Who are these guys? Scouting Florida’s first opponent at NCAA Tournament

By
The Associated Press
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3
2022
BEST PLAYER YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF: JAYLEN ADAMS, ST. BONAVENTURE He may be tucked away in Western New York, but Adams is one of the best point guards in the country without question. He missed time at the start of the season with an ankle injury but when he returned to the 4-3 Bonnies they won 21 of 25. He averages 19.8 points and 5.4 rebounds and it would not be surprising if his name gets called in the NBA draft. The 6-1 speedster makes 45 percent on three pointers and was Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year. [The Associated Press]

A scouting report on Florida’s  NCAA Tournament opponent Thursday night in Dallas. St. Bonaventure plays UCLA on Tuesday night in Dayton for the right to advance to face the Gators:

St. Bonaventure

Olean, N.Y., 25-7.

Nickname: Bonnies. Coach: Mark Schmidt.

Conference: Atlantic 10. Bid: At large.

Region: East. Seed: No. 11.

Tournament History: 6-8, 1 Final Four in 6 appearances.

Last appearance: 2012, lost to Florida State in the first round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 77.9 points per game, 45.6 fg pct, 39.8 3-pt pct, 75.4 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Jaylen Adams 19.8; Matt Mobley 18.5; Courtney Stockard 12.9.

Rebounds: LaDarien Griffin 6.5; Stockard 6.4; Avg team margin (plus-1.0).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.23): Adams (5.4/3.2), 141 assists.

Last 10 Games: 9-1.

Best Win: 77-74 at home to Rhode Island on Feb. 16.

Worst Loss: 77-75 at home to Niagara on Nov. 10.

The Skinny: The Bonnies enter the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. St. Bonaventure had its 13-game win streak snapped against Davidson in the conference tournament semifinal, but have 25 wins to match the program record set by the 1969-70 Final Four team. Senior guard Jaylen Adams is the A-10 co-player of the year.

UCLA

Los Angeles, 21-11.

Nickname: Bruins. Coach: Steve Alford.

Conference: Pacific 12. Bid: At large.

Region: East. Seed: No. 11.

Tournament History: 105-41, 18 Final Fours and 11 National Championships in 48 appearances.

Last appearance: 2017, lost to Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 82.2 points per game, 46.4 fg pct, 38.6 3-pt pct, 72.2 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Aaron Holiday 20.1; Kris Wilkes 14.0; Thomas Welsh 12.7.

Rebounds: Welsh 10.5; Wilkes 5.0; Avg team margin (plus-2.9).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.26): Holiday (5.8/3.7), 174 assists.

Last 10 Games: 6-4.

Best Win: 83-75 vs. Kentucky on Dec. 23.

Worst Loss: 69-63 at Oregon State on Jan. 18.

The Skinny: Aaron Holiday, the Pac-12’s leading scorer, scored 15 points in the Bruins’ 78-67 overtime loss to No. 15 Arizona in the conference tournament semifinal. Thomas Welsh, the 7-0 senior and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award finalist, had double-doubles in both conference tournament games and has 18 this season.The Bruins lost three straight games in January, and two of three to end the regular season.

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