturday the Crimson Tide could drop down to a No. 3 seed.

Arkansas (18-12, 7-10 SEC): When the Razorbacks started out 1-6 in SEC play there was no way they would make the tournament. Win Saturday and maybe they’re a No. 9.

No. 1 Auburn (27-3, 15-2 SEC): The Tigers need to get Johni Broome untracked to get their mojo back. They will be the overall No. 1 seed.

No. 5 FLORIDA (26-4, 13-4 SEC): The Gators are the team nobody in the SEC wants to play right now.

Georgia (19-11, 7-10 SEC): The way Georgia is playing they will be somebody’s SEC Tournament nightmare. Georgia is on a 3-game roll.

No. 19 Kentucky (20-10, 9-8 SEC): Kentucky is 3-6 on the road. The Wildcats are at Mizzou Saturday and in serious need of a win to avoid having to play Wednesday in Nashville.

No. 25 Mississippi State (20-10, 8-9 SEC): The Bulldogs would be contenders for a championship in just about any other league. They’re NCAA bound but their stock will drop if they lose to Arkansas Saturday.

No. 15 Missouri (21-9, 10-7 SEC): Any hope the Tigers had of getting the double bye ended in Norman where Oklahoma pulled off the shocker, beating Mizzou by 12. The Tigers need a win against Kentucky if they have any hope of a top four seed.

Oklahoma (18-12, 5-12 SEC): The Sooners could play their way back into the NCAA field if they can beat Texas in Austin Saturday.

Ole Miss (21-9, 10-7 SEC): Beating No. 4 Tennessee will get the Rebels at least to the No. 5 line.

No. 4 Tennessee (24-6, 11-6 SEC): The Vols will probably drop to the No. 2 line after the Ole Miss loss.

No. 22 Texas A&M (21-9, 10-7 SEC): The win over Auburn should keep the Aggies a top four seed. They are in the NCAA Tournament but a loss to LSU Saturday would really hurt their seeding.

Vanderbilt (20-10, 8-9 SEC): The Commodores are in the tournament, but to avoid the dreaded No. 11 seed they need to beat Georgia Saturday in Athens.