​Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball’. Tonight, it is the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball West Regional Final, between the Huskies of University of Connecticut (U Conn) and Gonzaga Bulldogs.
 
Huskies are trying to return to glory. They are looking forward to their first visit to the Final Four since 2014. This will be their first visit to the Final Four since rejoining the Big East in 2020. First, they must find a way to defeat Gonzaga.
 
The Bulldogs are looking for their third visit to the Final Four in the last 7 years. They are also still searching for their first national championship in school history. The Zags are hoping that having a more tested regular season will help them cut the nets Next Monday.
 
U Conn is led by Adama Sanogo in scoring and rebounding. While Tristen Newton leads the Huskies in assists.
 
As for the Zags, they are led by Drew Timme in scoring and rebounding and assists.
 
It is the U Conn Huskies taking on the Gonzaga Bulldogs, in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball West Regional Final. The Game will begin shortly.
 
Possible Starting Lineups:
U Conn Huskies:
G: #2-Tristen Newton
G: #24-Jordan Hawkins
G: #40-Andre Johnson, Jr.
F: #11-Alex Karaban
F: #21-Adama Sanogo
 
Gonzaga Bulldogs:
G: #0-Julian Strawther
G: #45-Rasir Bolton
G: #11-Nolan Hickman
F: #22-Anton Watson
F: #2 Drew Timme

Hello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging On Shish On College Basketball'.  This afternoon, it is a NCAA MBK Tournament East Regional Final, between South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida Gators.   South Carolina is a #7 seed in the East, while Florida is the East's #4 seed.  

This is the third meeting of the year between these two programs.   Both teams split the last two meetings, on their home court.  The winner of this game, guarantees the SEC will get a bid into the Final Four.  The winner of this game will play Gonzaga on Saturday.  

South Carolina comes into today's game, having defeated Marquette, Duke and Baylor.   The Gamecocks are lead by Sindarius Thornwell in scoring, rebounding, and share of assists lead with P.J. Dozier.  

Florida comes into today's game, having defeated East Tennessee St., Virginia, and Wisconsin in overtime.  The Gators are lead by Kevaughn Allen in scoring, Devon Robinson in rebounding, and Kasey Hill in assists.  

It is the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Florida Gators, coming up shortly. 

Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

Projected Starting Lineup:
South Carolina Gamecocks (25-10):
G: S. Thornwell
G: D. Notice 
F: P. Dozier
F: M. Kotsar
F: C. Silva

Florida Gators (27-8):
G: K. Hill
G: K. Allen
F: D. Robinson
F: J. Leon
C: K. Hayes

1st Half:
20:00: South Carolina wins the tipoff.  Florida will get the possession arrow, in their favor.  
19:42: Thornwell opens up the scoring, for South Carolina.  SCAR 2, FLA 0
19:11: Justin Leon opens up the scoring, for Florida.  SCAR 2, FLA 2
15:53: T.V. Timeout #1: SCAR 6, FLA 7
​14:58: Shot Clock has stopped, for the third time in the game.  SCAR 9, FLA 7
11:41: T.V. Timeout #2: SCAR 15, FLA 14
​10:38: Possession Arrow in South Carolina's favor.  SCAR 18, FLA 14
10:17 Jump ball!  South Carolina ball.  Florida now has the possession arrow, in their favor.  SCAR 18, FLA 14
8:39: Silva with 2 fouls, for South Carolina. SCAR 18, FLA 16
8:18: Florida now has 8 turnovers, in the game.  SCAR 18, FLA 16
7:30: T.V. Timeout #3; SCAR 20, FLA 18
​7:26: This game has 3 ties and 8 lead changes.  SCAR 20, FLA 18
6:58: South Carolina now has 5 fouls.  Next Gamecocks' foul, will put Florida in the Bonus.  SCAR 20, FLA 18
6:03: Sindarius Thornwell now has 2 fouls.  Florida will go to the Bonus.  Gators will shoot 1-and-1, after every non-shooting foul.  SCAR 22, FLA 20
5:30: Thornwell now has 11 points in the game.  SCAR 24, FLA 20
4:54: Florida regains the lead.  SCAR 24, FLA 26
4:14: Dozier ties the game.  SCAR 26, FLA 26
3:38: Florida is 5/9, from behind the 3-point arc.  SCAR 28, FLA 29
3:01: T.V. Timeout #4: SCAR 28, FLA 32
2:38: Outside of Thornwell, South Carolina is shooting cold.  SCAR 28, FLA 32
2:08: Thornwell with 15 points.  SCAR 30,  FLA 32
1;37: Leon with 13 points. SCAR 30, FLA 35
1:00: Florida now has the largest lead of the game. SCAR 30, FLA 37
:49.4: Florida only has 2 fouls, in this half.  SCAR 30, FLA 37
:42.0: Allen heads to the locker room, with a possible leg injury. SCAR 33, FLA 38
:32.0: South Carolina now has 8 fouls.  Next Gamecocks foul, Florida will go to the Bonus Plus.  SCAR 33, FLA 38
:32.0: South Carolina Timeout #1: SCAR 33, FLA 40
​:00: Florida has a 7-point lead.  Florida will inbound the ball, to start the second half.  SCAR 33, FLA 40

Halftime:
SCAR 33, FLA 40

Leading Scorers:
SCAR: S. Thornwell 15 points
FLA: J. Leon 13 points
​
2nd Half:
20:00: Florida will inbound the ball, to start the second half.  SCAR 33, FLA 40
20:00: Key stat is 3-point FG%.  Florida is shooting 58%, while South Carolina near 29%.  SCAR 33, FLA 40
17:58: South Carolina dominating the Paint.  Gamecocks are outscoring Gators, 26-8.  SCAR 37, FLA 42
17:20: Only 1 missed free throw, by both teams, in this game.  SCAR 39, FLA 42
15:32: Florida double-up South Carolina on assists, 10-5.  SCAR 43, FLA 46
15:32: T.V. Timeout #1: SCAR 43, FLA 46
​15:17: Florida has 5 fouls.  Next Gators foul, will put the Gamecocks in the Bonus.  SCAR 43, FLA 46
15:09: South Carolina is now in the Bonus.  Gamecocks will shoot 1-and-1, after every non-shooting foul.  SCAR 43, FLA 46
14:37: Florida is 0-for-4, from the 3-point line, in the second half.  SCAR 45, FLA 46
14:27: Silva now has 3 fouls.  SCAR 45, FLA 47
12:50: 3 players from both teams have 3 fouls.  SCAR 47, FLA 48
11:03: T.V. Timeout #2: SCAR 49, FLA 48
​10:45: South Carolina has 5 fouls.  Next Gamecocks foul, will put the Gators in the Bonus.  SCAR 51, FLA 48
10:35: Florida has 8 fouls.  Next Gators foul, will put the Gamecocks in the Bonus Plus.  SCAR 51, FLA 48
9:55: Neither team has a 3-point FG, in the second half.  SCAR 51, FLA 50
9:23: Leon gives the Gators the lead.  SCAR 51, FLA 52
9:23: Silva now has 4 fouls for South Carolina.  SCAR 51, FLA 53
8:45: South Carolina ties the game.  SCAR 53, FLA 53
8:41: South Carolina is in the Bonus Plus.  Gamecocks will shoot 2 free throws, after every foul.  SCAR 53, FLA 53
6:55: T.V. Timeout #3: SCAR 53, FLA 55
​6:40: The game has 6 ties and 11 lead changes.  SCAR 55, FLA 57
5:47: Both teams are a combined 0/14, from behind the 3-point line, in this half.  SCAR 59, FLA 57
5:27: Florida Timeout #2: SCAR 59, FLA 57
4:50: Thornwell gives the Gamecocks back the lead.  SCAR 61, FLA 59
4:23: Florida is in the Bonus.  Gators will shoot 1-and-1, after every non-shooting foul.  SCAR 61, FLA 59
4:23: South Carolina now has 8 fouls.  Next Gamecocks foul, will put the Gators in the Bonus Plus.  SCAR 61, FLA 61
3:54: Gators retake the lead.  It is the 13th lead change of the game.   SCAR 61, FLA 63
3:16: Gamecocks tie the game.  SCAR 63, FLA 63
3:00: T.V. Timeout #4: SCAR 63, FLA 63
​3:00: The winner of this game, will play Gonzaga, on Saturday.  SCAR 63, FLA 63
3:00: Florida ball, after official review.  SCAR 63, FLA 63
2:24: Sindarius Thornwell gives the Gamecocks back the lead.  SCAR 65, FLA 63
1:55: Kotsar gives the Gamecocks a 4-point lead. SCAR 67, FLA 63
1:55: South Carolina Timeout #2: SCAR 67, FLA 63
​1:07: South Carolina is 14/18 from the charity stripe, in the second half.  SCAR 69, FLA 65
:59.6: South Carolina is less than a minute away from a possible visit to the Final Four.  SCAR 70, FLA 65
:53.7: Florida is now in the Bonus Plus.  Gators will shoot 2 free throws, after every foul. SCAR 70, FLA 68
:50.4: Thornwell also has 4 fouls.  SCAR 70, FLA 68
:40.4: Gators came close to flagrant foul.  Silva will shoot the free throws. SCAR 72, FLA 68
:31.2: Allen misses another shot.  Silva will shoot from the foul line.  SCAR 74, FLA 68
:24.5: Florida Timeout #3: SCAR 74, FLA 70
​:11.0: South Carolina may have put the nail in Florida's coffin.  Notice with the dagger jam.  SCAR 77, FLA 70
:11.0: South Carolina Timeout #3: SCAR 77, FLA 70
:00: South Carolina Gamecocks are the East Regional Champion.  This will be the Gamecocks first visit to the National Semifinal, in school history.  

Final: SCAR 77, FLA 70

Leading Scorers:
SCAR: S. Thornwell 26 points
FLA: J. Leon 18 points 

Final Thoughts: South Carolina overcame a 7-point deficit, to win a region, for the first time in school history.  What the Gamecocks did was make this game a game inside the 3-point arc.  South Carolina only shot 20% from behind the 3-point line, while Florida only shot 26% from downtown.  South Carolina will play Gonzaga, in Glendale, on Saturday.  

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging On Shish On College Basketball'.  Thanks for visiting this page. 
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