The Florida Gators, reigning national champions, entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament with high expectations as a No. 1 seed. Riding an 11-game winning streak, they seemed poised to defend their title. However, the tournament's unpredictability struck when the No. 9 seed Iowa Hawkeyes pulled off a stunning upset, defeating Florida 73-72 in a nail-biting second-round clash.
The game reached its climax when Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras hit a clutch 3-pointer with just 4.5 seconds left, sealing the Hawkeyes' first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999. This unexpected turn of events sparked a flurry of analysis and critique, particularly aimed at Florida's head coach, Todd Golden, for his late-game decisions.
CBS Sports analyst Seth Davis took to social media to question Florida's choice to employ a full-court press with a 72-70 lead and just under nine seconds remaining. The aggressive defense allowed Iowa's Bennett Stirtz to break free and set up Folgueiras for the game-winner. Davis suggested a more conservative approach might have been wiser, one that would force Iowa to use precious seconds advancing the ball.
Coach Golden defended his strategy, explaining that the plan was to prevent Stirtz from receiving the ball and to force a less experienced Iowa player to the free-throw line under pressure. The goal was to at least regain possession with a tie, but the execution fell short.
Further scrutiny came from analyst Zach Schumaker, who criticized Florida's final play. With the game on the line, point guard Xaivian Lee drove the court but failed to attempt a shot, passing too late to Thomas Haugh. Schumaker noted that for a team as well-coached as Florida, a more decisive play was expected.
This heartbreaker marked Florida's first NCAA Tournament loss in their home state since 2003, a bitter pill given the proximity to their Gainesville campus.
Meanwhile, Iowa's victory propels them to face the No. 4-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sweet 16, with tip-off set for March 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV. The Hawkeyes' journey continues, showcasing the thrilling unpredictability that makes March Madness so captivating.