Two days before they were due to share the same court, Florida’s players were already feeling the extra dose of physicality Marquette usually has in store for its opponents.
While the No. 3 seed Golden Eagles have built a reputation this season for being a tough, physical team that claws for rebounds and thrives off forcing turnovers, the seventh-seeded Gators adjusted their practices accordingly this week in Phoenix to simulate Marquette’s defensive maelstrom.
“These last two practices we’ve had have probably been our most physical practices we’ve had,” freshman Brad Beal said. “We’ve been fouling each other and slapping at the ball. We’re prepared for them. We know they’re going to try to slap at us when we get a rebound.”
Heading into Florida’s Sweet 16 matchup with Marquette tonight at 10:17 in U.S. Airways Center, the Gators are expecting to be challenged on a plane akin to “psychological warfare,” according to center Patric Young.
The 6-foot-9 Young will be matching up at times with 6-foot-6 Marquette forward Jae Crowder, who averages 17.6 points in 33 minutes per game and is a part of a Golden Eagles’ starting frontcourt that sees little time on the bench.
After suffering a season-ending ACL injury to center Chris Otule and with forward Davante Gardner still working his way back into Marquette’s lineup from a Jan. 28 knee sprain, the Golden Eagles have relied primarily on a seven-man rotation.
“They’re trying to break our will,” Young said. “They’re trying to catch us in a moment of weakness but we have to fight through adversity and we can’t show any weakness, even if we get hit and fouls aren’t called. If you get hurt, you have to act like you aren’t and fight through it.”
Though Young predicts pushing through no-call fouls by Marquette and moving on from frustrating plays will be key in Florida not getting rattled by the Golden Eagles, he said he hasn’t taken any special measures to prepare for the game.
“It’s just how I play anyways,” he said.
Crowder spoke confidently to reporters Tuesday on Marquette’s offense’s chances of scoring against Florida’s defense, which allowed each of its last five opponents heading into the NCAA Tournament to shoot 45 percent or better.
However, since the tournament has started, the Gators have appeared to be a different team.
“We held teams at less than 50 points the first two games, so I don’t know where the credibility behind that comment comes from,” Young said.
After beating 10th-seeded Virginia 71-45 in the second round and No. 15 seed Norfolk State 84-50 on Sunday, Florida became the only Sweet 16 team to limit both of its opponents to fewer than 50 points.
“We’re just a real humble team,” Young said.
“People tend to put us under the radar but that doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is when it’s time to set up on the court. We just have to go play basketball.”
Contact John Boothe at jboothe@alligator.org.
Florida center Patric Young towels off during a practice last week in Omaha, Neb. Young and Marquette forward Jae Crowder have gone back and forth in the media this week ahead of their Sweet 16 meeting tonight in Phoenix.
