Programs like Florida don’t aspire to simply make the postseason; they want to win NCAA titles. A trip to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament is merely a consolation prize.
Such shortcomings can have a damaging effect on a team’s mentality. But the Gators don’t seem to have noticed.
UF dethroned two conference champs in UMBC and Florida Gulf Coast in rounds one and two of the WNIT, ending FGCU’s 42-game home winning streak in the process. And the Gators are three wins away from the program’s first postseason title.
In a rematch from the Preseason NIT, Florida (20-14, 7-9 Southeastern Conference) will travel to North Carolina tonight at 7 to take on Charlotte (25-9, 9-5 Atlantic 10) in the third round in Halton Arena with a berth in the quarterfinals on the line.
While the WNIT’s round of 16 doesn’t share a sugary name with its NCAA counterpart, the Gators are still brimming with excitement at the opportunity to continue their season.
A day removed from the Gators’ win over FGCU, guard Jordan Jones said, “We have a lot of confidence right now. I’m sure a lot of us wish we were playing again (Tuesday).”
Florida has won six of its last seven games, with the only loss coming against Southeastern Conference champion Tennessee, and have a leg up on Charlotte entering tonight’s matchup.
The Gators defeated the 49ers 76-70 at home on Nov. 15. Plus, coach Amanda Butler headed Charlotte’s program for two years before taking the Florida job in 2007 and said she continues to follow the team’s progress.
After defeating Florida Gulf Coast, Butler said her team was anxious to begin preparing, so they started watching film on Charlotte on the bus ride back from Fort Myers.
“You want to feel like you have the more excited team every day, not just when you take the floor,” Butler said. “They’re fired up about the opportunity to play Charlotte.”
But coming off a 69-57 victory at South Carolina, the 49ers are likely to come in riding just as high. Charlotte has won four of its last five and is making its first appearance in the third round of the WNIT.
The 49ers’ 25 wins are a school record, and they have lost just four games at home this season.
“We beat them by six points, so I’m sure they think that they kind of let one get away from them,” Jones said. “We’re excited to go up there and hopefully take care of business.”
Jones had 19 points against Charlotte back in November but was limited to just two points against FGCU after her and fellow guard Lanita Bartley got into early foul trouble.
Bartley was relatively quiet in that initial Charlotte game, picking up six points and dishing four assists, and said the first thing that comes to mind when scouting the 49ers is their guards.
Bartley spent much of her time on the court trying to slow down Epiphany Woodson, who dropped 23 on the Gators. Woodson and guard Shannon McCallum average 12.3 and 12.5 points, respectively, and are keys to Charlotte’s dynamic transition offense.
While the 49ers provide a formidable matchup, Jones said the Gators are simply amped to still be playing basketball.
“There’s a lot of people right now who are laying out by the pool,” she said. “We’re in the gym working on plays and scouting our next opponent. We’re not ready to be seniors yet.”
