Noted smack talker, soccer antagonist, horse enthusiast and radio/television host Jim Rome is a graduate of the University of California-Santa Barbara. The Gauchos are in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed here and play No. 2 seed Florida. Mr. Rome has, perhaps in jest, warned the Gators. UCSB has heard, but is not affected.

Q. There’s been a prominent member of the media who’s an alum, who all week has been basically predicting the upset. Comments like that, is that something that you use to motivate your players, or are you worried that might put your undue pressure on them?

COACH WILLIAMS: Are you talking about Josh or are you talking about Jim Rome? Which one are you talking about? Rome Is Burning? No, it doesn’t put pressure on our guys at all. It’s actually something that our University loves. We love Jim Rome, we love the fact that he throws our name out and he puts it out there, and we think it’s great.

At the same time our guys, there’s nothing that puts pressure on our guys. The pressure on our guys is when you walk out and you see Florida at the other end of the floor and you’ve got to play against those guys. Guarding those two little guards who are the best backcourt tandem in the country in terms of off the dribble and using ball screens, that puts pressure on your guys, not Jim Rome saying that we’re going to beat somebody.