COMMENTARY
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Never mind the graceless, white exterior that resembles a water-treatment facility. Inside, where it matters, the O’Connell Center packed ample basketball life Saturday. Fans leaned over the railings close enough to taunt players with their shakers and students arm-chomped like it was the national championship heydays of 2006-2007.
Until approximately noon, we presumed ninth-ranked West Virginia was this year’s contestant with championship potential. That presumption began shifting 11 seconds after tipoff when Dorian Finney-Smith sank the first of his five 3s.
Before the first media timeout, Florida buried two more 3s to lead 11-2.