Florida started this game hot and took a 40-33 lead into halftime.  But the Gamecocks kept winning the battle inside and quickly chipped away at that lead.  

For most of the second half, the teams traded baskets and leads until about 3 minutes in the game.   Then, Sindarius Thornwell took the game over.   Thornwell, who finished with 26 points, got a defensive rebound and drove hard down the court to draw a foul, hit two free throws and give the Gamecocks the lead.  Then, he stole the ball in the corner, drove hard down the court again, but this time stopped in the lane and passed to the trailer Maik Kotsar, who hiy the easier jumper in the lane and the lead was built to 4.

In the Wisconsin game, Florida kept taking it quickly to the basket to close the gap – but this time, the South Carolina defense had the answer, would get the defensive rebound and hit a free throw or two to keep extending the lead.   The game winner was capped as PJ Dozier stole the ball from Friday night’s hero Chris Chiozza and passed the ball up to Duane Notice who threw down an emphatic dunk.   

And so the South Carolina Gamecocks will be heading to their first Final Four in school history,  where they will face Gonzaga.   Congratulations to the 7th seed South Carolina!!!

One last spot remains – will today be a true SEC party with their conference champion Kentucky taking the South, or will the ACC champion North Carolina stop the SEC and take the final spot.   Game starts in 15 minutes!!!!