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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gators get to stay close to home

Florida coach Billy Donovan and his Gators have won 26 straight games. (Associated Press)

Top overall seed Florida gets to stay close to home to start play in the South Region.

The Gators (32-2) will stay in their home state to play in Orlando on Thursday. They’ll face the winner of a First Four game between Albany (N.Y.) and Mount St. Mary’s (Md.).

Florida has won 26 straight games, the last coming Sunday to win the Southeastern Conference championship against Kentucky.

The Kansas Jayhawks (24-9) received the No. 2 seed in the South and will play 15th-seeded Eastern Kentucky (24-9) Friday in St. Louis.

With star freshman Andrew Wiggins, Kansas captured its 10th straight Big 12 regular-season title but lost to eventual champion Iowa State in the tournament semifinals. The Jayhawks will likely be without 7-footer Joel Embiid until the second weekend. He has a stress fracture in his lower back.

Eastern Kentucky beat Belmont in the Ohio Valley Conference final.

Associated Press