25 Cheers for 25 Years: Chiozza Sends Florida to the Elite Eight

Chris Chiozza (11) of the University of Florida hits the game winning shot in overtime during the 2017 NCAA Photos via Getty Images Men's Basketball Tournament held at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

In March 2017, the Florida Gators men’s basketball team experienced one of the most dramatic moments in program history. In the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden, #4-seed Florida faced #8-seed Wisconsin in an overtime thriller​.

Florida appeared on the brink of defeat after Wisconsin’s Zak Showalter hit a circus three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left in regulation to force overtime​.

In the extra period, Wisconsin nudged ahead 83-81 on Nigel Hayes’ free throws with just four seconds remaining​. What followed became an instant classic.

Florida inbounded the ball to junior guard Chris Chiozza, who sprinted the length of the court with lightning speed. Chiozza launched a running three-pointer just before the buzzer – and it swished through as time expired, giving Florida a miraculous 84-83 victory. The shot sent the Gators bench into a frenzy and stunned the Badgers, who could only watch in disbelief​.

“I don’t know how it happened, I just know it went in,” Chiozza said moments after his buzzer-beater, still in awe of his first-ever true game-winning shot​.

His heroics propelled Florida into the Elite Eight, keeping their championship aspirations alive.

The game itself was a roller coaster. Florida’s KeVaughn Allen scored a career-high 35 points to lead the offense​, and the Gators had built a 12-point lead with just over four minutes left in regulation.

But Wisconsin battled back with clutch buckets – including Showalter’s off-balance three that answered a defensive lapse by Florida – to send the contest to overtime​.

In OT, a critical hustle play by Canyon Barry, who chased down a fast-break and blocked a layup attempt, gave Florida a chance​.

“If Canyon doesn’t make that block, we’re not in here smiling right now,” noted teammate Devin Robinson, underscoring how Barry’s never-give-up effort saved the game.

Head coach Mike White also had good things to say.

“My goodness, just a huge win,” White said, calling it “a wonderful college basketball game to be a part of.”

He praised his players’ heart after a night of ten lead changes and seven ties in a game that stretched past midnight​.

“We didn’t stop playing. We kept fighting and showed our resiliency,” senior Kasey Hill said of the team’s refusal to quit even as momentum swung wildly.

Chiozza’s buzzer-beater instantly entered Florida lore, evoking memories of the best March Madness buzzer-beaters of the past. Florida would fall in the Elite Eight to South Carolina, but Chiozza’s floating three-pointer stands as one of the NCAA Tournament’s best moments.