Final
No. 6 Florida begins quest for third straight SEC Tourney title
Mar 9, 2007 - 7:16 PM Georgia (18-12) vs. No. 6 Florida (26-5) 7:30 pm ESTATLANTA (Ticker) -- One of the more memorable moments in Florida's run to last year's NCAA Championship was its second consecutive Southeastern Conference tournament crown.
Coming off its first outright SEC regular-season title in 18 years, the sixth-ranked Gators begin their quest for a third straight tournament championship with Friday's quarterfinal matchup against Georgia.
Florida has won eight of its last nine tournament games, with the only loss coming against Kentucky in the 2004 final. The Gators gained some revenge over the Wildcats the following year and topped South Carolina in last season's title game.
Despite setting a school record for regular-season victories, including a 17-game winning streak from December 6-February 14, Florida ended the regular season with three losses in five contests.
The Gators became the first SEC team to beat Kentucky six consecutive times with Sunday's 85-72 triumph. Joakim Noah and Al Horford scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds apiece for Florida, which shot 64 percent (32-of-50) from the floor.
Georgia won its only SEC title in 1983 en route to a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have made five trips to the championship game, most recently in 1997.
After dropping three of its last four regular-season games to post an 8-8 mark in SEC play, the Bulldogs opened the tournament with Thursday's 80-65 victory over Auburn.
Levi Stukes scored 22 points and Takais Brown added 19 for Georgia, which had lost first-round games in each of the previous two seasons.
Florida has won seven straight encounters against Georgia, including a 71-61 victory February 7. Corey Brewer scored 18 points and Horford added 17 with 10 boards for the Gators.
The winner faces either Louisiana State or Mississippi on Saturday.
- SEC TOURNAMENT
AT ATLANTA GA
NCAA BB SEC TOURNAMENT
FINAL 1ST 2ND TOTAL
--- --- -----
GEORGIA 14 43 57
FLORIDA (6) 35 39 74 FINAL
Mar 9 9:40 PM - SEC TOURNAMENT
AT ATLANTA GA
NCAA BB GEORGIA 14
FLORIDA (6) 35 HALFTIME
Mar 9 8:24 PM
Related News
- Wednesday Dawg Bites Is Feeling The Chill Nov 1
- Bulldogs Land Huge Basketball Commitment Oct 25
- ‘Dawgs on Tour: Last Chance to Qualify for the Masters Mar 30
- Florida vs. UCF, Game Thread: Gators get in-state foe in 2023 NIT Mar 15
- Lady Dawgs Draw FSU In Women’s Tourney Mar 13
- Mississippi State 69, Florida 68: Gators go down scrapping at SEC Tournament Mar 9
- Florida vs. Mississippi State, Game Thread: Gators get bubbling Bulldogs at SEC Tournament Mar 9
- ‘Dawgs on Tour: No mullet, no problem. Mar 9
- Florida 79, LSU 67: Gators, Riley Kugel rally back to rock Tigers Mar 4
- Florida vs. LSU, Game Thread: A winning finish on Senior Night? Mar 4
- ‘Dawgs on Tour: I-4 Corridor Mar 2
- Florida 77, Georgia 67: Gators finish sweep of Dawgs behind Will Richard Feb 28