Chiozza Hits the Unimaginable Floater at the Buzzer in OT, Sends Florida to the Elite 8
Madison Square Garden- Back to back games, back to back amazing atmospheres here at the Garden. The Badgers and Gators fans both travel everywhere they go and it showed after every basket. Coming in The career series for the teams is tied at 2, but this is the first postseason matchup between the teams. We were in for another good treat in the second game, when the magic of march struck again.
Wisconsin used their strength’s to their advantages opening up the game with 3 balls all around. The Hayes 3 with 14:22 gave the Badgers an early 14-6 lead. MONSTER JAM by Iverson, extended the Badger run to 13-2 early. Everything was clicking at the right time for the Badgers, moving the ball, finding the post, it’s just what every team wants early in the game. Hayes hits the 3, and right back comes Robinson for the Gators cutting the lead to 7. Wisconsin kept using the 3 pointer to extend the lead after every Florida basket something they need in order to keep the lead. Florida went on a roll hitting 3 straight field goals to cut the Wisconsin lead to 7 with 4:16 left to go. It felt like if you were at the game that Wisconsin should have been up by 20, but Florida kept pulling back. The defense for Florida was phenomenal in the final 10 minutes, holding Florida to no field goals in 4 minutes. The Gators took their first lead of the game when Allen hit 3-3 at the free throw line, putting them up 31-30. The run for the Gators extended to 6-0 on the free throws. Out of the timeout the Badgers ended the run for the Gators on the turnaround lay in by Ethan Happ. The shooting at the charity stripe for the badgers killed in the first half shooting 50%. At the half Allen had 15 for the Gators and Brown had 10 for the Badgers. Florida just edged the Badgers at the half, 34-32.
Back and forth for both teams to start the second half, Florida jumped out to an early 45-39 lead. Wisconsin struggled with ball control coming out of the break with a total of 12 turnovers already occurring in the game. The Badgers would try to fight back hitting 4 straight field goals, shortening the lead to 6. Wisconsin kept giving Florida the open space to shoot and it showed when the increased the lead to ten on the basket by Hill. The one person everyone knew could bring Wisconsin back into the game, Mr. Bronson Koeing. His senior leadership and commanding ball skills is something that the Badgers are going to miss next year. Bronson brought the Badgers back in it with a jumper from the corner and on the next possession a 3 pointer to cut the Florida lead to 4. Nigel Hayes hit the and one with 10:21 left to tie the game at 52. Florida would drive off the and one and go on a 9-0 run over a minute span. In the final stretch Florida would get cold and miss four straight field goals, allowing Wisconsin to cut the lead to 6, The shots just wouldn’t go for Wisconsin when they needed them in the second half, allowing Florida to take advantage and play to their strength. Koeing hit a must needed 3 to cut the Florida lead to 5 with 1:29 left to go. Ethan Happ following that basket put in a reverse layup to cut the lead to 3 with 37.1 left. 3333333 Showalter tied it at 72 and sent it into overtime!
In overtime, Hayes put the Badgers in the lead after 2 free throws, 74-73. Florida opened OT ice cold, shooting 39% on the game. Another Nigel Hayes free throw put the Badgers up 2. The key in overtime was free throws for the Badgers, Hayes was put to the line on three straight possessions, on those possessions going 4-6. Again another reverse lay in secured the victory for the Badgers, this time it was Ethan Happ. Showalter came up clutch again hitting two free throws to give the Badgers a 5-point lead. Not so fast, a block by Berry on the break and Chiozza in transition ties the game at 81 a piece with .24 seconds left. Nigel Hayes was sent to the line on the drive and he hit both. THE PLAY OF THE GAME, Chiozza goes coast to coast and BANNGGGGGGG 333333333 the game winner at the buzzer. TO THE ELITE 8 Rolls Florida.
