Florida Gators' NCAA Tournament Journey

0:00On March 16, Florida Gators earned a number one seed in the South region of the 2025, 2026, NC double, A tournament. They sit forth and odds to win the whole thing at plus 650 behind Duke, Michigan, and Arizona. The team opens against either Prairie View A&M or Lehigh University on Friday in Tampa at 9.25 pm. Under fourth year coach Todd Golden, Florida, boasts a six-and-one tournament record, including last season's national title. This marks their 24th overall appearance and third straight under him. They head in hot, winning 12 of their last 13 games, capped by an 11-game conference streak. The Gators struggled early against top non-conference foes like Duke, Arizona, and Yukon, but dominated the SEC with 16 wins and 18 tries. Key victories came over teams like Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Kentucky, and Arkansas. Vanderbilt joins them in the South bracket after knocking Florida out of the conference semi-finals.

1:04Front court stars Thomas Howe, Alex Condon, and Rubin Chignelu, power the run. Howe leads scoring at 17.1 per game and grabbed all American and all SEC honors. Chignelu topped the league in rebounds at 11.5, while posting double doubles, and Condon hit career highs in points, boards, assists, and blocks. To rebuild the back court, Florida added transfer as Boogie Flan and Xavier Lee, both finishing in double figures. Six-man Urban Klafsar stepped up big with team-leading threes and earned SEC six-man of the year. All eyes now turn to Tampa as the Gators chase another championship banner.