Florida Baseball Season At a Very Critical Juncture

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning:

With only 18 regular season games remaining, the Florida baseball team finds itself in the unusual predicament of absolutely zero in the way of wiggle room. At 19-17 overall,  7-8 in Southeastern Conference play, not only are the Gators the longest of long shots to host an NCAA regional, but they’re in danger of not making the 64 team NCAA field for the first time in Kevin O’Sullivan’s 17 years as the UF head coach.

That was the sobering message O’Sullivan delivered to the Gators Tuesday night before they demolished Jacksonville, 12-1, in a 7-inning run-rule game. O’Sullivan told the Gators “we are literally at a point in our season where it's pitch to pitch, inning to inning, game to game.” Florida has five SEC series left on the schedule starting tonight when they face 13th-ranked Vanderbilt (27-10, 8-7 SEC) in Nashville (7:30 p.m., ESPNU).

Although it’s still early to be thinking magic numbers for making the NCAA field, figure the bare minimum for the Gators is 30 regular season wins and even that might require a win or two at the Southeastern Conference Tournament. As strong as the SEC is this year, a 15-15 record in conference play would go a long way toward punching the UF ticket.

The Gators are expected to go with a rotation of Brandon Neely tonight with Pierce Coppola getting the Friday start and Jac Caglianone going Saturday afternoon.

Caglianone watch: Caglianone takes three impressive streaks to Vandy. He has a 22-game on-base streak, a 15-game hitting streak and a streak of seven consecutive games with a home run. For the season, Caglianone is hitting an even .400 with 21 homers and 43 RBI.

With his 516-foot home run Tuesday night, Caglianone moved into a tie with Andy Phillips (Alabama, 1996-99) and Will Clark (Mississippi State, 1983-85) for sixth place on the all-time SEC career home run mark with 61. Caglianone trails 5th-place Justin Smoak (South Carolina, 2006-08) by one home run and fourth place Rafael Palmeiro by six. In third place is Florida’s all-time home run leader, Matt LaPorta, with 74.

UF BASKETBALL: Gators get a commitment; Richard will test draft waters

It was a busy day for Todd Golden as the Gators got a commitment from 4-star 2025 combo guard Alex Lloyd (6-4, 165, Fort Lauderdale, FL Westminster Academy). Lloyd is ranked No. 37 nationally by ESPN, No. 46 nationally by 247Sports, No. 51 nationally by On3, and No. 67 by Rivals. Lloyd averaged 19.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a junior.

Will Richard announced Wednesday that he is going to test the NBA Draft waters while holding open his option to return to Florida for his senior season. Like Walter Clayton Jr., who announced for the NBA Draft a week ago, the main purpose for Richard declaring for the draft is to participate in workouts for scouts to get feedback on what he needs to work on to move up the draft ladder for 2025. Neither Clayton nor Richard are listed among the top 60 prospects for 2024. The NBA only drafts two rounds (60 players).

SEC Basketball: Busy day for the portal  

Alabama

Outgoing: SF Kris Parker (6-8, 195, RFR); SG Rylan Griffen (6-5, 185, SO); SG Davin Cosby (6-5, 205, FR); Sam Walters (6-10, 198, FR); C Nick Pringle (6-9, 220, SR)

Incoming: PG Houston Mallette (6-5, 180, JR) from Pepperdine; SG Chris Youngblood (6-4, 212, SR) from South Florida

Arkansas

Outgoing: PG Keon Menifield (6-1, 150, SO); F Denijay Harris (6-7, 200, SR); WG Joseph Pinion (6-6, 195, SO) to Arkansas State; C Baye Fall (6-10, 200, FR); SG Tramon Mark (6-5, 180, JR) to Texas

Incoming: C Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2, 234, FR) from Kentucky

Auburn

Outgoing: CG KD Johnson (6-0, 190, SR); PG Tre Donaldson (6-2, 190, SO); PG Aden Holloway (6-1, 178, FR)

INCOMING: PG JP Pegues (6-1, 165, JR) from Furman

FLORIDA

Outgoing: SG Riley Kugel (6-5, 206, SO) to Kansas; PF Aleks Szymczyk (6-10, 250, RFR)

Incoming: Sam Alexis (6-9, 240, SO) from Chattanooga

Georgia

Outgoing: SF Matthew-Alexander Moncrief (6-7, 220, SR); PG Justin Hill (6-0, 185, SR); C Jalen Deloach (6-9, 215, JR) to Loyola; SG Mari Jordan (6-8, 185, RFR); WF Jabri Abdur-Rahim (6-7, 214, SR) to Providence

Kentucky

Outgoing: SG Adou Thiero (6-6, 200, SO); SG Joey Hart (6-5, 203, FR); C Aaron Bradshaw (7-0, 220, FR) to Ohio State; C Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2, 234, FR) to Arkansas;  PG DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, FR)

LSU

Outgoing: SF Mwani Wilkerson (6-5, 205, SO); SG Carlos Stewart (6-1, 185, JR) to Santa Clara

Incoming: PG Cam Carter (6-3, 195, JR) from Kansas State; PG Jordan Sears (5-11, 175, JR) from UT-Martin

Mississippi State

Outgoing: PG Andrew Taylor (6-3, 190, SR); SG Trey Fort III (6-4, 195, JR); PF Jaquan Scott (6-8, 230, JR); SG Shakeel Moore (6-1, 180, SR); PF Keshawn Murphy (6-10, 245, SO)

Incoming: PG Kanye Clary (5-11, 192, SO) from Penn State; C Michael Nwoko (6-10, 245, FR) from Miami

Missouri

Outgoing: SG Curt Lewis (6-5, 215, JR); PF Jesus Carralero (6-8, 210, SR); SG John Tonje (6-5, 222, SR)

Incoming: PF Jacob Crews (6-8, 210, JR) from UT-Martin; SG Tony Perkins (6-4, 210, SR) from Iowa; PG Marques Warwick (6-2, 170, SR) from Northern Kentucky

Oklahoma

Outgoing: CG Otega Oweh (6-5, 210, SO); PF John Hugley (6-9, 240, JR) to Xavier; PG Javian McCollum (6-1, 170, JR) to Georgia Tech; PG Milos Uzan (6-4, 183, SO) to Houston

Ole Miss

Outgoing: PF Rashaud Marshall (6-9, 220, FR) to Arkansas State; C Malique Ewin (6-10, 240); Jacob Gazzo (6-8, 215, FR); PF Cameron Barnes (6-9, 195, FR)

Incoming: PF Mikeal Brown-Jones (6-8, 210, SR) from UNC-Greensboro; C Malik Dia (6-9, 240, SO) from Belmont; SG Dre Davis (6-5, 220, SR) from Seton Hall

South Carolina

Outgoing: PG Meechie Johnson (6-2, 184, JR) to Ohio State; CG Ebrima Dibba (6-5, 214, SR)

Tennessee

Outgoing: SG Freddie Dilione (6-5, 185, FR); SG D.J. Jefferson (6-5, 2-7, FR); PF Tobe Awaka (6-8, 250, SO); C Jonas Aidoo (6-11, 230, JR)

Incoming: SG Darlinstone Dubar (6-6, 207, SR) from Hofstra

Texas

Outgoing: SF Alex Anamekwe (6-6, 200, SO); PG Chris Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); PF Dillon Mitchell (6-8, 205, SO); PG Tyrese Hunter (6-0, 170, JR)

Incoming: SG Tramon Mark (6-5, 180, JR) from Arkansas; PF Jayson Kent (6-8, 205, SR) from Indiana State; PG Julian Larry (6-3, 185, SR) from Indiana State

Vanderbilt

Outgoing: PG Paul Lewis (6-2, 170, SO); C Lee Dort (6-10, 245, SO) to California; SG Tyrin Lawrence (6-4, 200, SR); PF Colin Smith (6-8, 220); SG Jason Rivera-Torres (6-6, 180, FR); PF Carter Lang (6-9, 235, FR); SG Isaiah West (6-2, 190, FR); Malik Presley (6-6, 200, FR)

Incoming: PF Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, FR) from James Madison; SF Tyler Nickel (6-7, 200, SO) from Virginia Tech; SG MJ Collins (6-4, 190, SO) from Virginia Tech

Alabama

Outgoing: PK Reed Harradine (6-3, 185, FR); WR Andre Craig (6-0, 180, SO)

Incoming: OT Kadyn Proctor (6-7, 360, FR) from Iowa

Arkansas

Outgoing: TE Francis Sherman (6-3, 237, SR); RB Isaiah Augustave (6-2, 208, RFR); OT Andrew Chamblee (6-6, 304, FR); QB Jacolby Criswell (6-1, 230, JR); EDGE Jashaud Stewart (6-2, 257, SR)

Auburn

Outgoing: DL Brenton Williams (6-3, 262, FR); CB J.D. Rhym (6-1, 178, SO); LS Kyle Vaccarella (6-3, 229, SO); WR Ja’Varrius Johnson (5-10, 167, SR)

FLORIDA

Outgoing: LB Mannie Nunnery (6-2, 227, RSR)

Georgia

Outgoing: RB Andrew Paul (5-11, 218, FR); OT Chad Lindberg (6-6, 325, JR) to Rice; WR Tyler Williams (6-3, 205, RFR)

Kentucky

Outgoing: RB LaVell Wright (5-11, 202, JR); WR Darius Cannon (5-9, 175, FR); WR Raymond Cottrell (6-3, 210, RFR)

LSU

Outgoing: EDGE Jaxon Howard (6-4, 240, FR); WR Khai Prean (6-0, 202, FR); CB Ryan Robinson Jr. (5-11, 180, FR); TE Connor Gilbreath (6-5, 272, SO)

Incoming: DL Gio Paez (6-3, 310, SR) from Wisconsin

Mississippi State

Outgoing: S Trent Singleton (6-0, 195, FR); CB Luke Evans (6-2, 180, FR); P Keelan Cummings (6-3, 215, FR)

Incoming: RB Rashad Amos (6-2, 224, SR) from South Carolina

Missouri

Outgoing: WR Dannis Jackson (5-11, 171, JR)

Incoming: QB Drew Pyne (6-0, 190, SO) from Arizona State

Oklahoma

Outgoing: QB Jacob Switzer (6-2, 192, SO); Shane Whitter (6-0, 226, JR)

Ole Miss

Outgoing: DL Joshua Harris (6-4, 325, SR); QB Deljay Bailey (6-1, 200, FR)

South Carolina

Outgoing: OL Jaxon Hughes (6-6, 297, SR); EDGE Terrell Dawkins (6-4, 251, SR)

Tennessee

Outgoing: LB Elijah Herring (6-3, 238, SO)

Texas

Outgoing: LB S’maje Burrell (6-0, 219, FR); EDGE Billy Walton III (6-3, 225, FR); OL Payton Kirkland (6-6, 350, FR); EDGE J’mond Tapp

Texas A&M

Outgoing: S Sam McCall (6-1, 185, FR); LB Alex Howard (6-2, 230, SR); S Jacoby Matthews (6-2, 215, SO); EDGE Fadil Diggs (6-5, 260, JR) to Syracuse; OL Derrick Graham (6-4, 314, SO)

Incoming: EDGE Josh Celiscar (6-4, 265, SR) from UCF

Vanderbilt

Outgoing: LB Dante Kelly (6-3, 201, FR); S John Howse IV (6-1, 195, JR)

UF TRACK AND FIELD: Gator men ranked No. 2, women No. 7

USTFCCA men’s top 25: 1. Texas A&M; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Alabama; 4. LSU; 5. Texas Tech; 6. South Florida; 7. Southern California; 8. Mississippi State; 9. Georgia; 10. Virginia Tech; 11. Oklahoma State; 12. Kentucky; 13. Auburn; 14. Texas; 15. California; 16. Arizona State; 17. BYU; 18. New Mexico; 19. South Carolina; 20. Baylor; 21. Montana State; 221. North Carolina; 23. Iowa State; 24. Arkansas; 25. Arizona

USTFCCA women’s top 25: 1. LSU; 2. Texas A&M; 3. Arkansas; 4. Illinois; 5. Oregon; 6. South Carolina; 7. FLORIDA; 8. Georgia; 9. Texas Tech; 10. Tennessee; 11. Ole Miss; 12. Nebraska; 13. Texas; 14. Oklahoma State; 15. TCU; 16. Florida State; 17. Clemson; 18. BYU; 19. Washington; 20. Houston; 21. Michigan; 22. UTEP; 23. Southern California; 24. Alabama; 25. Baylor

UF SOFTBALL: Gators remain in everybody’s top 10

D1Softball top 25: 1. Texas 35-6; 2. Oklahoma 38-4; 3. Stanford 34-7; 4. Duke 37-4; 5. Tennessee 32-7; 6. Washington 28-7; 7. Oklahoma State 35-8; 8. LSU 33-8; 9. FLORIDA 36-9; 10. Missouri 33-11; 11. Texas A&M 32-9; 12. UCLA 24-9; 13. Arkansas 30-11; 14. Georgia 33-10; 15. Virginia Tech 31-9-1; 16. Florida State 31-10; 17. Mississippi State 29-12; 18. Alabama 30-9; 19. Arizona 28-13-1; 20. Louisiana 29-14; 21. Northwestern 26-8; 22. Clemson 28-13; 23. Boston University 35-4; 24. Kentucky 26-15; 25. Oregon 24-15

USA Today/NFCA top 25: 1. Texas 35-6; 2. Oklahoma 38-4; 3. Duke 37-4; 4. Tennessee 32-7; 5. Stanford 34-7; 6. Oklahoma State 35-8; 7. LSU 33-8; 8. Washington 28-7; 9. Georgia 33-10; 10. FLORIDA 35-9; 11. Texas A&M 32-9; 12. UCLA 24-9; 13. Missouri 33-11; 14. Alabama 30-9; 15. Virginia Tech 31-9-1; 16. Arkansas 30-11; 17. Mississippi State 29-12; 18. Florida State 31-10; 19. Arizona 28-13-1; 20. California 29-12; 21. Clemson 28-14; 22. Oregon 24-15; 23. Boston University 35-4; 24. Kentucky 26-15; 25. Louisiana 29-14

ESPN/USA Softball top 25: 1. Texas 35-6; 2. Oklahoma 38-4; 3. Duke 37-4; 4. Tennessee 32-7; 5. Stanford 34-7; 6. Oklahoma State 35-8; 7. LSU 33-8. Washington 28-7; 9. Georgia 33-10; 10. FLORIDA 36-9; 11. UCLA 24-9; 12. Texas A&M 32-9; 13. Missouri 30-11; 14. Arkansas 30-11; 15. Alabama 30-9; 16. Virginia Tech 31-9-1; 17. Mississippi State 29-12; 18. Florida State 31-10; 19. Louisiana 29-14; 20. (TIE) Clemson 28-13 and Oregon 24-15; 22. Arizona 28-13-1; 23. Kentucky 26-15; 24. California 29-12; 25. Texas State 33-12

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Okay, brace yourself. The NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, approved immediate eligibility for multi-transfers in sports. Yes, they’ve been transferring right and left the last month in particular with both the football and basketball portals open, but  this was because of a federal injunction. Rather than go to court, where it’s a certainty the NCAA will lose, the choice was made to approve legislation that allows multiple transfers.

This is a stiff upper lip move by the NCAA, which is about to get clobbered on several fronts in the court rooms of America in the weeks and months ahead. The NCAA is trying to give the appearance that it is still in charge while knowing the end is near. That the NCAA is going to go belly up shouldn’t surprise anyone. What should be a concern is that it is going to die and there won’t be an organization already in place ready to take over when last rites are performed.