MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW: BYU vs. Florida (Tonight, 7:27 PM EST; TV: TBS)
Jimmer Mania is in full effect.
The BYU Cougars, led by their star guard Jimmer Fredette, face the Florida Gators in New Orleans tonight in a Sweet 16 matchup.
The Gators are aware that there are other players that they will have to worry about other than Fredette, but if the 28.8 points-per-game scorer plays above his head, BYU has the ability to blow out the competition, as they did against traditional tournament power Gonzaga.
Fredette was seven-for-12 from beyond the arc against Gonzaga, and the Cougars won by 22 points and spent much of the second half on cruise control.
The Cougars may have a tougher time tonight against Florida.
The Gators have won 15 of their last 18 games, and defeated a hard-nosed UCLA team in the third round.
Florida is led by a backcourt duo of Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton. The guards are averaging a combined 28.7 points per game.
But Billy Donovan's squad also has players in the paint. The Gators have three seniors in their frontcourt. Chandler Parsons and Vernon Macklin are both 6'10 and both average more than 11 points per game. They are joined by 6'8 Alex Tyus, who is averaging nearly 8.6 points per game.
Fredette is joined in the backcourt by Jackson Emery, who is averaging 12.6 points per game.
Forwards Noah Hartsock and Charles Abouo will be relied upon to hold Parsons and Macklin from dominating the glass, and scoring easy inside shots.
The winner of the game will face the winner of Wisconsin-Butler.
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