Gators Face Prairie View A&M in NCAA Opener

0:00On March 19, Florida's number one seed, Gator's face prayer review A&M, the number 16 seed in their NCAA Tournament opener, Friday at 9.25 PM Eastern Time in Tampa. Head coach Todd Golden shared his thoughts during a media session, focusing on getting his team ready after a tough loss last weekend. The Gators had a strong practice week, using the setback as fuel to fix weak spots like defense and turnovers. Golden highlighted the home state edge in Tampa just 90 minutes from campus, saying it beats traveling and brings out Gator fans despite extra attention. Veterans like Alex and Tommy head into their third tournament, bringing leadership from past highs like last year's title run and lows like an early exit before. They've guided newer players on handling March madness pressure. Golden respects prayer views gritty style under veteran coach Jones, with six seniors who play tough defense and force turnovers. He plans shootarounds to adjust to the big arena, stressing rebounding and ball security over relying on shots.

1:05Golden reflected on his quick rise from assistant roles to building an elite program here, crediting strong recruiting and assistance like Harlan. Hartman for developing the nation's top front court, the Gators aimed to stay sharp in advance.