The season came to an end in the Elite Eight in each of the past three seasons for Florida. But there was no stopping the Gators this time around.
Florida ended the first half on a 19-3 run to end Dayton’s Cinderella run as the Gators posted a 62-52 in the South Region final in Memphis.
“I couldn’t be prouder of happier,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said. “In a lot of ways, outside the Michigan game, we were close to being in three out of four Final Fours right now, and that says a lot about these guys. But I think those experiences maybe helped us be a better team this year than maybe we would have if we’d have gotten to a couple of ones earlier.”
Scotty Wilbekin tied a career high with 23 points while the Gators controlled the glass over an over-matched Dayton squad.
Wisconsin overcame a halftime deficit and a wild finish to hold off Arizona to win the West Region 64-63 in overtime.
Arizona had possession and trailed by one in the closing seconds of the overtime period but the Wildcats’ Nick Johnson was called for an offensive foul with four seconds remaining.
The Badgers turned the ball over on the ensuing possession but Arizona did not get a shot off after a lengthy review to send Wisconsin to the Final Four.
