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Florida against Norfolk State Prediction, pick in March Madness first round

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Nashville, Tenn. -Florida basketball secured number 1 in the western region of the NCAA tournament after being rolled through Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee at the weekend to win his fifth second tournament in school history.

The Florida Gators (30-4) seem to be ready for a deep NCAA tournament run, which begins on Friday against No. 16 Norfolk State (6.50 p.m., TNT) in the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC

Since the expansion of the NCAA tournament in 1986, only two No. 16 seeds have the No. 1 Seeds annoyed-Maryland balcony County with 16 seeds (against No. 1 Virginia in 2018) and 16-Seed Farleigh Dickinson (against Purdue in 2023).

In other words, it is not unprecedented. In view of the fact that UF worked and has come together to secure a No. 1 seed, it is difficult to imagine a disappointment.

“We are a hungry group,” said Richard, Senior Guard from Florida. “We know the main goal. This is definitely a motivator. Cutting the networks is a great feeling, but we also want to do it in the NCAA tournament.”

Norfolk State (24-10) received an automatic offer after winning the MID-Easters Athletic Conference Championship. The Spartans won four in a row and are no strangers to withdraw the disorders on the March Madness stage. As a 15-seed, Kyle O'quinn in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2012 in Omaha, NEB, helped an 86-84 surprise of No. 2, No. 2, No. 2 Missouri.

As seven seeds in the same bracket, Florida beat Norfolk State in the 32nd round of 2012 and fell the Spartaner 84-50.

When Florida arrives in Norfolk State, it will compete against the winner of the 8: 9 seed game between Uconn and Oklahoma on Sunday (Time TBD).

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Here are three storylines that you can see in UFS Matchup with Norfolk State:

Can Florida Basketball contain the outstanding Norfolk State Guard Brian Moore Jr.?

A 6-foot 2-absolvent transmission of Harlem. NY, Brown is the most dangerous offensive player in the state of Norfolk. It achieves an average of 18.4 points per game, while he shoots 54.6% from the field and 40% from the 3-point range. He also released a 104-53 assist turnover ratio with a team high 45 steals.

Moore and Combo Guard Christian Ings (11.9 ppg, 103 assists) achieve a criminal offense with an average of 77.3 points in the season.

Can Florida Basketball avoid loud sales that Norfolk State could keep in the game?

The Spartans are an annoying defensive team that achieved an average of 6.9 steals per game and 15.6 points from sales per game. The gators must remain strong with basketball to avoid that simple runout is imposed. In his 86-77 victory against Tennessee in the Sec tournament, UF kept mistakes on a minimum and only turned the ball 12 times.

Can Florida Basketball build a sufficiently sufficient, sufficient lead to rest and use the bench?

Since the two -time defending champion Uconn or Jeremiah is run in the 32nd round of Oklahoma, Florida could keep his starters fresh if he can build a sufficiently large tour in the second half.

UF is currently playing a nine player rotation, with the security guard Denzel Aberdeen and Urban Klavzar coming from the bank with the striker Tommy Hagh and the Micah Center. Florida's basketball coach, Todd Golden, still hopes to get Sam Alexis back from an excess of ankle, which has been out of February 11th.

“He'll be facing the NCAA tournament shortly,” said Golden. “Obviously our primary place plays very well. I have the feeling that we currently have a really good rotation, with Micah back.

“There will always be a fact in which you will probably need another man to influence the game. I think Sam is more than able to do this when his number is called.”

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forecast

Florida 97, Norfolk State 63: Expect that Florida starts quickly and does not lead to its first NCAA tournament victory. The depth of UF enables the Gator to maintain and build the lead in the second half and to keep the starters fresh for the 32 -game round of UF.

Kevin Brockway is the Florida Beat Writer by Gainesville Sun. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Kevinbrockwayg1