Another team victory, this one over Virginia, put the Gators back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014.
Harry Fodder: Next-Day Takeaway
Sunday, March 19, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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More from the days before.
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
NEXT-DAY TAKEAWAY (NCAA East Region edition) Florida 80, East Tennessee 62 (first round) Florida 66, Virginia 39 (second round) Three leftover thoughts from Gators' run through Orlando.
1) Apparently, disgruntled fans aren't the only ones who react to moments and ignore reality. Even the so-called experts do it. Say or think what you will about how Florida ended the season with three losses over the final four games, what with a 10-point loss at Kentucky and back-to-back defeats against Vanderbilt, the first on the road, the second in quarterfinal play of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. But even with that crawl to the finish line, the Gators had one of the best top-to-bottom postseason resumes of any team: No "bad" losses, a top-30 offense and (this is really important) a top-five defense. Regarding the latter, a lot of people who should know better overlooked it. Let's start with CBS analyst Seth Davis, who picked the Gators as his first tournament upset the instant fourth-seeded Florida's date with 13th-seed East Tennessee State in the NCAA East Region was unveiled -- despite the fact UF would play at Orlando, just 110 miles away and in front of a home-like crowd. The Gators won by 15. And then on Saturday, mere minutes before the UF-Virginia tipoff, the TNT panel of Davis, former North Carolina and NBA center Brendon Haywood and Siena coach Jimmy Patsos all picked the fifth-seeded Cavaliers. Haywood and Patsos cited defense being the difference. They were right (wrong team, though). Davis said UVA reserve guards Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome and there ability to hit jumpers would do in the Gators. Well, those two combined for zero points on 0-for-8 shooting against the UF defense. The Gators will get more credit for their defense this week, as the media spotlight grows in the Round of 16 — and in New York City — but don't be surprised if most of the defensive love isn't showered on Wisconsin, which upended top-seeded and defending national champion Villanova (not to mention, the media darling of the Northeast). And you know what? That'll be fine with Mike White and his team.
Devin Robinson (aka "DRob") is playing the best basketball of his collegiate career at a very opportune time.
2) Can't say enough about the jump in productivity and maturity from junior forward Devin Robinson. Admittedly, Robinson had to put aside some personal agendas and goals — specifically, his desire to play in the NBA — to better focus on the team. That role took on a bigger meaning when center John Egbunu went down with his season-ending knee injury and Robinson had to become a far more willing and impactful defender and rebounder. Even with equaling his career-high of 24 points against ETSU, Robinson has remained around his season-long scoring average (11.7 pg) in the eight games since losing Egbunu, but four times he's grabbed double-figure rebounds and has upped his rebound average from 5.8 per game at the time of the injury to 8.5 in the games since. And he's used his length to challenge \more shots, been better with his help off the ball and maintained solid positioning. In the two games, Robinson averaged 19 points and nine rebounds, shot 60 percent from the floor, knocked down four of nine 3-pointers and blocked two shots in average 32 minutes. It wasn't that long ago Robinson's name didn't appear on too many mock draft boards. He's on a few now. And moving up.
3) Freshman backup center Gorjok Gak is a long way from being a major impact player, but he gave the Gators 17 invaluable minutes in the post against ETSU and UVA, including 10 against the Cavaliers and 6-foot-11, 270-pound Jack Salt. Don't think that's insignificant when you consider the energy starting center Kevarrius Hayes expends while on the floor. In the two games, the 6-11, 230-pound Gak was 5-for-5 from the floor, with four dunks and three rebounds, all on the offensive end, including a tip-in. He also got out in transition and took a 60-foot pass from Chris Chiozzaover the UVA defense — which rarely gets beaten down the floor by bigs — for a slam. In his five first-half minutes Saturday, Gak had his tip, an offensive rebound and got good enough position to draw an over-the-back foul on a teammate's missed shot. That's three extra possessions against an opponent that wants to keep possessions to a minimum. That's solid efficiency from a kid still learning how to play. Now, he also was a 0-for-4 from the free throw line (with an airball), making him just 1-for-10 for his rookie year, but that's an offseason conversation. In the interim, Gak is playing a role his teammates very much need. He's having fun, also. Or in his words afterward, "That was super-fun."
CHARTING THE GATORS Florida' set a single-game record Saturday for fewest points allowed in an NCAA Tournament game. Below are the five-lowest scoring outputs by a UF opponent in "March Madness." -- Chris Harry
1) Apparently, disgruntled fans aren't the only ones who react to moments and ignore reality. Even the so-called experts do it. Say or think what you will about how Florida ended the season with three losses over the final four games, what with a 10-point loss at Kentucky and back-to-back defeats against Vanderbilt, the first on the road, the second in quarterfinal play of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. But even with that crawl to the finish line, the Gators had one of the best top-to-bottom postseason resumes of any team: No "bad" losses, a top-30 offense and (this is really important) a top-five defense. Regarding the latter, a lot of people who should know better overlooked it. Let's start with CBS analyst Seth Davis, who picked the Gators as his first tournament upset the instant fourth-seeded Florida's date with 13th-seed East Tennessee State in the NCAA East Region was unveiled -- despite the fact UF would play at Orlando, just 110 miles away and in front of a home-like crowd. The Gators won by 15. And then on Saturday, mere minutes before the UF-Virginia tipoff, the TNT panel of Davis, former North Carolina and NBA center Brendon Haywood and Siena coach Jimmy Patsos all picked the fifth-seeded Cavaliers. Haywood and Patsos cited defense being the difference. They were right (wrong team, though). Davis said UVA reserve guards Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome and there ability to hit jumpers would do in the Gators. Well, those two combined for zero points on 0-for-8 shooting against the UF defense. The Gators will get more credit for their defense this week, as the media spotlight grows in the Round of 16 — and in New York City — but don't be surprised if most of the defensive love isn't showered on Wisconsin, which upended top-seeded and defending national champion Villanova (not to mention, the media darling of the Northeast). And you know what? That'll be fine with Mike White and his team. 
