Say what you will about Louisville’s move from their 2-3 matchup zone to a switching man-to-man after the first half making the difference for the Cardinals.
Florida knocked down eight 3-pointers in building a 41-33 halftime lead, only to not make another the remainder of the game. However the defensive adjustment by Louisville produced another opening for Florida, as they were able to use the pick and roll to their advantage.
With 8:14 remaining Florida led 65-54 following a Patric Young dunk, and simply continuing to take good shots likely would have resulted in their first Final Four appearance since 2007.
But Florida got away from what was working, exercising questionable shot selection down the stretch as Louisville closed the game on an 18-3 run. Louisville advances by the final score of 72-68, and Florida is left to think about what could have been.
After that Young dunk Florida attempted just two shots around the rim the remainder of the game, with both being missed layup attempts by Bradley Beal.
“I don’t know if we did a great job offensively of taking advantage of what was open,” said Florida head coach Billy Donovan. “I thought we stood around too much, I thought we over-handled. I don’t think we got the ball where it needed to go. And we allowed them on some empty possessions to dwindle the lead back down.”
Florida was one of the best perimeter shooting teams in America this season, leading the country in 3-pointers made both per game (9.6) and for the season (357), and they made 38% of those shots (2nd in the SEC).
The confidence in those perimeter shots has been both a gift and a curse for Florida throughout the season, with the Gators struggling when they forget about Young in the paint or the fact that they’re talented enough to not have to settle for poor shots.
For the second straight season Florida allowed a double-digit lead slip away in the Elite Eight, last year falling to Butler in overtime and shot selection was an issue in that defeat as well.
After three games of very good play the Gators reverted to bad habits against Louisville, and it got them beat.
Raphielle Johnson is the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.
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- hoopsvader - Mar 24, 2012 at 7:35 PM
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Billy is a choker. If he doesn’t have the talent to win those two titles he would have been fired after today for double elite 8 chokers.
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- creek0512 - Mar 24, 2012 at 7:43 PM
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Who is Florida going to get that’s better? Why would a good coach want to go to an apathetic basketball school?
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- fulanekiffin - Mar 24, 2012 at 8:26 PM
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Saying Billy Donavan could/would have been fired is a joke. No recent circumstances allow that. He is a great basketball coach with an incredible tournament record. Cuonzo Martin does own him though.
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- jdlcsunset - Mar 24, 2012 at 8:28 PM
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After the game, part of what ‘Billy’ shared, “That’s Life… when you put your heart and soul into something and it doesn’t work out the way you hoped, you’re devastated, but the true challenge is if you can pick yourself up the next day… and with everything else going on in the world….” Food for thought — It’s a game. Billy is incredibly sophisticated, a class act, and a great leader to the athletes on this team transforming young men into responsible adults. He coached the game well. Louisville played intense defense. For the most part none of the Gators got hot during the 2nd half, whereas if they had and any of their good look shots started to fall, the outcome would have likely gone Florida’s way. That’s what these games are about, heart, competition, sportsmanship and with only one winner at the end. And in the end, it’s just a game.
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- 69jaredallen69 - Mar 24, 2012 at 9:59 PM
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Live by the 3, die by the 3…jump shooting teams are dangerous so long as they are making shots but are down right awful if they can’t get to the rim when their shots are not falling
