The outbreak of COVID-19 has taken over the sports world with the professional sports in suspension and the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament. So, Sixers Wire will bring back some of the best moments of March Madness for the current Philadelphia 76ers.
Monday’s edition heads back to Florida to reminisce on Al Horford’s run with the 2006 Florida Gators. After a tough battle with Georgetown, they moved on to the Elite 8 to face the 1 seeded Villanova Wildcats. The Wildcats were led by explosive perimeter players such as Kyle Lowry and Randy Foye who both would go on to have solid NBA careers. Florida would need to dig deep in this one.
March 26, 2006
As talented as the Villanova guards were, they did not have the same type of talent down low and that is where Florida attacked the most. Between Horford and Joakim Noah, the Wildcats did not have much of an answer.
Florida led 35-30 at halftime and then outscored Villanova 40-32 in the final 20 minutes in order to win it 75-62 and move on to the Final Four for the first time since 2000. Villanova closed to within 45-42 on a Foye layup, but they could never get closer.
Noah led Florida with 21 points and 15 rebounds, Horford had 12 points and 15 rebounds, Taurean Green had 19, and Corey Brewer added 11 before fouling out in 17 minutes.
Noah had a proclamation for everybody after the big win:
We’re the Gator boys. The Gator boys are hot right now.
Well, the Gator Boys are headed to the Final Four and they will face off with the Cinderella of the tournament thus far: the George Mason Patriots. [lawrence-related id=28548,28531,28525]