Why UCSB will beat Florida in the NCAA Tournament

This is why - not how, I dare not attempt to predict that - the Gauchos are winning on Thursday:

1. Gotta be hot going in - UCSB was 0-6 against Pacific, Northridge, and Long Beach State this season. They beat all 3 very strongly to win the Big West title and make the Big Dance.


2. Experience matters - UCSB made the field last year and got caught being happy to be there. This year, the team knows what to do to win a game and wants that W.


3. Orlando Johnson remembers he is Orlando Johnson - "Last year’s Conference Player of the Year dominated Long Beach St. just as he dominated Ohio St. in the NCAA tourney last year." - Jim Rome. In a wide-open field with no true superstars, the O-Dawg has as good a chance as anyone to make a name for himself.


4. Box Score Don't Lie - Piggybacking on point #3, look at last years' box score from the Ohio St. game. See Orlando Johnson? Baller. See the rest of the team? Scared. See how the Gauchos played so much better in the 2nd half? Team of Ballers. That script is going to pick up where it left off for an E-P-I-C sequel.


5. The Universe has a plan #1 - The 15-seeded Gauchos get a second chance. Never give a underdog a second chance.


6. The Universe has a plan #2 -
   
1991 - (15) Richmond 73, (2) Syracuse 69
2001 - (15) Hampton 58, (2) Iowa State 57
2011 - It's going to happen.
Long Island over North Carolina? Child please! Akron over Notre Dame? Not the way ND is playing and Ohio St. is using all of Ohio's mojo this tourney. Northern Colorado over SDSU? As much as I have no trust in SDSU (losing to Temple in round #2), the "other" UNC is like UCSB last year - just happy to be there. It's going to be UCSB against an over-seeded Florida.
(Note: 15 seeds did not exist prior to 1985)


7. The Universe has a plan #3 - Right now, Odin, Zeus, God, Buddha, Krishna, Allah, Poseidon, Jesus, Shiva, Hermes, Moses, Thor, Vishnu, Hades, Mohammad, Kali, Loki, Michael the Archangel, et al are all looking at their brackets and laughing their righteous a$$es off at UCSB vs UCLA in the 2nd round because they know that it will possibly cause the greatest physical, mental, and emotional meltdown of ALL TIME in a beachside borough of San Diego. I'm talking Ace Ventura burn-your-clothes-and-curl-up-in-the-fetal-position-crying-while-naked-the-floor-of-a-shower-with-the-water-running-because-you-just-realized-you-slept-with-a-man breakdown. The heavens aren't passing up this chance to ruin me.

There you have it. I close with Rome:

"Let me say this: I won’t guarantee a Gaucho win. But I will guarantee two things; one, if they do win, kegs will be tapped and couches will be burned in Isla Vista. And two, if they lose, kegs will be tapped and couches will be burned in Isla Vista. As always, either way, we win. War Gauchos!"

P.S. - OK fine, one real reason why this can actually happen:

Run, run, run - Florida has the size and power advantage. UCSB some size to counter Florida, but more importantly has the depth. If Bob Williams is smart - and I believe he is - The Gauchos are going to crash the boards and run the break as much as possible to wear down the Florida bigs. Turn Florida into jump shooters,and watch them clang their way to defeat. (But it's really going to happen for the esoteric reasons I listed above for why the Gauchos will be achieving greatness)