Florida opens up the Big Dance with Albany in Orlando

The Florida Gators go into the NCAA tournament as decorated as you can possibly be boasting a 32-2 record with an SEC regular season and tournament title already under their belts.

But today, the past means little and each team start off the Big Dance 0-0, six wins away from being remembered forever as champions.

That has been the final goal for this Florida team since the year started and it remains the final goal as they head into the first-round matchup versus the Albany Great Danes.

Albany comes into today’s contest with an NCAA win under their belt already as they defeated Mount St. Mary’s in their play-in game 71-64. The Danes are a team that doesn’t shoot often from the outside and consequently don’t make a lot of outside shots because of it. They are, however, a good team at driving the lane, getting contact and getting to the free throw line. At one point in the year they were 3rd in the nation at free throw efficiency.

For Florida, freshman Kasey Hill is a game-time decision with turf toe. The freshman has been playing well lately averaging 19 minutes per game during the SEC tournament.

When it comes to the seeding, no 16 seed has never beaten a 1 seed in NCAA history — 116-0. However, if you asked these Florida players, they know each team starts March Madness 0-0. Sophomore guard DeVon Walker knows it’s a new day.

“When we step onto the court, the seeding does not matter. The team that plays the hardest will win.”

Tip off for this game is 4:10, but is subject to change depending on the game before theirs which is Colorado versus Pittsburgh. That match is set for 1:40.