NCAA Tournament 2013: Live coverage and score updates for Friday’s Sweet 16 action

Joakim Noah attended Florida’s Sweet 16 meeting with Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night. Craig Sager approached the Bulls star for an in-game interview, but Noah didn’t seem to have much interest in speaking to the sideline reporter. Let the man watch basketball, Sager.

Goooooooo Gators!

The final day of the Sweet 16 provided plenty of drama and excitement. We got our first overtime game of the NCAA Tournament and another No. 1 seed fell. The Elite Eight matchups are now set, but first let’s recap Friday’s action:

The Wolverines will play Florida in the South regional final.

FGCU appeared to be in control of this game early, using a 15-4 run with their usual array of dunks and three pointers. However, Florida quickly clamped down on defense and started to wake up on offense. They ended the first half with a 19-3 run while the Eagles went nearly seven minutes without a field goal. They were also sloppy with the ball, giving up 13 turnovers and eight steals in the first half alone. The Gators went into halftime up, 30-26.

In the second half, Florida continued to pull away, building a double-digit lead. They let the Eagles hang around for a while, but FGCU never came within seven points again. In the end, Florida was just too big and athletic for the Atlantic Sun champions to handle.

Louisville moved out to a double-digit lead midway through the first half and never looked back. They shot 54 percent from the field and went to the free throw line 26 times. For a team that has been playing their best basketball of the season the past couple weeks, it was another impressive showing from coach Rick Pitino’s bunch.

With the win, Louisville advances to take on the winner of Duke and Michigan State on Sunday afternoon. The winner of that game marches on to the Final Four in Atlanta.

My favorite part might be the sad kid in the Michigan hat, right before the old man blocks his view. Also, the guy with the FGCU sunglasses is clearly waiting for a different game to start.

Read more at Rock Chalk Talk.

Game time: 9:45 p.m. ET

TV: CBS