March Madness continues between the #1 ranked Florida Gators and the #9 Pittsburgh Panthers in the biggest NCAA basketball game so far. It will take place at the Amway Arena in Orlando at 12:15 PM ET
The top-seeded Florida Gators (33-2) and ninth-seeded Panthers (26-9) likely will find out who is the supreme team when they meet in the NCAA tournament's South Region on Saturday.
Florida hopes to play with more energy and defensive intensity than it did in a 12-point win against 16th-seeded Albany. Pittsburgh wants to carry over something -- everything, really -- from its 29-point drubbing of Colorado.
"I think we'll be ready," Gators guard Scottie Wilbekin said. "I think we've got this game out of our system and we're ready to move forward and ready to play like we know we can."
The overall top seed in the tournament, Florida has won a school-record 27 straight games and swept the Southeastern Conference regular-season and tournament titles. The Gators have beaten teams inside and out, won close games and blowouts, taken everybody's best shot and openly talked about winning it all.
The Great Danes provided a reality check Thursday. Albany played with Florida most of the game, and had it not been for a 4-minute stretch midway through the second half, the Gators might have ended up becoming the biggest upset victim in NCAA tournament history.
"In this tournament, you have to be aware that every team is fighting for their life, and the goal is just to survive," center Patric Young said. "Seeding doesn't matter when it comes down to between the lines. As you see, a 14 can beat a 3. Fortunately a 16 has never beat a 1, and we were able to keep that going.
No one will remember the tight game against Albany if the Gators continue to advance.
The same goes for Pitt's opener. The Panthers led 13-0 early and 48-16 at halftime en route to their fourth victory in five games and most complete game in months.
After losing six of 10 games down the stretch in the regular season, coach Jamie Dixon's team has learned to play without injured forward Durand Johnson and found its stride on both ends of the court.
The Panthers advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinal, losing by three points to Virginia, and then put on a show against the Buffaloes.
The game will be televised on the CBS Television Network
