The Gators led by 21 with 14:20 remaining in the second half, on their way to a 90-81 win. This follows up Florida dominating Tennessee by 30 at the “O-Dome” back on January 7, the first game after their first loss of the season.
Todd Golden has the Gators sitting at 20-3, with all three of Florida’s losses coming to SEC teams currently ranked. Florida fell 106-100 on the road to #10 Kentucky, 83-82 to a 13-3 Missouri squad that is currently ranked #21, and 64-44 in the rematch against the Volunteers in Knoxville. Tennessee had slipped to #8, but has since climbed back to #5.
While the Gators are 2-2 against ranked opponents this season, they sit fifth in the NET rankings, which replaced the RPI in 2018. Florida has the 17th-best scoring offense in the country at 83.7 points-per-game, and are fourth in the country in rebounding at 43.3 per game.
Todd Golden has the Gators sitting at 20-3, with all three of Florida’s losses coming to SEC teams currently ranked. Florida fell 106-100 on the road to #10 Kentucky, 83-82 to a 13-3 Missouri squad that is currently ranked #21, and 64-44 in the rematch against the Volunteers in Knoxville. Tennessee had slipped to #8, but has since climbed back to #5.
While the Gators are 2-2 against ranked opponents this season, they sit fifth in the NET rankings, which replaced the RPI in 2018. Florida has the 17th-best scoring offense in the country at 83.7 points-per-game, and are fourth in the country in rebounding at 43.3 per game.
Golden, now in his third season in the Swamp, had his team prepared to weather the storm in Auburn without second leading scorer Alijah Martin, who sat out with a hip injury. Martin is expected to return on Tuesday night, when Florida travels to #22 Mississippi State. With eight games remaining in the regular season, Florida will play four ranked opponents, including #8 Texas A&M on March 1, and a road game against #2 Alabama four nights later. The Gators sit two games out of first in the SEC, but have a chance with a victory against Alabama to topple the five highest-ranked opponents in the conference.
Starting the season ranked #21, Florida stormed out to a 13-0 record before the loss against Kentucky. With the latest AP Poll having Florida tied with Duke for third in the country, this marks the Gators’ best ranking since being #1 in the 2013-14 season, the last time the Gators made the Final Four. Florida has not advanced past the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament since 2017, when they were eliminated in the Elite Eight.
The Gators earned three first-place votes in Monday’s poll, rising three spots after the upset of Auburn, who remained at #1.
Golden, 39, has guided the Gators to a postseason tournament each of the past two seasons, with Florida losing in the first round last year, and the first round of the NIT in 2023. After a 57-36 record in three seasons at San Francisco, which was highlighted by a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022, Golden jumped to Gainesville, where he has posted a 59-31 record thus far.
On November 8, the Independent Florida Alligator published a story accusing Golden of sexual misconduct and stalking of females, namely University of Florida students. Golden responded with a statement the following day that he would be seeking legal counsel to bring potential claims against any involved parties for defamation of character. The university closed their internal Title IX investigation on January 25, citing they could find no evidence of wrongdoing. There was much speculation as to whether Golden would step away while the investigation was ongoing, but was permitted to remain on the bench throughout the process.
A separate Title IX investigation is still ongoing involving Golden’s assistant, former Gator basketball star Taurean Green. This second investigation was filed on January 16 against the member of Florida’s back-to-back National Championship squads in 2006 and 2007.
Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. put on a clinic against the Tigers on Saturday, leading the Gators with 19 points, which was highlighted by three massive three point buckets, one of which from the Auburn logo. Clayton is averaging 17.5 points and four assists per game, in 31.9 minutes a night. Most importantly, Clayton has put his best performances forward during Florida’s biggest games this season. Despite only putting up seven points in the dominating win against Tennessee, Clayton put in a season-high 33 in the loss to Kentucky, and 28 in the loss to Missouri. Despite the losses, Clayton has given the Gators a chance to win late, but missed key free throws in the second half in both games.
Should Florida be able to keep pace over the final eight games, there is a better-than-average chance to sit no worse than on the 4-line for when the pairings are announced for the NCAA Tournament on March 16. ESPN Bracketology currently has Florida on the 2-line in the East Region, with Duke sitting as the top seed.
This would put the Gators in Cleveland for the opening weekend, and I may just so happen to be off work that Thursday and Friday.
Golden, 39, has guided the Gators to a postseason tournament each of the past two seasons, with Florida losing in the first round last year, and the first round of the NIT in 2023. After a 57-36 record in three seasons at San Francisco, which was highlighted by a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022, Golden jumped to Gainesville, where he has posted a 59-31 record thus far.
On November 8, the Independent Florida Alligator published a story accusing Golden of sexual misconduct and stalking of females, namely University of Florida students. Golden responded with a statement the following day that he would be seeking legal counsel to bring potential claims against any involved parties for defamation of character. The university closed their internal Title IX investigation on January 25, citing they could find no evidence of wrongdoing. There was much speculation as to whether Golden would step away while the investigation was ongoing, but was permitted to remain on the bench throughout the process.
A separate Title IX investigation is still ongoing involving Golden’s assistant, former Gator basketball star Taurean Green. This second investigation was filed on January 16 against the member of Florida’s back-to-back National Championship squads in 2006 and 2007.
Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. put on a clinic against the Tigers on Saturday, leading the Gators with 19 points, which was highlighted by three massive three point buckets, one of which from the Auburn logo. Clayton is averaging 17.5 points and four assists per game, in 31.9 minutes a night. Most importantly, Clayton has put his best performances forward during Florida’s biggest games this season. Despite only putting up seven points in the dominating win against Tennessee, Clayton put in a season-high 33 in the loss to Kentucky, and 28 in the loss to Missouri. Despite the losses, Clayton has given the Gators a chance to win late, but missed key free throws in the second half in both games.
Should Florida be able to keep pace over the final eight games, there is a better-than-average chance to sit no worse than on the 4-line for when the pairings are announced for the NCAA Tournament on March 16. ESPN Bracketology currently has Florida on the 2-line in the East Region, with Duke sitting as the top seed.
This would put the Gators in Cleveland for the opening weekend, and I may just so happen to be off work that Thursday and Friday.
-JC24