For the past two seasons, Florida’s offense has far too often resembled Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You just never knew what you were going to get. The Gators could go from unstoppable to sputtering, often in the same game, sometimes on the same possession.

There was no drama Saturday. None was necessary because Mississippi State hitters left the yard five times as the 21st-ranked Bulldogs (19-9, 4-4 SEC) pounded out a 12-2 win over 6th-ranked Florida (15-11, 5-3 SEC) at Condron Family Ballpark. The Gators will send Jac Caglianone (3-0, 1.77 ERA) to the mound Sunday (1 p.m., SEC Network+) to try to salvage the 3-game series. Florida’s highlight of the day came in the second inning when Cade Kurland doubled, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a single up the middle by Tanner Garrison. That made it 1-0, the only time Florida led the entire game. Freshman righty Liam Peterson (1-2, 8.31 ERA) breezed through the first three innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three, but the bottom fell out in the top of the fourth when David Mershon and Dakota Jordan hit back-to-back home runs as part of a 5-run inning. The Bulldogs added three more in fifth off Grayson Smith and three more off Alex Philpott in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Florida avoided a run-rule in the sixth, pushing across a run on a walk to Colby Shelton, an infield hit by Ty Evans and a single to right center by Kurland. SEC Baseball Saturday’s scores: No. 21 Mississippi State (19-9, 4-4 SEC) 12, No. 6 FLORIDA (15-11, 5-3 SEC) 2; No. 1 Arkansas (23-3, 8-1 SEC) 7, No. 8 LSU (20-9, 2-7 SEC) 5; No. 4 Texas A&M (25-3, 6-3 SEC) 10, Auburn (16-11, 1-8 SEC) 9, 12 innings; No. 5 Tennessee (23-5, 4-4 SEC) 16, Georgia (22-5, 4-4 SEC) 11; No. 7 Vanderbilt (23-6, 6-3 SEC) 3, Missouri (10-18, 1-8 SEC) 1; No. 18 South Carolina (21-7, 5-4 SEC) 9, No. 16 Alabama (21-7, 4-5 SEC) 8; No. 24 Kentucky (23-4, 7-1 SEC) 17, Ole Miss (18-10, 3-5 SEC) 9 UF SOFTBALL: Erickson’s 2-run homer lifts Gators past MSU, 7-6 Jocelyn Erickson’s third home run of the weekend, a 2-run blast down the right field line in the top of the seventh inning, gave the 9th-ranked Gators (31-5, 7-2 SEC) a 7-6 win over No. 21 Mississippi State (25-9, 6-6 SEC) Saturday afternoon in Starkville. It was an uphill battle the entire game for the Gators, who never led until Erickson’s homer in the seventh. The Gators didn’t get on the scoreboard until the fourth when Ava Brown hit a 2-run homer, her eighth of the season,  to slice Mississippi State’s lead to 3-2. The Bulldogs answered with three more in their half of the inning but the Gators countered with two in the fifth to cut the margin to 6-4. In the fifth, Kendra Falby singled followed by a double by Skylar Wallace and a sacrifice fly by Korbe Otis. A ground out by Erickson tightened the game to a 2-run margin. Finally, in the seventh, Falby reached on a throwing error and came home on a triple to right field by Wallace. One out later, Erickson launched her game-winner, her eighth home run of the season. Mississippi State pounded out 11 hits off Florida freshman pitchers Keagan Rothrock and Ava Brown. Rothrock (15-3) got the win, but she was knocked out of the circle in the second inning. She came back on to relieve Brown in the fourth and went the rest of the way to earn the win. In the three-game series, Erickson went 5-11 with three homers, a double and nine RBI. The Gators will travel to DeLand to face Stetson on Wednesday, then return home Saturday for the first game of their SEC series with LSU. SEC Softball Saturday’s scores: No. 9 FLORIDA (31-5, 7-2 SEC) 7, No. 21 Mississippi State (25-9, 6-6 SEC) 6; No. 20 Arkansas (25-8, 4-3 SEC) 3, No. 3 Georgia (28-5, 5-2 SEC) 2; No. 4 Tennessee (28-4, 8-0 SEC) 8, Auburn (15-11, 2-9 SEC) 4; No. 7 LSU (29-4, 8-4 SEC) 9, No. 12 Texas A&M (28-7, 8-4 SEC) 3; No. 13 Missouri (29-7, 4-5 SEC) 7, Villanova (18-13) 0; Kentucky (23-12, 2-7 SEC) 4, No. 14 Alabama (26-8, 3-6 SEC) 3; South Carolina (25-10, 2-6 SEC) 8, Ole Miss (20-13, 3-8 SEC) 3 UF MEN’S SWIMMING: Gators finish third in NCAA Championships Josh Liendo won his third individual gold medal Saturday by winning the 100 freestyle at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis. Liendo also won the 100 butterfly and 50 free gold medals. Florida finished third in the team standings behind champ Arizona State and runner-up California. Top 10 team scores: 1. Arizona State 523.5; 2. California 444.5; 3. FLORIDA 378; 4. Indiana 376; 5. North Carolina State 318; 6. Tennessee 231; 7. Texas 189; 8. Stanford 177; 9. Virginia Tech 172; 10. Notre Dame 132 UF LACROSSE: Gators hammer Vanderbilt, 20-5 The Gators improved to 2-0 in American Athletic Conference play Saturday when they clobbered Vanderbilt (6-4, 0-2 AAC), 20-5. It was the 11th consecutive win for the Gators (11-2, 2-0 AAC), who are idle until next Saturday when they face East Carolina in Greenville. Danielle Pavinelli scored five goals and had two assists to lead Florida’s attack. Ashley Gonzalez had three goals and three assists, while Madison Waters had three goals. UF WOMEN’S GOLF: Gators finish 2nd in final regular season tournament The Gators finished second, 11 shots behind tournament champ Auburn in the Liz Murphy Collegiate Classic in Athens, Georgia. Ines Archer shot a 3-day 213 to finish in a 3-way tie for second. Next up for the Gators is the SEC Championships April 12-16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. SEC BASKETBALL Saturday’s score: Alabama (24-11) 89, Clemson (24-11) 82; Alabama wins West Region, advances to Final Four Sunday’s game: Tennessee (27-8) vs. Purdue (32-5), Midwest Region SEC in the transfer portal Alabama: PG Houston Mallette (6-5, 180, JR) from Pepperdine Arkansas: PG Keon Menifield (6-1, 150, SO); F Denijay Harris (6-7, 200, SR); WG Joseph Pinion (6-6, 195, SO); Josh Cohen (6-10, 220, RSR) from UMass-Amherst Auburn: CG KD Johnson (6-0, 190, SR) FLORIDA: SG Riley Kugel (6-5, 206, SO) Kentucky: SG Adou Thiero (6-6, 200, SO) LSU: SF Mwani Wilkerson (6-5, 205, SO); PG Cam Carter (6-3, 195, JR) from Kansas State Mississippi State: PG Andrew Taylor (6-3, 190, SR); SG Trey Fort III (6-4, 195, JR); Kanye Clary (5-11, 192, SO) from Penn State; PF Jaquan Scott (6-8, 230, JR) Missouri: PF Jacob Crews (6-8, 210, JR), from UT-Martin; SG Curt Lewis (6-5, 215, JR) Oklahoma: CG Otega Oweh (6-5, 210, SO); PF John Hugley (6-9, 240, JR) Ole Miss: 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) South Carolina: PG Meechie Johnson (6-2, 184, JR); CG Ebrima Dibba (6-5, 214, SR) Texas: SF Alex Anamekwe (6-6, 200, SO) Vanderbilt: PG Paul Lewis (6-2, 170, SO); C Lee Dort (6-10, 245, SO); SG Tyrin Lawrence (6-4, 200, SR); PF Colin Smith (6-8, 220); SG Jason Rivera-Torres (6-6, 180, FR); PF Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, FR) from James Madison

In the aftermath of the first scrimmage of spring practice, Coach Billy Napier talked about the main story lines from the scrimmage, one perhaps not destined for the headlines but undoubtedly emblematic of the strides made highlighting the walk-on program. As the scrimmage unfolded, a key moment emerged, sixth-year senior defensive lineman Tyreik Norwood igniting an eruption of emotion from both sides of the field when he made an interception in Saturday's scrimmage. Napier took the time to praise Norwood and the journey he has been on to get to this moment and how much the walk-on program has meant to some players. Napier, in recounting the scene, talked about Norwood's journey. "Tyreik Norwood is a sixth-year player. He’s a guy who was in school here, came to the walk-on tryout, gave us a million reps on the scout team., tears his ACL. Okay, this guy is construction management, right? He’s in grad school. Okay, he just tore his ACL," Napier recalled. "I mean, most people will say, ‘Hey, my football career is over, right?’ But this guy went through the rehab process, returned to play. He’s out there as a sixth-year player that’s a graduate student in construction management and picks off a pass, and the players went crazy." Napier continued on by saying how these walk-ons provide much more to the team than the public eye sees and they are having good experiences in college. Reflecting on the program's growth, Napier emphasized its evolution from its humble beginnings to its current state. With a roster of 116 players and plans to expand to 130-135 by fall, the walk-on program has become a cornerstone of the team's success. Napier underscored the significance of investment and opportunity, highlighting the invaluable contributions of walk-on players like Norwood. Beyond Norwood's standout performance, Napier commended the overall competitiveness of the scrimmage. Both sides of the ball showed flashes of potential, with transfers such as Joey Slackman and freshman like D.J. Lagway getting reps. From stellar defensive plays to impressive offensive drives, the scrimmage provided a platform for every player to showcase their abilities and make their mark on the team. Napier reiterated the importance of recognizing and appreciating every player's contribution, regardless of their role or background. In a sport often defined by stars and starters, Norwood's interception served as a reminder of the collective effort required for success. Each player, from scholarship athletes to walk-ons, plays a vital role in the team's journey towards greatness. As the spring practice continues and the team prepares for the upcoming season, Norwood's interception will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration for his teammates. The annual Orange and Blue spring game will take place two weeks from now.

This is what you call cutting it close. Down 6-5 to Mississippi State in the bottom of the ninth inning, the 6th-ranked Gators were down to their last strike. Not once, but twice, a 2-2 count to Tyler Shelnut and an 0-2 to Cade Kurland. Shelnut watched two Nolan Stevens pitches skip in the dirt for balls three and four, sending Armando Albert skipping home from third base to tie the score at 6-6. After a strike one because he wasn’t in the batters box and a swinging strike two, Kurland whistled a shot straight up the middle to bring home Ty Evans from third for a most unlikely walk-off 7-6 win. Unlikely because for seven innings Friday night at Condron Family Ballpark, the Gators (15-10, 5-2 SEC) managed only three hits off two Mississippi State (18-9, 3-4 SEC) pitchers, and two of those were from catcher Tanner Garrison, who hit his first homer as a Gator in the third and a hard single through the third-short hole into left field in the fifth. Garrison came into the game hitting .176 but while his teammates struggled with Khal Stephen, he barreled up two pitches. Florida’s only other hit through the first seven was Evans’ seventh home run of the season on a 2-1 count in the bottom of the first. The Gators didn’t exactly wear the cover off the ball in the eighth and ninth, but they got hits when they counted. Down 6-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Colby Shelton worked a four-pitch walk off MSU reliever Tyler Davis and Evans followed with a walk on five pitches. That brought on another reliever, lefty Brooks Auger, who got Jac Caglianone to hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that moved Shelton and Evans up a base. Shelnut’s bouncer to third scored Shelton and Kurland lined a double down the third base line to drive in Evans. At 6-2, the Gators were teetering on the verge. At 6-4, there was hope. First there was the matter of getting to the bottom of the ninth while still down only two. Blake Purnell had delivered a scoreless eighth, but when the Gators took the field in the ninth, Kevin O’Sullivan called on freshman Luke McNellie, who seems to have found his niche as a late inning reliever. All McNellie did was strike out the side for his fourth consecutive impressive effort. Having held the fort, it was time for the Gators to go to work in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Hayden Yost led off going opposite field to left on a 2-2 count and after Albert fell behind 1-2 in the count, he took three straight pitches from Auger to draw a walk. After Mikey Robertson fouled off three pitches trying to bunt for the first out, Stevens came on to strike out Shelton on four pitches. Stevens didn’t fool Evans, who lined a single to left that drove Yost home, cutting the margin to 6-5. On an 0-1 pitch, Caglianone went the opposite way, a soft one-hopper with a weird spin that Logan Kohler tried to surround without any luck. Bases loaded for Shelnut who was down to his last strike before Stevens bounced two in the dirt for a walk that scored Albert with the tying run. Kurland, who has been playing through a fractured hand for the last few weeks, was behind 0-1 before he even had a chance to swing the bat. He wasn’t in the batters box when Stevens was ready to pitch, so home plate umpire Ronnie Teague gave him a strike, the second time that’s happened to Kurland this year. Kurland swung and missed at the next pitch, but the third went straight back up the middle to drive home the game-winner. It certainly wasn’t how O’Sullivan drew it up, but he wasn’t disappointed with the results. “The at bats the last two innings were really, really good,” O’Sullivan said. “Hayden Yost, freshman, two-strike hit the other way and then Armando comes off the bench and draws a walk after a two-strike count. We didn’t get the bunt down and then the left-hander they brought in threw some really good sliders to Colby. We then just kind of strung some things together. Ty’s hit obviously was huge. Cags’ ball was a fortunate enough one for us. It had a weird spin to it and I thought that Shelly’s at bat was really good. He didn’t chase out of the zone. Then with Cade coming up, they called the first pitch a strike so he’s already in the hole 0-1 because he’s not in the box. Then he just put a really good swing on it, another 0-2 count swing. That’s a really good two-strike at bat there. Overall, it was a heck of a game.” O’Sullivan shook up the weekend rotation when he started Brandon Neely, his All-American closer. Neely started off with a pair of scoreless innings before he gave up a single run in the third. The wheels came off in the fourth, not because the Bulldogs started hammering shots all over the field but because Neely’s control took a powder. A hit batter, two soft singles, a walk and another hit batter signaled the end of the night for Neely. Cade Fisher, the usual Friday night starter came on in relief. He gave up a sacrifice fly, and two walks, one intentional to plate the Bulldogs final two runs of a 4-run inning. Fisher pitched through the seventh before leaving with a runner on second and two outs. Fisher Jameson promptly gave up a run-scoring single before inducing a ground out to finish things off. Fisher went 3-1/3 innings when the Gators needed some stability. “Without that performance, we probably wouldn’t have won the ballgame,” O’Sullivan said. They certainly wouldn’t have won it if Purnell and McNellie hadn’t gotten the job done in the eighth and ninth. Because Purnell threw only 20 pitches and McNellie 12, they will both be available out of the bullpen the next two days as the Gators try to sweep the series. The Gators and Bulldogs square off in game two today at 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+). SEC Baseball Friday’s scores: No. 6 FLORIDA (15-10, 5-2 SEC) 7, No. 21 Mississippi State (18-9, 3-4 SEC) 6; Georgia (22-4, 4-3 SEC) 16, No. 5 Tennessee (22-5, 3-4 SEC) 2; No. 4 Texas A&M (24-3, 5-3 SEC) 12, Auburn (16-10, 1-7 SEC) 8; No. 16 Alabama (21-6, 4-4 SEC) 13, No. 18 South Carolina (20-7, 4-4 SEC) 6; No. 7 Vanderbilt (22-6, 5-3 SEC) 4, Missouri (10-17, 1-7 SEC) 0; No. 24 Kentucky (22-4, 6-1 SEC) 5, Ole Miss (18-9, 3-4 SEC) 3; No. 1 Arkansas (22-3, 7-1 SEC) 4, No. 8 LSI 20-8, 2-6 SEC) 3 UF SOFTBALL: Gators even things up at Mississippi State Jocelyn Erickson hit two home runs while driving in five Friday afternoon, leading the 9th-ranked Gators (30-5, 6-2 SEC) to an 8-5 win over Mississippi State (25-8, 6-5 SEC), evening the weekend series at one game apiece. The two teams will meet today at 1 p.m. (SEC Network+). Erickson hit a 3-run homer in the fourth to put the Gators ahead for good, 3-2. She hit a 2-run homer in the sixth when the Gators batted around to take an 8-2 lead into the seventh. The homers were the sixth and seventh of the season for Erickson, who has driven in 48 runs. Mississippi State scored two in the first off starter Ava Brown (13-2, 1.83 ERA), but Brown shut down the Bulldogs for the next five innings. She ran into trouble in the seventh when Mississippi State rallied for three runs, but Keagan Rothrock came on to get the last three outs to register her second save. Brown helped her own cause with her seventh home run, a 2-run blast in the sixth to close out Florida’s 5-run rally. Friday’s scores: No. 9 FLORIDA (30-5, 6-2 SEC) 8, No. 17 Mississippi State (25-8, 6-5 SEC) 5; No. 4 Tennessee (27-4, 7-0 SEC) 5, Auburn (15-10, 2-8 SEC) 1; No. 7 LSU (28-4, 7-4 SEC) 5, No. 12 Texas A&M (28-6, 8-3 SEC) 1; No. 14 Alabama (26-7, 3-5 SEC) 9, Kentucky (22-12, 1-7 SEC) 4; South Carolina (24-10, 1-6 SEC) 2, Ole Miss (20-12, 3-7 SEC) 0 UF MEN’S SWIMMING: Gators third at NCAA Championships The Gators were disqualified in the 400 free relay Friday night when the anchor leg swimmer was ruled to have left too early. Without the points, the Gators remained in third at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. The highlight of the day for Florida was Josh Liendo capturing gold in the 100 butterfly. Fourteen Florida swimmers and two divers will compete in the final events today as the Gators try to make up ground on first place Arizona State and second place California. Top 10 teams through day three: 1. Arizona State 343; 2. California 286.5; 3. FLORIDA 273; 4. Indiana 247; 5. North Carolina State 206; 6. Texas 165; 7. Tennessee 147; 8. Stanford 144; 9. Virginia Tech 116; 10. Georgia 88 UF WOMEN’S TENNIS: Gators win sixth straight over Mississippi State The 14th-ranked Gators continued their recent hot streak, winning their sixth straight match Friday at the Ring Tennis Center, 4-0, over Mississippi State (10-11, 0-8 SEC). The Gators improved to 11-7 overall, 7-2 in the Southeastern Conference. The Gators will be home Sunday against 30th-ranked Ole Miss (10-6, 4-4 SEC).

“When I was a kid I got no respect. I played hide-and-seek. They wouldn’t even look for me.” – Rodney Dangerfield

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning: Riley Kugel put his name in the transfer portal Wednesday. It wasn’t exactly unexpected as his playing time and productivity diminished in the final month of the season to the point Kugel didn’t even play in Florida’s win over Texas A&M and championship game loss to Auburn in the SEC Tournament. For reasons that perhaps only Riley Kugel and Todd Golden know for sure, there were issues. On the court, Kugel was wildly inconsistent although he had the ability to take games over at either end. Fingers have been pointed at Kugel for attitude issues and others say there was a personality conflict with Golden that was never resolved. Whatever the reason Kugel is leaving along with Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin who have used up their eligibility. Walter Clayton Jr. could declare for the NBA Draft although most expect him to return for his senior season. Assuming Clayton returns, the Gators have eight on scholarship and one signed incoming freshman (Isaiah Brown, 6-6, 200, Orlando, FL Orlando Christian Prep). The Gators have a commitment from Olivier Rioux (7-7, 300, Montreal, Canada/Bradenton, FL IMG Academy) who has talked about re-classifying to join the team for the 2024-25 season but there is nothing official. If Rioux reclassifies and Clayton returns, the Gators will have room for three transfers. If he remains at IMG for one more year, the Gators will have room for four from the portal. Here is a look at the roster as it stands today and then a look at 20 potential transfers. On scholarship Guards/small forwards (4): Will Richard (6-4, 206, JR); Walter Clayton Jr. (6-2, 195, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SO); Kajus Kublickas (6-2, 171, FR) Big guys (4): Micah Handlogten (7-1, 230, SO); Aleks Szymczyk (6-10, 250, RFR); Alex Condon (6-11, 230, FR); Thomas Haugh (6-9, 215, FR) Potential transfers Point guards Dug McDaniel, Michigan (5-11, 175, SO): He wore the Gators out in December. He can score, pass and defend. Averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Dionte Bostick, Cal State-Northridge (6-2, 190, JR): He’s from Clearwater, which is a plus. He’s also from the Big West Conference. So was Zyon Pullin, how’d that work out? Averaged 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State (6-3, 200, JR): He’s a very physical point who can score. Averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 39.1 percent from three. Drew Thelwell, Morehead State (6-3, 190, SR): He’s from Orlando. Averaged 10 points, three rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. Super against a press and a great passer. Malik Mack, Harvard (6-1, 180, FR): He’s one of the hotter names among point guards because he can score, pass and has three years of remaining eligibility. As a freshman averaged 17.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Leland Walker, Eastern Kentucky (6-1, 185, SO): Super quick and 6-1 might be a stretch but he’s productive. Averaged 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Jordan Sears, UT-Martin (5-11, 175, SR): He’s from Daytona Beach Mainland and has scored 1,654 points in his collegiate career. Last season averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Shot 43.2 percent from the 3-point line and 83.9 percent from the foul line. Gets to the line frequently. Small forwards/big guards J’Vonne Hadley, Colorado (6-6, 200, JR): He lit up the Gators in Indianapolis. He hit 41.7 percent from three while averaging 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Cade Tyson, Belmont (6-7, 210, SO): Can defend three positions and is an absolute bomber from the outside where he shot 46.5 percent on his 3-pointers. Averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds. Same school that sent Will Richard to UF. Gators are very much on his radar. Rytis Petraitis, Air Force (6-7, 200, SO): His game is quite similar to Baylor Scheierman, who led Creighton to the Sweet 16. He scores (15.7 points), rebounds (6.3) and passes (3.7) at a very high level. Very intelligent guy who is a plug and play guy. Just put him on the court and he’ll find a place. Terrence Edwards, James Madison (6-6, 190, SR): He’s a slasher from Atlanta who can get to the rim off the bounce and has a nice midrange jumper. Defends and distributes well above average. Averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Tyrin Lawrence, Vanderbilt (6-4, 200, SR): It was rumored that he was coming to Florida last year before being convinced to return to Vandy. Averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. Streaky shooter who shouldn’t be left alone in the corner. BJ Freeman, Milwaukee (6-6, 200, SR): He’s more scorer than shooter, but he can light it up from the outside when he gets on a roll. Gets to the foul line a lot. He’s almost a point forward. Averaged 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Michael James, Louisville (6-6, 200, SO): He’s a slasher who gets to the rim regularly. Streaky outside shooter. Played high school ball at Orlando Oak Ridge. Averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds as a redshirt sophomore last season. Big guys Lynn Kidd, Virginia Tech (6-10, 240, SR): This is a Gainesville kid that the previous head coach didn’t recruit all that hard. He put it together at VaTech last season, averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the field. Eddie Lambkin, Colorado (6-11, 300, SR): He’s a brute who was just too physical for Florida’s big guys in the NCAA first round game. Averaged 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Would be a nice replacement for Tyrese Samuel. Joshua Jefferson, Saint Mary’s (6-8, 225, SO): He bangs, defends and played for Todd Golden’s college coach/mentor, Randy Bennett. Averaged 10.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Not much of an outside shooter but bangs the boards hard. TWO years of eligibility. Justin Abson, Appalachian State (6-9, 240, SO): Rim protector from Pompano Beach who averaged 7.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game for the Sun Belt champs. Shot 61 percent from the field. Maxime Reynaud, Stanford (7-1, 240, JR): In Todd Golden-think, this is what a big guy should be. He’s long, he’s mobile and can shoot and make a 3-pointer if you give him space. Averaged 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He’s from France so he’s not bound to any particular region in the US. Sam Alexis, Chattanooga (6-9, 240, SO): When he signed out of Apopka, he was a skinny 190. He’s 240 now and a serious rim protector who averaged 10.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game. SEC in the Sweet 16 Thursday: Alabama (23-11) vs. North Carolina (29-7), West Region Friday: Creighton (25-9) vs. Tennessee (26-8), Midwest Region SEC in the basketball transfer portal Alabama: PG Houston Mallette (6-5, 180, JR) from Pepperdine Arkansas: PG Keon Menifield (6-1, 150, SO); F Denijay Harris (6-7, 200, SR); WG Joseph Pinion (6-6, 195, SO) Auburn: WG KD Johnson (6-1, 190, SR) FLORIDA: SG Riley Kugel (6-5, 206, SO) LSU: SF Mwani Wilkerson (6-5, 205, SO) Mississippi State: PG Andrew Taylor (6-3, 190, SR); SG Trey Fort III (6-4, 195, JR) Missouri: PF Jacob Crews (6-8, 210, JR), from UT-Martin; SG Curt Lewis (6-5, 215, JR) Oklahoma: Otega Oweh (6-5, 210, SO) Ole Miss: PF Rashaud Marshall (6-9, 220, FR) to Arkansas State; C Malique Ewin (6-10, 240) South Carolina: PG Meechie Johnson (6-2, 184, JR); CG Ebrima Dibba (6-5, 214, SR) Texas: SF Alex Anamekwe (6-6, 200, SO) Vanderbilt: PG Paul Lewis (6-2, 170, SO); C Lee Dort (6-10, 245, SO); SG Tyrin Lawrence (6-4, 200, SR); PF Colin Smith (6-8, 220); SG Jason Rivera-Torres (6-6, 180, FR) SEC FOOTBALL/BASKETBALL STUFF Alabama: Latrell Wrightsell Jr. will be a game time decision tonight when Alabama faces North Carolina in a West Region Sweet 16 game. Wrightsell is a 44.3 percent 3-point shooter. Georgia: As punishment for his DUI arrest, Trevor Etienne will be suspended for the fourth quarter of the Georgia spring game. Kentucky: Athletic director Mitch Barnhart confirmed that John Calipari will be back for his 16th season as the UK basketball coach. LSU: Wide receiver Malik Nabers ran a 4.35 in the 40 and posted a 42-inch vertical at the LSU Pro Day. Ole Miss: Former Florida EDGE Princely Umanmielen South Carolina: Point guard Meechie Johnson is expected to transfer back to Ohio State where he played two seasons before transferring to South Carolina. Vanderbilt: The new basketball coach is Mark Byington, formerly of James Madison. Byington has a 213-133 career record as head coach at Georgia Southern and JMU. UF MEN’S SWIMMING: Gators, California tied for 1st at NCAA Championships The foursome of Adam Chaney, Julian Smith, Josh Liendo and Maguire McDuff set an NCAA record with a 1:20.15 to win the 200 medley relay as the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships got under way in Indianapolis. The Gators finished fourth in the 800 free relay. After one day, Florida and California share the top spot with 70 points each while Arizona State is close behind with 68. Day one top 10: 1. (TIE) FLORIDA and California 70; 3. Arizona State 68; 4. Indiana 52; 5. (TIE) Texas and North Carolina State 50; 7. Stanford 46; 8. Georgia 34; 9. Auburn 30; 10. Virginia Tech 28 UF LACROSSE: Gators smack Liberty, 23-3 The Gators won their 10th straight game at Donald Dizney Stadium Wednesday afternoon, crushing Liberty, 23-3, for their first win by 20 or more since 2018. Leading the way for the 11th-ranked Gators (10-2) was Maggi Hall, who had two goals and five assists. Danielle Pavinelli had three goals and two assists while Madison Waters and Lea Flobeck each scored three goals. The Gators will travel to Nashville Saturday for an American Athletic Conference game with Vanderbilt. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: NIL as we now know, actually stands for Now It’s Legal and we’ll find that out when the transfer portal opens up for football on April 16. When the 15-day window officially opens a player can transfer anywhere he wants without restrictions and a school can pay a player whatever he wants. As Matt Hayes points out at Saturday Down South, “Beginning April 16, there will be – in the parlance of NFL free agency – legal tampering until the beginning of the 2024 season. Because there are no NCAA rules governing tampering, and the last thing the NCAA wants to do is try to legislate it and lose in court again.” To put it another way so that even the Boy Scouts among us can understand, all hell is about to break loose and there is nothing to stop it in the way of the NCAA. The NCAA and its current nimnul of a president, Charlie Baker, believe the United States Congress should offer solutions. A rather good analogy of expecting the Congress to do anything useful can be found in this quote from Clint Eastwood: "Participating in a gun buy-back program because you think criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think the neighbors have too many kids.” There is always the hope that someone with a bright enough mind and a charismatic enough personality will step to the front and offer a solution that brings a measure of common sense to the table regarding the future of football and collegiate athletics in general. If the solution involves either the NCAA or our Congress, it is doomed to fail. If it involves ditching the NCAA for a brand new organization with a brand new set of rules, then there is hope for the future. Say a prayer. College sports need all the prayers they can get.

Back in the day when he was an All-American linebacker for the Gators, Mike Peterson could be counted on to hit hard and put opponents on the ground. He was one of the surest tacklers on some of the stingiest defenses of the Steve Spurrier era at the University of Florida. He parlayed those skills into a 13-year career in the National Football League playing for the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons. Perhaps it was because he was such an efficient tackler both in college and the pros that watching the Florida defense the last two years has been agonizing. Missed tackles have had a lot to do with the issues the Gators have had defensively, something that Peterson, Florida’s outside linebackers coach, and the rest of the defensive staff are emphasizing all spring this year. “It's been really painful, to be brief and not get into it too much, but that’s something we’ve also been working on, you know, tackling,” Peterson said after the Gators finished practice Tuesday afternoon. “When you're able to stop a team on first down and second down, you're able to get up to the quarterback a little bit more on third down. You put yourself in situations where it's third in long, you can kind of pin your ears and go get the quarterback. So tackling has been one of the key points that we've been talking about all spring and I think we're getting better at it?” Tackling is a learned skill. Peterson was a high school quarterback at Santa Fe. He converted to linebacker as a freshman at Florida, played on two SEC championship teams and the 1996 national championship team. In 1998 when he made first team All-America, Peterson was voted Most Valuable Player by teammates. Now he’s trying to teach what he learned to a group of kids who are all too aware the Gators have posted three consecutive losing seasons, the last two since Billy Napier became the head coach. In the last two seasons the Gators have scored enough points to win most of the games they’ve played, but blown assignments and missed tackles on defense have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory far too often. This spring, the defense has undergone a near total makeover. Peterson and co-defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong are the only holdovers from a year ago. They’re joined by defensive line coach Gerald Chatman, secondary coach Will Harris and co-defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who will coach the inside linebackers. The Gators have run the creeper defense the past two years, but by bringing in Ron Roberts from Auburn, they now have the originator of the scheme working with Armstrong, who was his protégé when the two worked for Billy Napier at Louisiana. Roberts isn’t necessarily a my way or the highway type. Peterson says he’s a listener, someone who will listen to new ideas to incorporate them into the scheme to make it better. “I think the thing about it is, the staff, we all from different places,” Peterson said. “We've all kind of learned different cultures. When you bring that together, it's a beautiful thing, because we can bounce ideas off of each other. And he's not one of those guys where, you know, 'We've got to do it this way.' You know? It's, 'Mike, how have you done it? Gerald, how have you done it? Will, how have you done it? Austin,' you know, everybody way down the line. So, we can all put that in together and get the best product out there on the field." Napier has spoken in glowing terms of how the revamped defensive staff has parked egos at the door to bring a new measure of energy to the field each day. Peterson sees it, too. “You know, a couple of those guys have been coordinators, so they got a lot of knowledge,” Peterson said. “Everybody in the room has seen a lot of football, so you know, our job is to come together and do what's best for the team. You know, look at what we have, what we've done in the past, and how does that fit in together?” New coaches, new faces, some new looks to a creeper system that has been copied and modified all over college football. There is a sense of urgency. Two years of being a bottom feeder among Southeastern Conference defenses has to end if the Gators are to be a better football team in the fall. There is no time to waste. The time to improve is now. Peterson came to Florida in 1995 as a freshman with a chip on his shoulder. He wasn’t one of the more highly recruited players and he was destined to change positions immediately. That chip on his shoulder remained throughout his collegiate career and all the years in the pros. He says the chip is still there and it’s his intention to pass that chip along to every player on the defensive side of the ball. "I got a chip on my shoulder, you can't tell?” he said with a grin. “I've always had one, but yeah, you know, you can see it in practice, man. You know, we getting after it. Offense, you know, we getting after it. You go watch our inside run, you watch team run, man, you'd think it's game day. “But the thing about it, and it gets chippy, but then after practice, you see the guys hugging each other and laughing and having a good time. That's when you know you're building a team, and building a team man, you know, it's a lot of things that go into it. It's a process. It's like building a house. You don't just say, 'Hey, we got a house here.' You got to build it. Sometimes it takes a little time, you know what I mean? And building a team is the same way. But when you start building that team, it starts to look good. Like that same house when the house starts to go up, you ride by and just start smiling. I'm smiling now." UF BASEBALL: FSU hammers Gators 14-3 The highlight of Florida’s 14-3 loss to Florida State came in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday night in Jacksonville. With Colby Shelton on via a walk and Ty Evans on base with a single, Jac Caglianone launched an opposite-field home run to left to tie the game at 3-3. From that point on, it was all Florida State as the 17th-ranked Seminoles (20-3) scored the next 11 runs to secure the yearly 3-game series. The two teams will meet again one more time in Tallahassee on April 9. The story Tuesday night wasn’t all that much different than midweek all season. Kevin O’Sullivan paraded freshman pitchers to the mound all night and they got pounded. It’s enough that O’Sullivan is thinking over how the 6th-ranked Gators (14-10) prepare for the midweek games. “We are not asking guys to go out there and get nine, 10, 12 outs,” O’Sullivan said. “Just four outs and hand it off to the next guy. Like I said, I've seen enough of these games on Tuesdays and we are going to have to make some adjustments." One of the adjustments O’Sullivan suggested is a change in the way the Gators practice. “We're going to have to look at this thing,” O’Sullivan said. “We're probably going to get to a point where we're going to have to practice on Mondays and then take off on Wednesday moving forward to make sure our guys are ready to play on Tuesdays, because we can't keep doing the same thing over and over again." Game notes: Caglianone’s home run was his 12th of the season. He has homered in three consecutive games. He also hit a double and raised his batting average to .402 … The Gators will be home this weekend to face Mississippi State (18-8, 3-3 SEC), a 3-game series that begins Friday night. UF SOFTBALL: Wallace, Williams honored by SEC Skylar Wallace, who hit .545 last week while hitting a grand slam and driving in seven runs, was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week. Mia Williams, who hit .714 and homered in consecutive games against Kentucky, was selected SEC Freshman of the Week. Wallace had six hits, four walks, eight runs scored and three stolen bases as the Gators had a 4-0 week. Williams had a 5-7 week at the plate with a double, seven runs scored and two stolen bases. The 9th-ranked Gators (29-4) will be in Starkville beginning Thursday for a 3-game series with 17th-ranked Mississippi State. Softball America top 25: 1. Oklahoma 31-1; 2. Texas 28-3; 3. Georgia 27-4; 4. Duke 26-3; 5. Stanford 25-5; 6. Tennessee 25-4; 7. Oklahoma State 26-5; 8. Washington 22-5; 9. FLORIDA 29-4; 10. Virginia Tech 25-5-1; 11. Texas A&M 28-4; 12. Missouri 25-7; 13. LSU 25-4; 14. Alabama 25-6; 15. Mississippi State 24-7; 16. UCLA 18-8; 17. Texas State 26-7; 18. Kansas 22-8-1; 19. California 24-8; 20. Arkansas 24-8; 21. Clemson 22-9; 22. Penn State 23-6; 24. Northwestern 16-7; 25. Florida Atlantic 27-7 ESPN/USA Softball top 25: 1. Oklahoma 31-1; 2. Texas 28-3; 3. Georgia 27-4; 4. Tennessee 25-4; 5. Duke 26-3; 6. Stanford 25-5; 7. LSU 25-4; 8. Washington 22-5; 9. FLORIDA 29-4; 10. Oklahoma State 26-5; 11. Virginia Tech 25-5-1; 12. Texas A&M 28-4; 13. Missouri 25-7; 14. Alabama 25-6; 15. UCLA 18-8; 16. Clemson 22-9; 17. Mississippi State 24-7; 18. Florida State 21-9; 19. California 24-8; 20. Arkansas 24-8; 21. (TIE) Baylor 17-11 and Oregon 19-10; 23. Texas State 26-7; 24. Kansas 22-8-1; 25. Louisiana 21-13 USA Today/NFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Oklahoma 31-1; 2. Texas 28-3; 3. Georgia 27-4; 4. Tennessee 25-4; 5. Duke 26-3; 6. LSU 25-4; 7. Stanford 25-5; 8. Oklahoma State 26-5; 9. Washington 22-5; 10. FLORIDA 29-4; 11. Texas A&M 28-4; 12. Missouri 25-7; 13. Alabama 25-6; 14. UCLA 18-8; 15. Virginia Tech 25-5-1; 16. Clemson 22-9; 17. Mississippi State 24-7; 18. California 24-8; 19. Florida State 21-9; 20. Arkansas 24-8; 21. Arizona 21-9-1; 22. South Carolina 22-9; 23. Baylor 17-11; 24. Oregon 19-10; 25. Boston University 25-3 UF MEN’S SWIMMING: No. 2 Gators begin quest for NCAA title The 2nd-ranked Florida men’s swimming team will send 14 Gators into the pool starting tonight as the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships begin in Indianapolis. The 200 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay will be held tonight, perhaps a foreshadowing of things to come between now and Saturday as the top two teams in both relays are No. 1 Arizona State and No. 2 Florida. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Rather than a pro day at its individual schools, the Big 12 will hold a 4-day league-wide pro day in Frisco, Texas beginning Wednesday. Scouts from the NFL, UFL and CFL will all be there as 137 players from 12 Big 12 schools participate. This is a first of the kind showcase that represents the kind of forward thinking college football so desperately needs these days. The Big 12 is making this a big event, an NFL Network televised showcase that will be held at the Dallas Cowboys facilities in Frisco. In so many ways it will replicate the NFL Draft Combine that is held in February in Indianapolis, but this format will give a Combine-like experience for the many players who weren’t invited to Indy. While the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten might be slow to embrace a conference-wide combine event, Group of Five leagues and Division II should seriously consider doing it. This is just one more example of how Brett Yormark continues to run rings around Little Jimmy Phillips and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Yormark has outflanked the ACC at every turn. While he was adding Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah to ensure the Big 12 will be the premier basketball conference in the future and getting a media deal with ESPN and Fox that will be worth nearly as much as the ACC deal, Little Jimmy Phillips added Stanford, California and SMU to the ACC, but only after the Big 12 made its moves.

Following Florida's loss to Colorado in the NCAA Tournament, sophomore guard Riley Kugel announced that he plans to enter the transfer portal.

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: Even though he’s no longer officially with the team and prepping for the National Football League Draft, Ricky Pearsall still feels the need to contribute to the Florida Gators. “I went to their practice two days ago, I believe, and I was just watching Tre Wilson out there at work,” Pearsall said last Thursday at Florida’s Pro Day. “He’s gonna be amazing this year. I'm super excited to watch him work. I've been texting him throughout this time, just giving him feedback. I still got some of the passcodes here so I'm spying a little bit, watching practice, watching one-on-ones, just giving them a little feedback that I can give him and just letting him play his game.” A season ago during which he had his Air Jordan moment with a near impossible 1-hand catch, Pearsall took freshman Tre Wilson under his wing. He was the savvy been there, done that veteran. Wilson was the freshman with out-of-body experience moves who had people thinking the Gators had found the next Percy. Pearsall caught 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns, numbers that certainly would have been better if not for the broken collarbone suffered by quarterback Graham Mertz in a loss to Missouri. Wilson played in the slot, spent most of the season catching tunnel screens and drag patterns. He was the threat underneath while Pearsall spent most of his time running the mid-range to deeper routes. Wilson caught 61 passes for 538 yards, good for six touchdowns. It was in practice that a bond formed between Wilson and Pearsall, one that continues to thrive. While Wilson was the make-you-miss guy a year ago, he will incorporate much more downfield action into his repertoire in the fall. Because Pearsall fell 35 yards short of becoming Florida’s first wide receiver with 1,000 receiving yards since Taylor Jacobs did it in 2002, Wilson has made it a goal to do it for his friend and mentor this year. "I mean, I feel that it's mandatory,” Wilson said after Saturday’s practice. “You know, I feel like he was cut short of 1,000 last year. I was really hoping he got it, but now, it's kind of my goal to make it for him now." Pearsall took a very professional approach to playing receiver. He was such a route-running perfectionist that it is considered one of the chief reasons he could hear his name called in the second round when the NFL drafts in April. Ever the good teammate, Pearsall took on the role of teacher to Wilson’s wide-eyed, freshman understudy a year ago and that extended beyond the pass catching, route running aspects of the position. One of the first things Pearsall taught Wilson was to take good care of his body. “Because when I first came in I was having deep tissue issues with my hamstrings and all that,” Wilson said. “And, you know, he comes and lets me know, 'You know, your body is your temple, so make sure to take care of all that and go out there and make plays.’" . Obviously, Wilson paid attention. He still looks to Pearsall for help. "Ah shoot, I still look up to him as a mentor,” Wilson said. “You know, we were just getting in some work last week. He most definitely took me under his wing, and I feel like if it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't be in the shoes I'm in. But yeah, he most definitely stepped my game up, you know, not just looking up to him but wanting to better myself just because of the level he was on. I want to reach them levels. So he most definitely advanced my game." Wilson played at a biscuit or two less than 170 as a true freshman. He’s listed at 181 now and says his speed is consistently in the 4.4 range. Wilson and Kahliel Jackson are Florida’s only experienced wide receivers returning from the 2023 team. Jackson caught 21 passes for 251 yards and a TD as a redshirt freshman in 2023. There isn’t another returning wide receiver who had more than six catches last season. Florida coach Billy Napier dipped into the transfer portal to bring in Chimere Dike from Wisconsin. Dike caught 97 passes for 1,478 yards and nine touchdowns at Wisconsin. His best season was 2022 when he caught 47 passes from Mertz for 689 yards and five touchdowns. Dike adds experience and knowhow to a receiving room that will be the fastest group the Gators have been able to put on the field in years. The experience of Dike, Wilson and Jackson will be important for bringing along redshirt freshmen Andy Jean and Aidan Mizell and true freshmen TJ Abrams and Tank Hawkins. Early spring position assessment: Wilson should be listed among the top five returning receivers in the Southeastern Conference. Dike is deceOverall, it’s a receiving group that will be highly underrated but the combination of a returning starting QB (Mertz) and vertical speed that can stretch the field means there is potential for productivity. UF BASEBALL: Gators face Florida State in Jacksonville Ranked as high as fourth (Baseball America) in the latest round of polls, the Gators (14-9) will try to even their in-state rivalry series with Florida State (19-3) this evening at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville (6 p.m., SEC Network+). The Gators lost the first meeting with the Seminoles, 12-8, in Gainesville a couple of weeks ago. The Gators come into the game after winning their series with then 5th-ranked LSU in Baton Rouge. Florida lost the first game, 6-1, but rebounded to win game two, 6-4, in 11 innings and then run-ruled the Tigers, 12-2, Sunday. Florida State was swept by Clemson, taking its first three losses of the season. D1Baseball top 25: 1. Arkansas 19-3; 2. Oregon State 21-2; 3. Clemson 22-2; 4. Texas A&M 21-4; 5. Tennessee 21-4; 6. FLORIDA 14-9; 7. Vanderbilt 19-6; 8. LSU 19-6; 9. Virginia 20-4; 10. Dallas Baptist 19-4; 11. Duke 17-7; 12. Wake Forest 16-7; 13. Virginia Tech 18-4; 14. North Carolina 21-4; 15. East Carolina 16-6; 16. Alabama 18-6; 17. Florida State 19-3; 18. South Carolina 19-5; 19. Coastal Carolina 18-6; 20. UC-Irvine 17-3; 21. Mississippi State 17-8; 22. North Carolina State 15-7; 23. Kansas State 17-6; 24. Kentucky 20-4; 25. Oklahoma 14-9 Baseball America top 25: 1. Arkansas 19-3; 2. Clemson 22-2; 3. Oregon State 21-2; 4. FLORIDA 14-9; 5. Texas A&M 21-3; 6. Tennessee 21-4; 7. Vanderbilt 19-6; 8. Virginia 199-4; 9. LSU 19-6; 10. South Carolina 19-5; 11. Duke 17-7; 12. Florida State 19-3; 13. Wake Forest 16-7; 14. Dallas Baptist 19-4; 15. Alabama 15-6; 16. UC-Irvine 18-3; 17. Mississippi State 17-8; 18. East Carolina 16-6; 19. North Carolina 21-4; 20. Virginia Tech 18-4; 21. Oklahoma 14-9; 22. Ole Miss 17-8; 23. Kentucky 20-4; 24. Georgia 21-4; 25. North Carolina State 15-7 USA Today Coaches top 25: 1. Arkansas 19-3; 2. Oregon State 21-2; 3. Clemson 22-2; 4. Texas A&M 21-3; 5. Tennessee 21-4; 6. FLORIDA 14-9; 7. LSU 19-6; 8. Virginia 20-4; 9. Vanderbilt 19-6; 10. Dallas Baptist 19-4; 11. North Carolina 21-4; 12. Wake Forest 16-7; 13. Duke 17-7; 14. South Carolina 19-5; 15. Virginia Tech 18-4; 16. East Carolina 16-6; 17. Florida State 19-3; 18. Alabama 18-6; 19. UC-Irvine 18-3; 20. Coastal Carolina 18-6; 21. Kentucky 20-4; 22. North Carolina State 15-7; 23. Mississippi State 17-8; 24. Georgia 21-4; 25. TCU 17-7 BASKETBALL COACHING MOVES AND GROOVES Notable fired basketball coaches and their replacements Chris Holtman, Ohio State: Ohio State promoted from within, hiring Jake Diebler, who played collegiately for Valpo back when Bryce Drew was the coach. Tony Stubblefield, DePaul: They hired Chris Holtman. A lot of folks wanted Bobby Hurley. Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt: The new guy is Mike Byington, who was the head coach at James Madison. If they’re lucky it won’t be until year three that he realizes he made a HUGE mistake. Juwan Howard, Michigan: Indiana blew it by holding onto Mike Woodson. Dusty May wasn’t willing to wait another year so he’s a Michigan man now. Jerod Haase, Stanford: The replacement is Kyle Smith, formerly of Washington State, but one of Todd Golden’s mentors both at Columbia and San Francisco. Mike Hopkins, Washington: The new guy is Danny Sprinkle, formerly of Utah State. Sprinkle spent one year at Utah State after several as the head coach at Montana State. Scott Perra, Rice: Rob Lanier won 20 at SMU so they fired him. Rice hired him immediately. Dumb move SMU, smart move Rice. Dana Ford, Missouri State: They haven’t been winning consistently since Cuonzo Martin was the head coach. Cuonzo’s coming back. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Dennis Dodd, the top college football writer for CBS Sports has penned an in-depth look at the future of Clemson and Florida State lawsuits against the Atlantic Coast Conference. Included in his analysis is the future of the ACC should other schools such as North Carolina decide they’ve had enough of the ACC and join the lawsuit. Clemson and FSU are looking with envy at the revenue disparity between the ACC and both the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten. By 2026 the Big Ten will be distributing an estimated $100 million per year. When 2026 rolls around, the two-year impact of Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC will be felt and a renegotiated contract with ESPN/ABC should be expected, raising the payout from $80 million to perhaps more than what the Big Ten will pay. Clemson, FSU and everyone else in the ACC will be in the $50 million range by then. So, Clemson and FSU want to extricate from the ACC, fueled by the belief they will be grabbed up by either the Big Ten or SEC. There is one glaring problem with that assumption. Neither the SEC nor the Big Ten would even have a discussion with Clemson and FSU until AFTER they get a divorce from the ACC. To talk prior to the divorce could involve anti-trust laws but would also involve the ACC going beast mode in a lawsuit claiming their bigger, wealthier cousins are trying to destroy the ACC. Yet, boosters, school presidents and others are pushing FSU and Clemson to get the divorce. Dodd writes, “Sources told CBS Sports there is way too much credit being given to boosters, presidents and regents/trustees who are fueling this movement.” And suppose they get a divorce? Dodd writes, “It's one thing to get out of the ACC; it's another to find a new home in a timely manner that makes financial sense in the long term.” The length of the contract with the ACC is a problem. When Oklahoma and Texas opted to leave for the SEC, the Big 12 television contract was about to come to an end. The same was true for Southern Cal, UCLA, Washington and Oregon. There are 12 more years on the ACC contract that is with ESPN. Why would ESPN be willing to bankrupt the ACC so that Clemson and FSU could join the SEC? And, since the Big Ten has a 3-way contract with Fox, CBS and NBC, it’s not about to engage in a war with ESPN, particularly since ESPN has a new deal for the entire College Football Playoff for seven years after the current contract expires in 2025, What remains to be seen is what will happen in the event several other ACC schools join in a lawsuit against the league? Even if that were to happen and be successful, there is no guarantee that either Clemson or FSU would be picked up by either the SEC or Big Ten. The SEC already owns the markets in South Carolina and Florida, so if it cherry picked it might try to land North Carolina and Virginia or even North Carolina and Duke. As for the Big Ten, neither Clemson nor FSU are members of the America Association of Universities. In the Big Ten, everyone but Nebraska is a member. Nebraska was booted out of the prestigious academic organization in 2012, but has petitioned to re-join. Now, maybe FSU and Clemson have the brightest legal minds on the planet at disposal and they know how to navigate the minefield up ahead. But what if they don’t?

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning: Mark Twain is often credited as having said, “Better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you’re stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” He didn’t say it, but that doesn’t make the saying any less true. LSU fans probably should have kept their mouths shut Sunday afternoon. They spent their Sunday at Alex Box Stadium trying to make life miserable for Florida’s Jac Caglianone, perhaps taking a page from Tennessee fans who last season harassed Caglianone into a bad day on the mound. A year ago, Caglianone’s emotions could get the best of him, especially on the road. That wasn’t the case Sunday. If the LSU fans had any effect at all, it never showed. Caglianone turned in his fourth straight dominant outing, holding LSU to three hits and two runs in seven innings. Along the way the Gators built up an 8-2 lead in large part because Colby Shelton launched a pair of 2-run homers, the first to dead center field in the fifth, the second an opposite field job to left in the sixth. In the fifth, when the Gators scored six, Cade Kurland also hit a 2-run homer and Luke Heyman hit a 2-run double. Then came the eighth and the LSU fans couldn’t leave well enough alone, not even after Ty Evans hit a 2-run homer to dead center to make it 10-2. That brought Caglianone to the plate, 0-4 on Sunday but owner of a 2-run game-winner to right field Saturday night to lead the Gators to a come-from-behind 6-4 win. The fans erupted when Caglianone stepped into the batters box and they were beside themselves with joy when Javen Copeland sailed a first pitch close to Caglianone’s head. That was a purpose pitch, but Caglianone wasn’t the least bit fazed. The crowd loved the second pitch, a called strike. The third pitch left the yard a whole lot faster than the pitch Coleman threw near Caglianone’s head. When it landed beyond the left field bleachers Caglianone was trotting around the bases, the only emotion showing a rather small smile. Coleman was yanked, replaced by Christian Little. Adding insult to injury, Little’s fifth pitch to Tyler Shelnut left the yard, the first time the Gators have gone deep back-to-back-to-back since Brian Jeroloman, Brandon McArthur and Brian LeClerc did it back in 2005. Shelnut’s homer, his eighth of the year, allowed the 6th-ranked Gators (14-9, 4-2 SEC) to run-rule the 5th-ranked Tigers (19-6, 2-4 SEC). In winning Saturday and Sunday, the Gators bounced back from a 6-1 loss Friday night to win their second straight SEC series and their 21st weekend series in the last 23. The turnaround from Friday night had plenty to do with Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan shaking up the batting order. Shelton moved to leadoff and it paid off Sunday with a single, his 11th and 12th homers and four RBI. Ty Evans moved up to second in the order, responding with consecutive 3-hit games. Dropping down to third, Caglianone hit homers on consecutive games. Kurland moved from leadoff to fifth in the order, going 3-9 including his fifth home run. O’Sullivan couldn’t hand out enough praise in his post game remarks. “Jac was just unbelievable on the mound today,” O’Sullivan said. “He was in total control. Never got out of his delivery. Seven innings, one earned run, and then offensively we were really, really good. Colby Shelton had a big day. I think we had six homers on the day. He certainly got going today. Ty had an unbelievable weekend at the plate and played great defense, too. The play he made yesterday to start the ninth was an incredible play. He made another one to his left tonight. Obviously, Jac ran into one. Shelnut had a great weekend, had three walks today as well. We had some contributions from everybody. I thought Tanner (Garrison) caught great the entire weekend. It was an overall complete team win today." The Gators will be in Jacksonville Tuesday night to face Florida State (19-3), which was swept by Clemson over the weekend, blowing an 11-2 lead on Sunday for a 14-12 loss. Game notes: Caglianone is now 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA. He has allowed only 10 hits while striking out 32 in his last 24-1/3 innings. At the plate, Caglianone is hitting .394 with 11 homers and 24 RBI … Evans’ 8-15 weekend at the plate raised his average to .389. Evans is 23 for his last 49 at bats, a cool .469. He has hit six homers while driving in 22 … The Gators have hit 52 home runs in 23 games. UF SOFTBALL: Gators sweep Kentucky Skylar Wallace hit a 2-run homer and Keagan Rothrock pitched a 4-hitter as the Gators (29-4, 5-1 SEC) beat Kentucky (20-11, 0-6 SEC), 7-1, for a sweep of the weekend series. In the three games, the Gators outscored the Wildcats 26-4 and outhit them 27-10. Wallace, who also had a run-scoring single, scored three runs and stole three bases. Last season’s national player of the year is hitting .488 with eight homers, 37 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts. Florida jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first two innings, scoring two on a single to left field by Jocelyn Erickson that drove home Wallace and Korbe Otis in the first, and three in the second on an RBI single by Wallace and a two-run single by Erickson. Rothrock gave up a run in the sixth, but the Gators countered in the bottom half of the inning when Mia Williams was hit by a pitch, stole second and came home on Wallace’s home run to left center. Next up for the Gators is a road trip to Starkville for a 3-game SEC series with Mississippi State (24-7, 5-4 SEC) starting Thursday evening. Mississippi State took two of three on the road at Arkansas over the weekend. Game notes: Wallace now has 105 stolen bases in her Florida career, just eight behind school record holder Kelsey Stewart … Rothrock (14-3, 1.01 ERA) has pitched 13 complete games … Led by Wallace (.488), five Florida starters are hitting more than .400 including Otis (.447), Kendra Falby .441, Erickson (.429) and Katie Kistler (.422). UF WOMEN’S TENNIS: Gators post two SEC road wins With their 4-0 win over Missouri Sunday, the Gators (10-7, 6-2 SEC) have won five consecutive matches. The Gators will be home next weekend, taking on Mississippi State on Friday and Ole Miss on Sunday. UF MEN’S TENNIS: Gators split two weekend matches The Gators (9-9, 3-5 SEC) got a Friday win over Ole Miss, 4-0, but dropped their Sunday match with Mississippi State, 4-3. The Gators will be in Athens on Sunday to face Georgia. Florida’s next home match is April 5 vs. Vanderbilt at the Ring Tennis Complex. SEC BASKETBALL Sunday’s scores: Alabama (23-11) 72, Grand Canyon (30-5) 61; West Region; Houston (32-4) 100, Texas A&M (21-15) 95 Thursday’s Sweet 16 game: Alabama (23-11) vs. North Carolina (29-7), West Region Friday’s Sweet 16 game: Creighton (25-9) vs. Tennessee (25-9), Midwest Region SEC FOOTBALL /BASKETBALL Alabama: The Crimson Tide is in the Sweet 16, but will be playing the rest of the NCAA Tournament without Nick Pringle, who broke his foot. Georgia: Former Gator running back Trevor Etienne was arrested in Athens on Sunday morning, charged with DUI among other things. One Georgia internet site claims that Etienne is the first Georgia player to be arrested in 2024. Kentucky: Some Kentucky sites are claiming a decision is pending regarding the status of John Calipari. ESPN analysts Jay Bilas and Seth Greenberg claim that firing Cal would be “absurd.” ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Few have benefitted from the transfer portal more than Lane Kiffin, but the Ole Miss coach calls the combination of NIL and the transfer portal “a disaster,” especially since athletes can transfer multiple times now without having to sit a full year. Kiffin has an idea that could work if implemented which is to make the athletes employees and give them contracts that are enforceable. The idea of making athletes employees isn’t anything new, but the combination of employment with an enforceable contract is new and should be taken quite seriously. Among other things, it could help resolve the opt out problem if the contract forbids opting out of bowl games, etc. Another aspect of the contract would be the possibility of multiple year deals, which could resolve many of the transfer issues. This isn’t a perfect idea, but it’s a good start. It would add a new layer to the recruiting process because contracts require lawyers. Who’s going to pay for the lawyers for the players? Could a player under contract be traded? Could a school that needs a left tackle, for example, trade a safety and a linebacker to another school that has a disgruntled tackle or perhaps a surplus at the position? A player who wants to transfer could request a trade or a release. A player with a multi-year deal who wants a trade or a release so he could transfer could use some of his NIL money to buy out his contract or ask the school to which he wishes to transfer to buy out the remaining months/years on his contract. The idea has its complications, that’s for sure, but it certainly has more merit than the proposal brought forward by NCAA president Charlie Dean. Here’s an idea for you. Ditch the Dean proposal and get all the Division I coaches together for a weekend, no school presidents allowed. Let the coaches come up with a proposal since it is their livelihood that is affected by transfers and NIL.

Florida puts up its second lowest score of the season in New Orleans, finishing fourth in the SEC tournament 197.300. #3 LSU 198.075, #7 Alabama 197.750 and #6 Kentucky 197.600 Or your top three teams. In a night that needed 9.9 scores only 5 routines outside of Leanne Wong (hit 3 of 4) made that mark. LSU ruled the night, capturing or tying for all four apparatus winners with number one in the nation gymnast Haleigh Bryant capturing the all around, with a score of 39.80 Coach Rowland said: “The Gators really came out strong tonight on beam so really proud of their performance. Really just tried to keep that momentum solid through all four events. We had some peaks and we had some valleys tonight. We had too many mistakes tonight. It was a solid performance but not a performance I know the Gators are capable of. At the same time, it isn't an end all, be all. We have two weeks to get prepared for our regional championships, which is in Gainesville.” In postseason there are two additional judges for a total of four. Six gymnasts compete with the top five scores counting. Florida goes Beam, Floor, Vault and Uneven Bars. On to the Recap: Beam: (Last week: 49.40, Average: 49.530, 3rd Nationally) Skylar Drasser: Back-spring layout. Full turn, bobble. Stuck landing- 9.850 Sloane Blakely: Front flip to back flip. Side dismount, stuck. A slight adjustment keeps this from a 10- 9.925 Anya Pilgrim: Springboard side mount. Triple series, perfect double back flip side dismount, 10?- 9.875 Ellie Lazzari: Triple Backflip. Falls off beam. Nice finish however-9.050 (The dropped score) Victoria Nguyen: Backflip twist to front flip. Slight hop on the dismount- 9.850 Leanne Wong: can't fall needs a 9.9 to keep pace. Great routine!- 9.90 Score: 49.400 Florida is in 4th place, behind by .0750 Floor Exercise: (Last week: 49.60, Average: 49.565, 9th Nationally) Victoria Nguyen: First pass (The long runs from corner to corner) Backflip to sissone. Second pass: back flip to twist hyphen 9.850 Danie Ferris: First pass: back twist flip, big hop. Second pass: twisting flip- 9.750 Anya Pilgrim: First pass: Triple backflip. Second pass: Double backflip, hop on landing- 9.825 Morgan Hurd: First pass: Double layout, big hop. Second pass: Front flip, hop back- 9.525 (The dropped score) Morgan really looked off the whole routine tonight. Sloane Blakely: First pass: Backflip, stuck landing. Second pass: Backflip to front flip. Solid performance- 9.850 Leanne Wong: First pass: Double layout. Second pass: Backflip to double flip- 9.90 Score: 49.175 Season low. Florida is now down .350. In 4th place Vault: (Last week: 49.475, Average: 49.485, 3rd Nationally) Skylar Draser: Yurchenko 1 ½. Nailed it!- 9.825 Victoria Nguyen: Yurchenko 1 ½. Stuck landing-9.90 Sloane Blakely: Yurchenko 1 ½. Hop back- 9.775 Anya Pilgrim: Yurchenko 1 ½. Big Vault, stuck landing- 9.90 Danie Ferris: Yurchenko 1 ½. Big hop on landing- 9.725 (The dropped score) Leanne Wong: Vault to twist back towards the table. Slight hop- 9.875 Score: 49.275 Florida’s 2nd lowest Vault score of the season. Down .575 in 4th place. Uneven Bars: (Last week: 49.425, Average: 49.415, 10th Nationally) Sloane Blakely: Smooth transition from low to high bars. Slight hop on landing- 9.825 Victoria Nguyen: Legs together, straight hand stands, sticks the landing 10?- 9.925 Ellie Lazzari: springboard mount to the high bar. Twist dismount, stuck landing- 9.875 Gabby Disidore: Off on handstand. Hop on landing- 9.825 (The dropped score) Anya Pilgrim: legs stuck together. Beautiful routine and sticks the landing- 9.9 Leanne Wong: held handstands. Sticks the landing. Can we get a 10?-9.925 Score: 49.450 Florida finishes .775 out of first place and Conference Tournament winner LSU. Disappointing, yes. Freshman nerves, probably. After improving every Meet Florida scores continue to head the wrong way, at the wrong time. The Meet in New Orleans used platforms to raise the apparatus. The same way they are set up for the national championships. So you land differently then on concrete or a basketball court. This factored in somewhat for all the competitors as there was only one perfect 10 all night (Konnor McClain, LSU on Beam) Despite the fact two or three of these teams could be competing with Oklahoma on the final day at nationals. The good news is Florida hosts regionals on April 4, 5 and 7 with a sold out home crowd, I'm almost sure Florida will bounce back.