This game, the last game of the night featured the eight seed Wisconsin Badgers vs the four seed Florida Gators. All I need to do is skip right to the insane last couple minutes of the game and I will do just that.
Nigel Hayes had given the Badgers a 2-point lead with 4 seconds left on two free throws. With no timeouts, the Gators inbounded to Chiozza and he took care of the rest for Florida, setting off a Swamp-like celebration at Madison Square Garden.
Wisconsin’s Zak Showalter was set to be the star before Chiozza took it away. Showalter, a senior, forced overtime with a leaping 3-pointer off one leg with 2.1 seconds left in regulation then pointing to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the crowd. The Badgers wiped out a 12-point, second-half deficit in the last 4:15 to send the game into overtime. Check out the amazing shot down here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k68mXeJ3PMo
Florida is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2014 and for the first time under current coach Michael White, the former Mississippi guard who was on the losing end of one of the most famous game-winning shots in NCAA history. If you need a quick refresher White and the Rebels were upset by Valparaiso on Bryce Drew’s buzzer-beater in 1998. Does this one make up for that…?
KeVaughn Allen earned the respect of Rodgers for carrying Florida most of the way. Allen broke out of a slump with a career-high 35 points tonight. Eighth-seeded Wisconsin built a five-point lead in overtime, but with star guard, Bronson Koenig bothered by a leg issue the Badgers couldn’t close out Florida. After Wisconsin’s Khalil Iverson hit the front of the rim on a breakaway dunk that Florida’s Canyon Barry got a piece of, Chiozza drove for a layup that tied it at 81 with 24 seconds left. Here is the amazing block and layup that tied the game:
Rewind … Canyon Barry with a CHASE-DOWN BLOCK. #Gators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/Duf8AFxmAF
— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) March 25, 2017
The Badgers then put it in Hayes’ hands on their final possession. The senior who scored the winning bucket in Wisconsin’s upset of defending champion Villanova used a spin move to draw a foul. Hayes had 22 in his last game for Wisconsin. Making their fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance, it looked as if the experienced Badgers had once again found a way to survive and advance. But Chiozza had other thoughts about that and then earned himself a spot in the “One Shining Moment” montage. The way he was able to get the shot off still is mind blowing. Here is the shot that will be associated with his name forever:
Big Picture
Well, sadly for all Wisconsin fans, this is the end of an era for the Badgers. Seniors Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig, Zak Showalter and Vitto Brown go out having been part of four straight Sweet 16 appearances. “This is a tough way for them to go out,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “And how they battled back, came from 12 down, it’s kind of a microcosm of how they have navigated through the program. They have fought back at adverse times and tonight was a great testament to their Will and never give up attitude.” A truly heartfelt saying by the Badgers coach. All-Big Ten selection Ethan Happ will return as the focal point for the Badgers next season, but there will be bigger roles for players such as Khalil Iverson, D’Mitrik Trice, and Brevin Pritzl.
The SEC only got five of its 14 teams into the NCAA Tournament, but it will have three in the final eight for the first time since 1986 (Kentucky plays in the South Regional final against North Carolina on Sunday) and at least one in the Final Four. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was at the Garden, enjoying the S-E-C! chants. Sankey brought two ties with him to the arena. He had garnet for South Carolina in game one and then changed to blue and orange for Florida in the nightcap. Florida will be a tough challenge for South Carolina and will be an awesome game!