I almost feel like a repeatable theme has occurred. Underdog goes up double digits late in the game. And then, the favorite starts coming back……

The Texas Tech Red Raiders had just gone on a 12-2 run, and with 6 minutes left, they held a 10 point lead. For the most part, they kept a hold on that lead as the Red Raiders seemed to be unstoppable in the lane. So, with 3 minutes to play, the lead was still 9 points and looked like one of the #1 seeds would finally lose.

Walter Clayton Jr tried to hit a three-pointer and missed, but Thomas Haugh got the rebound and kicked it back out to Clayton. When he couldn’t get free in the corner, he sent the ball to Haugh – who hit a three pointer to cut the lead to 6.

The Gators set up a press off a time-out, and while I don’t expect it was what they wanted to do, Haugh fouled Darrion Williams in the backcourt for his fourth foul. But sometimes, when trying to win a championship, you need a little bit of luck. Sure enough, Williams – who is an 84% free throw shooter – missed the front end of the one-and-one.

This time, the Gators play defense but end up following JT Toppin. And the 70% free throw shooter, missed the front end of the one-and-one – here come the Gators.

This time, off a pick, Clayton tried to get open dribbling to the wing, made a nice cross-over to change his direction, and pulled up for a pretty three-pointer to tie the game.

With the game tied, the Red Raiders finally got back to the offense that had been so dominating through the game – they got the ball into Darrion Williams, he drove the lane, made a nice spin to get a little space and hit the layup to give Texas Tech as 2 point lead.

This time down the court, Clayton gets the ball to Haugh at the top of the key, and Haugh gets the ball to Clayton rolling to the basket – it looked like he would try to lay the ball up, but Texas Tech played great interior defense to make him choose to not shoot it. But as Clayton dribbled the ball back out to the three-point line looking like he was going to reset up the offense, Clayton instead turned and fired a three-pointer to give the Gators the lead with about a minute left.

Texas Tech would get two good looks at three-pointers by Darrion Williams, but he would miss them, and meanwhile, Florida hit their free throws to eventually win the game by 5 points and head to the Final Four.

So, in the question of if we will get 4 #1 seeds, we at least know the first one has advanced. They were down 10, but 4 straight three-pointers helped send Florida to San Antonio.

And now, the track meet has begun – enjoy Duke and Alabama!!!!