Gators 'played like vets' to earn trip to Final Four

	Despite being in foul trouble, Florida's Corey Brewer scored 11 points in 17 minutes of action. Elsa/Getty Images

The Gators wanted to do three things in this game: take care of the ball, rebound and defend the three-point line. They were so-so on the first count, giving up 16 turnovers; they were good on the second count, outrebounding Villanova 53-40. On the third count they were superb. Villanova attempted 73 shots but made only 18, for 24.7 percent. Critically, the Wildcats' vaunted long-range bombers, Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Mike Nardi, were 4 for 23 from the three-point line.

"We played Foye and we played Ray as well as we could have asked," said assistant coach Larry Shyatt. "Both of them utilized the drive far more than the open three, and that's where we thought they could really hurt us."

Senior forward Adrian Moss acknowledged that the Gators also enjoyed a bit of good luck tonight.

"It was probably 60-65 percent our defense, and the rest, they just missed good looks," Moss said. "They got some great looks. I'm just glad they didn't go in. It's better to be lucky than good this time of year."

The youth of the Gators was a hot topic this weekend, but the Wildcats didn't think there was anything green about them.

"I think they approached the game with a sense of maturity," said Villanova junior forward Will Sheridan. "They stepped it up. They're a bunch of sophomores and a junior. But they didn't play like that. They played like vets. They came with an intensity and a need to win. They were hitting shots. We weren't. They outlasted us and got it done."

Player Who Impressed Me

Florida's 6-foot-8 sophomore swingman Corey Brewer didn't play much because of early foul trouble, but in his brief time on the floor he was ridiculously productive. After sitting on the bench for all but six minutes in the first half, he came out aflame in the first three minutes of the second, scoring the Gators' first six points. In 17 total minutes of action he made four of seven field goals, including a huge three, for 11 points. He added three rebounds and two assists, and he somehow got both Kyle Lowry and Randy Foye into foul trouble -- both Wildcats committed their third fouls on Brewer. Most important, he did great work defending Foye on the perimeter.

"Corey was terrific," said Shyatt. "He was under control on the break, where he struggles a little bit. He hit some big shots, including big three-point shots, which we don't always count on."

Courtside Confidential

We're all familiar with fans making a mass exodus before a game is over, but tonight was the first time I've seen fans make a mass entrance. As the tip-off time of 4:05 came and went at the Metrodome, the seats were only half full, in both the stands and on press row. That's because George Mason and Connecticut were battling it out in overtime, and hundreds of people were clustered around televisions on the concourse and in the media work room. When the Patriots finally won it, there was a huge roar from the crowd (perhaps Villanova fans weren't sorry to see their rival go down) and people started streaming toward their seats just in time for the delayed tip-off.... After Florida won this one, Joakim Noah went into the stands to hug his mom, former Miss Sweden Cecilia Rodhe, and Al Horford hugged his dad, former NBA player Tito Horford. Tito said he has advised his son "not to make the same mistake I did" by leaving early for the pros. "He's not leaving," Tito said. "He's going to stay in college, he's having so much fun." This summer Tito and Al will play one-on-one for the first time ever. Why haven't they played before? "I have to get in shape for it," said Tito.

Big Picture

Like Villanova, George Mason can hit the three (the Patriots made 9 of 18 against Connecticut). But perhaps no team can defend the three as well as Florida did tonight. More important, Florida has at least three pro prospects on its squad, about three more than George Mason. If Florida can play two more games with the intensity and the composure they showed tonight, the Gators could leave Indianapolis with their first NCAA basketball title.