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A team full of players almost no Power 5 teams recruited.
A First Team All-American who had more football offers than hoops.
A coach who was a walk-on.
Picked 6th in the SEC.
No top 100 players.
A Gators π Final Four team for all the underdogs everywhere.
That was one of the most incredible demonstrations of character in a sporting event Iβve ever seen.
Down 9 at the final media timeout. In the Elite 8. You just donβt recover from that.
This Gators team did.
Just wow.
Two months ago todayβ this Tommy Haugh block and βand 1β layup sparked a comeback for the agesβ and Florida winning its 3rd national championship.
The Gators won the national championship navigating a path that is tied for the toughest all-time for a number 1 seed since tournament expansion (1985).
The combined seed total for Florida's opponents was 33, just 1 seed from the minimum of 32. Only UNC 1993 also did that.
I've covered Florida basketball a long time.
I haven't been more impressed with a 2 game stretch in a decade.
The complete team effort on defense. The grit. Wins at No. 1 Auburn down your best defender and at No. 22 Miss State down 2 starters.
Championship resolve.
With the win, the Gators secure their 21st 20 win season this century.
Only other programs with 20 or more 20 win seasons this century:
Duke, Kansas, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Arizona.
Thatβs it. Thatβs the list.