Sunday, March 18, 2012

Norfolk State's dream turns into nightmare against scary Florida

OMAHA, Nebraska -- This is why we can't have nice things. Well, Florida is why we can't have nice things. Norfolk State from the MEAC was a nice thing, brazenly beating second-seeded Missouri in its first game and then winning us over with two days of charming press conferences, making us dream that these brazen, charming Spartans might become the first No. 15 seed to make it to the Sweet 16.

It was a nice dream. And Norfolk State was a nice thing. But this NCAA tournament will continue without both of them, because Florida is a scary basketball team when it's playing like it played Sunday in the Round of 32.



Which is to say, better than Florida played on Friday in the Round of 64.  And on Friday, Florida beat Virginia by 26 points.

Two minutes into the second half on Sunday, Florida was beating Norfolk State by 31. The final was 84-50, and it shouldn't be dismissed as a prectable SEC blowout against an outmanned team from the MEAC. That victory Friday by Norfolk State against Missouri was no fluke, no matter how ungraciously Mizzou coach Frank Haith tried to spin it afterward.

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