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.
Sunday’s edition of remembering March Madness for the Sixers is Al Horford’s first title run with Florida in 2006. We are going back in time a bit from first looking at Florida’s 2007 repeat year as the Gators took on the South Alabama Jaguars in the Round of 64 to begin a quest toward a title.
March 16, 2006
The Gators entered the 2006 NCAA Tournament as the 3 seed in the Minneapolis Region and were matched up with 14 seed South Alabama. Florida was laced with a ton of NBA talent and they were considered an easy favorite against the Jaguars.
Florida did get off to a slow start as they had a little bit of trouble getting into the game leading only 31-25 at halftime. Horford only had two points at the half and the Gators were leading on the strength of another former Sixer, Corey Brewer, as well as Lee Humphrey.
Florida then used their size in the second half and went to Horford who scored 12 points after halftime on his way to a final stat line of 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, 13 rebounds, and five assists to help Florida advance with a 76-50 victory. Horford and Joakim Noah went to work down low in the second half and that pleased coach Billy Donovan.
Donovan told reports postgame:
I went off pretty good at halftime. I was getting frustrated watching balls go up from the 3-point line when guys are standing in the post with a 6-6 guy guarding them. They finally got the message.
The Gators would move on to the Round of 32 to take Wisconsin-Milwaukee after they upset Oklahoma in the Round of 64. Horford and the Gators will have to be ready to make sure they go into that game ready to roll. [lawrence-related id=27972,27964,27955]