Florida coach Mike White knows the other side of a buzzer-beater

NEW YORK — There are two ends of the spectrum in the NCAA tournament — elation and deflation, the winning end of a buzzer-beater and the losing end.

Florida coach Mike White experienced the agony of defeat as a starting guard on the Ole Miss team that was famously upset by Bryce Drew and Valparaiso in the 1998 NCAA tournament’s opening round.

The loss was painful, stunning White — who wasn’t actually on the court for the shot — and his teammates into silence.

It’s a feeling Wisconsin is feeling now, after Florida guard Chris Chiozza flung up a one-handed three that beat the buzzer in overtime and sent the Gators past the Badgers and into the Elite Eight.

White, the second-year Florida coach, has finally experienced the joy of an NCAA tournament buzzer-beater.

So, does it offset the pain of Drew’s shot?

“Hell yeah,” White said. "Yeah. With an emphasis on the hell. Yeah. Absolutely. What a neat game to be a part of, especially when you're on the winning end. Yeah, you feel terrible — I feel terrible shaking (Wisconsin coach) Greg (Gard)'s hand — it's heart breaking."

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