NEW YORK – Familiar foes in an unexpected setting faced off for a spectacular game Sunday. The Florida Gators fell 77-70 to the South Carolina Gamecocks at Madison Square Garden, letting an opportunity for a trip to the Final Four slip away.
The Gamecocks' tournament run included upsets of 2-seed Duke - the preseason No. 1-ranked team - and 3-seed Baylor.
In many ways, it was the first meeting - a 57-53 South Carolina win on Jan. 18 - that set the stage for Sunday’s matchup.
The Gators failed to sink a 3-pointer for the first time in 850 games - a streak that began in 1992 and lasted the entire Billy Donovan era. Another loss, three days later, prompted a two-hour team meeting that triggered a nine-game winning streak, including the rematch with the Gamecocks.
All year, the Gators showed their resilience. It was tested again Sunday in the East Regional Final against South Carolina when Florida’s eight point first half lead evaporated. With 3:48 left, though, the Gators pulled ahead again when Chris Chiozza turned a steal into a layup to give Florida a 63-61 lead.
That’s when the game turned. For the final 3:48, South Carolina outscored Florida 16-7. It’s easy to say that in any close game that the team who plays best in the final minutes will win, but that’s exactly what happened Sunday. The Gamecocks finished the game strong, the Gators, this time, did not.
PHOTOS: Gators vs. Gamecocks
They got on a run and we just couldn’t recover,” said Florida forward Devin Robinson. “They were just controlling the game the whole second half. We fought. We just didn’t fight hard enough. They handled their business. They kept their poise. They got the lead and they kept it from there. We just couldn’t recover.”
Robinson is one of six players who played in the game for Florida who still has eligibility remaining. If he passes up the NBA draft as he did last year, he would be counted on as one of next year’s senior leaders. Robinson admitted that how the season ended may impact his decision. He was a part of the biggest success this year: rebuilding the culture of Gator basketball.
“This is big time. I’ve never been part of something like this before,” Robinson said. “I’m proud of everybody in this room. How hard we worked. I’m sad it had to end today. We have the potential. This is one stepping stone right here. We have a lot to go. It starts right when we get back to school.”
In the end, the Gators shooting touch betrayed them. After making 7 of 12 3-pointers in the first half, Florida missed all 14 attempts from beyond the arc in the second half.
“They played better than us down the stretch,” said Canyon Barry, who played his last college basketball game. “The ball didn’t go our way, a couple of calls. They played better than us down the stretch and came out victorious today.”
In addition to the six potential returners, the Gators should also get center John Egbunu back. The redshirt junior missed the last 10 games of the season after a knee injury.
“I feel like we just build off of it. We ended with a good culture,” sophomore center Kevarrius Hayes said. “We are all here on the same page fighting for each other. This group of guys, the returners, know what it feels like.”
Chiozza, who etched his name in Florida basketball history with the overtime game-winning buzzer-beater in Friday night’s win over Wisconsin, will be a senior along with Egbunu and Robinson, if he returns. Those three will be counted on to build on what Florida accomplished this season, just as head coach Mike White counted on seniors Justin Leon and Kasey Hill this season.
“I’m really, really proud of [Leon and Hill] for putting Florida basketball—for putting us back in the right direction. We have a lot to work for here, starting next week.”
Chiozza figures to inherit the starting point guard spot next season, with Hill playing his final college game on Sunday
“We got the culture back to where it needed to be,” junior guard Chris Chiozza said. “Just being a family, doing the right things, on and off the court. Playing for one another, being tough, being gritty, being a family. We can continue to build on that and have a better season next year.”