Tre Mann, Scottie Lewis to lead Florida Basketball versus Virginia Tech

Florida Basketball faced the 25th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies in an NCAA Tournament South Region contest. Tip-off is set for 12:15 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and the game will be televised on CBS.

This matchup features two teams that faced some adversity this year as a result of Covid. Florida (14-9), which lost star Keyontae Johnson for the season due to a heart issue, earned a seventh-seed despite finishing fifth in the SEC and losing to Tennesee in the SEC quarterfinals. The Gators, who are 8-8 in Quad I and 2 games, have lost three of four games. They are 3-1 in neutral games and have wins over West Virginia along with Tennessee and LSU.

Virginia Tech (15-6) has played in just three games over the last five and one-half weeks. Tech, 4-3 in its last seven games, was seeded 10th after finishing third in the ACC and falling to UNC in the conference tournament’s quarterfinals. The Hokies are 5-6 in Quad I and 2 games though they do have victories over Virginia as well as a fully healthy Villanova squad.

UF is playing in its fourth straight NCAA Tournament — 23rd overall where the Gators are 47-20 — and has posted its sixth straight winning season. Florida is 5-3 in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mike White.  Meanwhile, Virginia Tech is also making its fourth consecutive tournament berth and 12th appearance this year, where the Hokies are 8-11.

Florida ranks in the top 40 in the nation in offensive and defensive efficiency, according to Kenpom.com, and 165th in tempo. UF averages 74.0 points per game, shoot 46.4% from the floor and 35.7% from the 3-point line. Defensively, the Gators surrender 69.8 points on 42.1% shooting from the field along with 30.5% from deep.

Virginia Tech ranks 55th in offensive efficiency and 54th in defensive efficiency, as well as 293rd in pace of play. The Hokies average 72.1 points on 45.1% shooting from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. Defensively, they allow 65.5points on 41.8% shooting from the field and 33.0% from long-distance.

This is the 10th ever meeting between the Gators and the Hokies, with Virginia Tech holding a slight advantage 5-4. However, the teams have not played since 1991.UF is favored by one point, according to Action Networks.

I expect this to be a close, hard-fought game as the teams have totally different styles. Florida likes to play fast, while Virginia Tech prefers a more methodical pace.  Here are the keys for the Gators to advance to the second round, where they would face the winner of Ohio State/ Oral Roberts.