SEC Basketball: Takeaways from 2nd round of 2021 conference tournament
By Matt Melton
Mann Leads the Gators
Florida got a massive performance from sophomore guard Tre Mann as the Gators defeated Vanderbilt 69-63 to advance to the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.
In what was a matchup of two of the top point guards in the SEC between Florida’s Tre Mann and Vanderbilt’s Scottie Pippen Jr, this matchup sure did deliver. Pippen Jr led the Commodores with a game-high 23 points, while Mann was not far behind to lead the Gators with 22 points.
Florida also shot 47.2% from the field as a team while receiving good performances from Noah Locke, Tyree Appleby, and Colin Castleton. While the Gators did not play their best against the Commodores, Florida showed that they have numerous players that can take over on any night with Mann taking over today. As the SEC Tournament rolls on with the NCAA Tournament looming, Florida can become a dangerous team if they start fully clicking.
Florida will now face Tennessee on Friday afternoon in the third meeting between the two this season while Vanderbilt’s season comes to an end finishing with an under .500 overall record for the fourth consecutive season. Looking ahead, if there is a must-see game on Friday, it’s Tennessee/Florida.