NCAA Tournament Gameday: (3) Florida Gators vs. (14) Northwestern State Demons
Location: Frank Erwin Center – Austin, TX [Capacity: 16,292]
Time: 7:27 p.m. EST
TV: truTV (Tim Brando, Mike Gminski, Otis Livingston) [Channel Finder]
SiriusXM: 92/190 | Radio: Gator Radio Network [Affiliates]
Online Video: NCAA.com | Mobile Video: NCAA March Madness Live
Live Updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter and SportsYapper app
| (3) FLORIDA GATORS | (14) N’WESTERN ST. DEMONS |
| Head Coach: Billy Donovan | Head Coach: Mike McConathy |
| Record: 26-7 | Record: 23-8 |
| Conference: Southeastern | Conference: Southland |
| Roster | Schedule | Roster | Schedule |
Odds: Florida -20.5 | O/U 143
HISTORY / STREAKS / STATS
» Florida is 28-10 in 12 NCAA Tournaments under Donovan and has reached at least the Elite Eight round in four of the last seven seasons (two national titles). UF is 4-0 all-time against Southland teams.
» Northwestern State, as a 14 seed, upset the three seed in its last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006. The Demons are 2-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
» Friday will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Northwestern State is 1-12 against SEC opponents under McConathy with nine-straight losses.
» UF is 51-7 since the beginning of the 2011-12 season when holding opponents under 71 points in a game (25-6 in 2012-13).
» The Gators and Demons each have four starters that average in double figures.
» UF is 4-1 against top-25 opponents this season after going 3-5 against ranked adversaries last season with all five losses coming to top-three teams.
» Florida is 0-6 this season in single-digit decisions while Northwestern State is 8-4 in similarly close games.
» The Gators are ranked first nationally in scoring margin (+17.9), third in scoring defense (53.7), seventh in field goal defense (.377), 11th in field goal percentage (.481), 15th in three-pointers per game (8.4) and 23rd in assist-turnover ratio (1.33). Florida is also seventh nationally in fouling (14.1) and 213th in free throw percentage (.681).
» The Demons are ranked first nationally in scoring offense (81.0), fourth in steals (9.8), 24th in assists (15.5) and 25th in turnover margin (+3.0). Northwestern State is also considered the country’s fastest team, averaging 75.2 possessions per 40 minutes.
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