Sports
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
|
College basketball: March Madness 2005
|
Gators impress Villanova coach
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published March 19, 2005
NASHVILLE - While Florida and Villanova will have only one day to prepare for each other, don't expect the Gators to catch the Wildcats by surprise. Coach Jay Wright has had one of his assistants scouting Florida all week.
"I know they have got three great scorers, some really good young players, and they are playing extremely well right now," Wright said. "I saw them in the SEC championship game against Kentucky, and they were very impressive.
"They have a well-balanced team, and they have some good young players. But the big three ( David Lee, Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh) are very valuable this time of year."
Wright also has seen the Gators practice. He was among a small group of coaches who attended a clinic in Gainesville in September.
ROBERSON'S WOES: Roberson's bad day (3-for-15) started before the game. During pregame introductions, Roberson was standing at midcourt waiting for Ohio's Mychal Green to be introduced.
As Green approached midcourt, Roberson half-heartedly stuck his fist out, turned his head and walked away as Green briefly followed in an effort to tap fists (instead of the traditional handshake).
"I think I put my fist out," Roberson said. "I think he missed it or wasn't quite there when I did it. I just walked away. It wasn't nothing against him. I know it was nothing against me."
The crowd thought differently. Ohio fans booed Roberson as he walked back to Florida's huddle then booed him for much of the game whenever he handled the ball.
ODDS AND ENDS: Florida has won a season-best eight consecutive games. ... Forward Chris Richard matched a season high with four blocked shots and set a Florida record for a Tournament game. ... Roberson's last free throw made him the 11th in Florida history to reach 1,500 points. ... Freshman center Al Horford became the first Gator with 50 blocks in a season since Andrew DeClercq in 1993-94. ... The Gators set a team record for blocks in an NCAA Tournament game with eight.
[Last modified March 19, 2005, 01:02:12]
Share your thoughts on this story
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
