(Photo by Bobby D'Alessio) It is time for 5th-ranked Florida (24-6, 15-2 SEC) to slam the door shut on the Southeastern Conference regular season. The Gators carry a 10-game winning streak that includes seven straight SEC road wins into today’s game with Kentucky (19-11, 9-8 SEC) and they want to carry the momentum of the regular season into the tournament phase of the season.   Win or lose today, the Gators will still be the conference champs and the No. 1 seed at next week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville, but beating the Wildcats at Rupp Arena on their Senior Day will keep UF in contention for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gators are fourth in the NCAA NET Rankings with an 11-5 record. Only Duke (14-2), Michigan (12-1) and Arizona (14-2) have more Quad 1 wins than the Gators. A win at Kentucky and then three at the SEC Tournament would make a strong case for Florida to be one of the four No. 1 seeds when the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee announces its brackets for the 68-team field a week from Sunday.   “Winning out, I feel like would definitely do it [earn a No. 1],” Golden said Friday before the Gators departed for Lexington. “And that's not any disrespect to anybody else, but I think that would get us close to 14 or 15 quad one wins. And I think right now we're at 11, and I think the next closest is eight.”   UConn, which most of the bracketologists have as the No. 1 team in the South with Florida as the No. 2, has a 7-2 record in Quad 1 games. The Huskies do own a win over the Gators during the regular season, but that game was in December. Since that loss, which dropped Florida to 5-4 at the time, the Gators are 19-2.     Florida, which is the No. 4 team in the nation according to the analytics at both kenpom.com and barttorvik.com , is definitely not the team that struggled early. Per barttorvik.com , the Gators are the No. 2 team in the country since January 1.   “We’ve got a lot to work on though before we can really plant our flag on that,” Golden said. “We’ve got to find a way to win tomorrow and then take care of some business in the conference tournament.”   Taking care of business starts with today’s game at Rupp, one of the more difficult places to play in the country, especially with it being Senior Day. Although the Wildcats aren’t exactly playing on a championship level right now, they certainly have the talent to go on a run, plus they still have a chance to get to the No. 4 seed in Nashville, which would earn the double-bye into the quarter-finals. There is also the possibility Kentucky could finish outside the top eight teams in the final regular season standings which would mean playing on Wednesday.   The SEC Tournament is a grind even for a top four seed since it means winning Friday, Saturday and Sunday to hoist the championship trophy. For a team that finishes ninth or later in the final standings winning the tournament title means five wins on five consecutive days.   “I think it speaks to the league and just how deep it is and we're kind of looking at the bracket potential,” Golden said. “I mean, there’s really no reason to look at it yet, because there's about seven different teams that could slide into that eight slot, so yeah, it's a lot to be determined here, and I think Kentucky could be as low as a 10 if we beat them. So, you know, a lot to be determined here over the next 36 hours.”   Kentucky’s seeding is Kentucky’s problem. The Gators don’t have to concern themselves with seeding for Nashville, but the NCAA is a different story. The advantage to a No. 1 seed is only once in NCAA history (2018) has a No. 16 seed (UMBC) sprung an upset over a No. 1 (Virginia).   Whether it’s a No. 1 or a No. 2, the Gators are almost a lock to start NCAA Tournament play in Tampa, which would be like a home game. When NCAA Tournament play begins in-state for the Gators good things typically happen. The Gators began the 2006 tournament in Jacksonville and went on to win the national championship. In 2010 Florida made the Elite Eight game after starting in Tampa. They began their 2014 run to the Final Four in Orlando and got to the Elite Eight game in 2017 after starting out in Orlando.   Anticipated starting lineups No. 5 FLORIDA (24-6, 15-2 SEC): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185, SR)   Kentucky (19-11, 9-8 SEC): Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, SO); Malachi Moren (7-0, 250, FR); Otega Oweh (6-4, 220, SR); Collin Chandler (6-5, 205, SO); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 195, SR)   Today’s SEC games No. 5 FLORIDA (24-6, 15-2 SEC) at Kentucky (19-11, 9-8 SEC) Auburn (16-14, 6-11 SEC) at No. 16 Alabama (22-8, 12-5 SEC) No. 20 Arkansas (22-8, 12-5 SEC) at Missouri (20-10, 9-7 SEC) No. 24 Vanderbilt (23-7, 10-7 SEC) at No. 23 Tennessee (21-9, 11-6 SEC) Texas A&M (20-10, 10-7 SEC) at LSU (15-15, 3-14 SEC) Georgia (21-9, 9-8 SEC) at Mississippi State (13-17, 5-12 SEC) Oklahoma (16-14, 6-11 SEC) at Texas (18-12, 9-8 SEC) South Carolina (12-18, 3-14 SEC) at Ole Miss (12-18, 4-13 SEC)   The way the SEC Tournament shapes up heading into today’s games Wednesday, March 11 1. No. 9 Georgia vs. No. 16 South Carolina 2. No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Mississippi State 3. No. 10 Texas vs. No. 15 Ole Miss 4. No. 11 Auburn vs. No. 14 LSU   Thursday, March 12 5. No. 8 Kentucky vs. Game 1 winner 6. No. 5 Missouri vs. Game 2 winner 7. No. 7 Texas A&M vs. Game 3 winner 8. No. 6 Vanderbilt vs. Game 4 winner   Friday, March 13 (quarterfinals) 9. No. 1 FLORIDA vs. Game 5 winner 10. No. 4 Tennessee vs. Game 6 winner 11. No. 2 Alabama vs. Game 7 winner 12. No. 3 Arkansas vs. Game 8 winner   Saturday, March 14 (semifinals) 13. Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner 14. Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner   Sunday, March 15 Championship game, last two teams standing   Top 16 teams NCAA NET Rankings (Quad 1 won/lost) 1. Duke 14-2; 2. Michigan 12-1; 3. Arizona 14-2; 4. FLORIDA 11-5; 5. Illinois 8-6; 6. Gonzaga 6-2; 7. Houston 7-5; 8. UConn 7-2; 9. Purdue 9-7; 10. Iowa State 6-6; 11. Michigan State 8-4; 12. Nebraska 7-5; 13. Virginia 7-3; 14. Texas Tech 8-7; 15. Louisville 5-9; 16. Arkansas 6-8   SEC in Joe Lunardi (ESPN) bracketology (as of Friday a.m.) East: 1. Duke; 2. Michigan State; 3. Iowa State; 4. Alabama (SEC: 6. Kentucky; 10. Missouri)   South: 1. UConn; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Purdue; 4. Virginia (SEC: 5. Tennessee; 10. Texas A&M)   Midwest: 1. Michigan; 2. Houston; 3. Nebraska; 4. Kansas (SEC: 5. Arkansas; 6. Vanderbilt)   West: 1. Arizona; 2. Illinois; 3. Gonzaga; 4. Texas Tech (SEC: 8. Georgia; 11. Texas)   SEC in CBS bracketology (as of Friday a.m.) East: 1. Duke; 2. Illinois; 3. Iowa State; 4. Alabama (SEC: 5. Vanderbilt; 7. Georgia; 11. Texas A&M)   South: 1. UConn; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Purdue; 4. Texas Tech (SEC: 5. Tennessee)   Midwest: 1. Michigan; 2. Houston; 3. Virginia; 4. Nebraska (SEC: 7. Kentucky)   West: 1. Arizona; 2. Michigan State; 3. Gonzaga; 4. Kansas (SEC: 5. Arkansas; 9. Texas; 11. Missouri)

Part 2 Of Our Interview With Florida's New Football Boss

Have a week Taylor Shumaker! (UAA Photo)

By Franz Beard gatorbaitmedia.com Those same experts who thought the Gators (24-6, 15-2 SEC) should be skewered and roasted on a rotisserie back in December have certainly changed their tune. They now think 5 th -ranked Florida is playing as well or better than any team in the country and may win a second straight NCAA championship. It is entirely possible. The Gator Boyz got hot last year, won the SEC Tournament then left six teams in their wake to win Florida’s first national championship since 2007. This year’s version of the Gator Boyz might be even hotter. UF #21 Alex Condon drives on UK #4 Andrija Jelavić in their 83 - 92 Pt Win in Gainesville What makes the possibility of a repeat championship so intriguing is that it would make the Gators the only team other than UCLA to have two repeat championship runs in college basketball history. UCLA first did it in 1964-65 and from 1967-73 John Wooden’s Bruins won seven straight NCAA championships, a feat that could be deemed the impossible dream these days and times. Florida won it back-to-back in 2006-07 with the exact same starting lineup both years – Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey. This year’s Florida team has had to rebuild after losing Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard to the NBA, but Todd Golden has reloaded his backcourt and changed the focus to what’s up front where the foursome of Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon, Big Freaky Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Handlogten compose the nation’s best and most dominant front court. The rebuilt Gators have dominated the Southeastern Conference, which most experts say is as tough or tougher than any league in the country.   Ever since the backcourt duo of Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland found their mojo and their shot, the Gators have won 10 straight games, all but one by 13 or more points. The Gators have scored 100 points in their last two games while winning by more than 30 in each game. It is the first time that has happened in the Southeastern Conference since Kentucky did it in 1971. In the last two games the Gators have outrebounded Arkansas and Mississippi State 104-47. A year ago the Gators averaged 84.8 points per game. This year's team averages 87.8.   If the Gators can sustain their current momentum for 10 games (Kentucky, three games in the SEC, six NCAA), they could become only the fourth team since the John Wooden era at UCLA to go back-to-back. Duke did it in 1991-92, Florida did it in 2006-07 and UConn most recently in 2023-24. Since 1999, UConn has won five national championships while Florida is tied with Duke and North Carolina with three each.   This means the Florida program is living in the oxygen mask level of college basketball but since the Gators’ sustained success took so long to achieve you’ll never hear them mentioned as one of the bluebloods. College basketball’s blueblood list is UCLA (11 NCAA titles), Kentucky (8), North Carolina (6), Duke (5), Kansas (5), Indiana (5), UConn (5), Villanova (3) and Michigan State (2). Florida didn’t have a full-time basketball coach until Norm Sloan (1960) and didn’t even win a Southeastern Conference championship until 1989, so yes, Florida’s success is recent.   Since 1999, however, the Gators have elbowed their way into the rarified air division of the college game. This might cause the folks up in bluegrass horse country to gag, but you could say Florida has surpassed Kentucky as the No. 1 basketball program in the SEC. Since 1999, Florida has won three NCAA championships to one for Kentucky. The Gators have made the Final Four five times to Kentucky’s four. Kentucky has gotten to more Elite Eight games (UK 10, UF 9) but national championships are the true measure and Florida has more. Since 1999, the only other SEC teams that have made the Final Four are Texas (2003 in the Big 12), South Carolina (2017), Alabama (2024) and Auburn (2019, 2025).   You can’t call the Gators bluebloods because it took so long to elbow their way to the top, nor can you call UConn a blueblood since the Huskies had never made the Final Four until they won their first NCAA title in 1999. So, UConn and the Gators may not be bluebloods, but they certainly are top of the newbloods food chain. Most of the top bracketologists currently have the Gators going to the South Region in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The No. 1? UConn. So, we have the possibility of a showdown for newbloods superiority on our hands.   In four years, Todd Golden has proven to be as good or better than any basketball coach in the country. He has taken over a program that was spinning its wheels at the NIT/barely NCAA level and turned it into a true powerhouse. He’s 40 years old and already has an NCAA championship. Billy Donovan was 41 when he got his first one. Dean Smith was 54, John Wooden 53, Mike Kryzyzewski 44, Bill Self 46, Tom Izzo 44 and Dan Hurley 50.   Golden has been so good at roster construction and in-game adjustments but he has proven this year that he is as good as it gets when bringing a team along while building tremendous momentum. The Gators were 5-4 after losing to UConn at Madison Square Garden back in December. That’s when so many experts wrote them off. Well, they were wrong because the Gators are 19-2 since then and playing at a level that makes them the team nobody with good sense wants to play.   Here are seven reasons why Florida can win it all and become just the first team other than UCLA to have two repeat national championships.   1. Defense: Both kenpom and barttorvik have the Gators ranked No. 4 nationally in defense. The Gators rarely get outscored in the paint and they’re exceptional at running teams off the 3-point line while making them shoot difficult mid-range shots. The bigs can defend on the perimeter and are quick enough to get back in the paint to be intimidators. What makes them so exceptional, however, is their ability to rebound the basketball which allows the Gators to force a lot of one-and-done possessions. One-and-dones make it very tough to beat Florida.   2. Transition: Nobody in the country gets the ball off the defensive glass and gets it up the court faster than the Gators, who score a ton of layups and dunks simply by beating the other team down the court. When Fland and Lee are in the game, the Gators have the fastest backcourt in the nation. The Gators exhaust opponents because all five guys run the floor so well.   3. The 8-man rotation: Florida has an exceptional 8-man rotation of four bigs and four perimeter guys. The bigs are long, mobile and good at both ends of the floor. They clog the paint, protect the rim and run the floor for easy dunks. The knock on the perimeter guys is they couldn’t shoot well. That’s changed. Lee is shooting 38.7 percent from three during Florida’s winning streak. Fland has gone 7-14 since breaking his shooting slump. Urban Klavzar (Lethal Weapon III) is 43-96 (44.7 percent) shooting threes in SEC play and Isaiah Brown is hitting 39 percent. So much for the theory they can’t shoot. Oh, and now opponents have CJ Ingram to be concerned with. He’s tall and long like Brown, can hit the three and defend all positions on the perimeter.   4. You can’t press Florida: Teams that fall behind and try to get back in the game with full court pressure play right into Florida’s hands. Both Fland and Lee are extraordinary ball handlers and too quick off the dribble. The Gators have the two best press release guys in the country in Condon and Haugh, who can handle and pass the ball like guards after getting the inbounds pass. Press the Gators and they will turn it into points at the other end of the court.   5. Connected: That is how John Calipari described the Gators after absorbing a 34-point loss while giving up 111 points. As well as the 2025 Gators were connected and truly playing the game for each other, this team might be even more so. They really don’t care who scores the most or who grabs the headlines. They play for each other and the goal is to win the game.   6. Todd Golden: Nobody makes in-game or halftime adjustments better. Nobody is better at roster construction. Look at his front court. Condon and Haugh were lightly recruited. Chinyelu started his career at Washington State of all places and Handlogten at Marshall. That tells you not that many people thought that much of them when they were first eligible. Haugh will be an All-American and a lottery pick. Condon and Chinyelu could play their way into the first round. Golden saw something in them that not a lot of people did. That’s another reason why he is a truly elite coach and one more reason why Florida could repeat.   7. Tampa: Barring an upset of epic proportions, Florida will start the NCAA Tournament in Tampa. This will be a home court atmosphere that should make the arena loud and intimidating. That should help propel the Gators to the second weekend, needing only four more games to make it two straight national titles.   Saturday’s SEC Games #4 FLORIDA (24-6, 15-2 SEC) at Kentucky (19-11, 9-8 SEC) Auburn (16-14, 6-11 SEC) at No. 16 Alabama (22-8, 12-5 SEC) No. 20 Arkansas (22-8, 12-5 SEC) at Missouri (20-10, 9-7 SEC) No. 24 Vanderbilt (23-7, 10-7 SEC) at No. 23 Tennessee (21-9, 11-6 SEC) Texas A&M (20-10, 10-7 SEC) at LSU (15-15, 3-14 SEC) Georgia (21-9, 9-8 SEC) at Mississippi State (13-17, 5-12 SEC) Oklahoma (16-14, 6-11 SEC) at Texas (18-12, 9-8 SEC) South Carolina (12-18, 3-14 SEC) at Ole Miss (12-18, 4-13 SEC)   SEC in Joe Lunardi (ESPN) bracketology East: 1. Duke; 2. Michigan State; 3. Iowa State; 4. Gonzaga (SEC: 5. Tennessee)   South: 1. UConn; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Purdue; 4. Texas Tech (SEC: 5. Arkansas; 9. Georgia; 11. Texas A&M)   Midwest: 1. Michigan; 2. Houston; 3. Nebraska; 4. Virginia (SEC: 5. Vanderbilt; 10. Texas)   West: 1. Arizona; 2. Illinois; 3. Kansas; 4. Alabama (SEC: 6. Kentucky; 9. Missouri)   SEC in CBS bracketology East: 1. Duke; 2. Illinois; 3. Iowa State; 4. Alabama (SEC: 5. Vanderbilt; 7. Georgia; 11. Texas A&M)   South: 1. UConn; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Purdue; 4. Texas Tech (SEC: 5. Tennessee)   West: 1. Arizona; 2. Michigan State; 3. Gonzaga; 4. Kansas (SEC: 5. Arkansas; 9. Texas; 11. Missouri)   Midwest: 1. Michigan; 2. Houston; 3. Virginia; Nebraska (SEC: 7. Kentucky)   WORST TO FIRST IN THE SEC 16. South Carolina (12-18, 3-14 SEC): Buzzards are circling the basketball complex in Columbia. The only thing that might save Lamont Paris is the buyout.   15. LSU (15-15, 3-14 SEC): If Matt McMahon is still LSU’s head coach this time next week then he should send Christmas presents to Brian Kelly and Lane Kiffin. The cost of buying out Kelly and hiring Kiffin might make spending buyout money for McMahon just a little bit too rich at the moment.   14. Ole Miss (13-17, 4-13 SEC): There is good news and bad news in Oxford. The good news is that Chris Beard and his $6 million contract will stay another year. The bad news is that Chris Beard will be back.   13. Mississippi State (13-17, 5-12 SEC): The faithful would be ever so happy if Chris Jans went somewhere else to coach but they’re not going to pony up the $7.5 million it would take to buy him out.   12. Oklahoma (16-14, 6-11 SEC): The Sooners are hot and assured of a non-losing season. They might even win Saturday and then get past the first round of the SEC Tournament, which would get them into the NIT. Will that be enough to save Porter Moser’s job?   11. Auburn (16-14, 7-10 SEC): Auburn is capable of beating Alabama Saturday and then advancing to the SEC quarterfinals. Of course, the Tigers are also capable of losing to Bama and then getting clocked in their first SEC Tournament game.   10. Texas (18-12, 9-8 SEC): History says Sean Miller will win big at Texas. He will get a mulligan this year because the Longhorns will make the NCAA Tournament. These same people, however, showed Rick Barnes the door after 402 wins and 15 NCAA appearances in 16 years.   9. Missouri (20-10, 10-7 SEC): The Tigers are capable of beating every team in the league. They’re also capable of losing to all of them. They’ll make the NCAA field seeded somewhere between nine and 11.   8. Kentucky (19-11, 9-8 SEC): Folks in Lexington aren’t happy. They ponied up $22 million for a roster that can win the SEC and go to the Final Four. The Mildcats will be fortunate to make it to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament and the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.     7. Texas A&M (20-10, 10-7 SEC): The Aggies are too short and don’t have enough talent but Bucky Ball is hard to prepare for. With the right draw in the NCAA Tournament, they could even make it to the Sweet Sixteen.   6. Georgia (21-9, 9-8 SEC): The Bulldogs are hot and if they’re making shots, they are dangerous. They are inching up the brackets.   5. Vanderbilt (23-7, 9-7 SEC): If Duke Miles can return to his pre-injury level the Commodores are capable of beating nearly every team in the SEC and getting to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.   4. Tennessee (21-9, 11-6 SEC): If Nate Ament is healthy, the Vols can make a run. If he isn’t, they will be one and done in Nashville and might make it to the second game of the NCAA Tournament.   3. Alabama (22-8, 12-5 SEC): Bama sure can score points. Bama also is the worst defensive team in the SEC. Change Bama’s names to the matadors! Ole!   2. Arkansas (22-8, 12-5 SEC): The Razorbacks score like Bama but they have some inside size. If they hit shots and their three bigs stay out of foul trouble, they are truly dangerous and capable of making it to the Elite Eight.   1. FLORIDA (24-6, 15-2 SEC): There isn’t a team in the SEC as good as Florida. There might not be a team in the country as good as the Gators.

These were my immediate thoughts after the getting to interview the new Florida football coach as he sat down with me and Franz Beard for what I  called his first “Geezer Segment” There are no tattoos of “scared money” on him or his guys. There are daily scorecards that say “winner” or “loser.” Sumrall coaching his first official spring practice at uf. photo credit Chris Spears GatorBaitmedia.com WHY THIS FEELS DIFFERENT I’ve been doing this a long time. Between Franz Beard and myself have close to a century of Gator ball-watching under our belts. We’ve seen coaches come through here with catchy slogans and shiny résumés and big promises. What struck me about Sumrall in this long-awaited interview is that he doesn’t seem interested in being just a catchphrase. There are no tattoos of “scared money” on him or his guys. There are daily scorecards that say “winner” or “loser.” There is a gauntlet you must beat before you’re allowed to practice in March. There is a head coach who wants to shake your hand at midfield and still be in your ear on period 12. He is borrowing from the right people – Urban Meyer’s intensity, Nick Saban’s uncompromising view of leadership, Jocko Willink’s “Good” philosophy – and filtering it through his own blue-collar, family-first lens. We don’t know yet how many games Jon Sumrall will win at Florida. The scoreboard will render that verdict soon enough. But after this conversation, I can tell you two things with reasonable certainty: He is not here to be average. And he is not the least bit afraid of the deep end. HIS FOOTBALL THEOLOGY: He backed it up with the kind of football theology that ought to make Gator fans sit up a little straighter. This was not your typical drive-by, 10-minute hit-and-run on a car-wash media tour. It was a coach, 42 years old, who grew up two hours from Legion Field watching Florida and Alabama trade haymakers in the early 1990s, now sitting in the big chair in Gainesville and clearly enjoying it. And yes, in case you’re wondering, the man really did say he would postpone spring practice if his team didn’t survive “the gauntlet.” ORGANIZED CHAOS AT 7 A.M. When we finally got him on the line – after a little pre-show chatter about Todd Golden’s basketball team, I asked Sumrall to give us a thumbnail sketch of his first few days of spring. “Monday, we did a 7 a.m. special teams meeting, 7:30 team meeting,” he said. “Then offense lifts, defense meets for about an hour, then a walkthrough, special teams walkthrough, then an O‑ver‑D walkthrough. That was Monday.” On practice days, he strips away the long meetings. No big team session, no extended special teams talk inside. They get out to “the grass pretty fast” for split work – offense and defense in different quadrants, the defense going through a takeaway circuit and yet another walkthrough before they ever stretch. Then they “flex and go straight to period one, which is special teams and a lot of high energy, fast transitions.” Sumrall told us he grabbed a recruit after practice and asked what he thought. “Coach, it felt really organized and at the same time chaotic,” the recruit said.“Well, that’s what it’s supposed to feel like,” Sumrall told him. “It’s football problems.” That little phrase tells you a lot. Sumrall wants practice to feel like fourth-and-3 in Knoxville, not a quiet Monday staff meeting. The clock is always running. The next period is already on deck. People are moving. Whistles are blowing. That’s how you build a team that doesn’t blink when it gets a bad whistle in October. He’s also deadly serious about the clock. First “non-practice” day of the week, the meeting is listed at 7 a.m. on the schedule. “That really means they gotta be in the meeting room at 6:50,” he said. “Because if they’re not 10 minutes early, I’ll lose my mind on them.” They were all in their seats at 6:50. Message delivered. THE GAUNTLET AND THE LINE HE WOULDN’T CROSS: A lot of fans thought he was just blowing smoke when word leaked out that he’d told the team spring ball wouldn’t start until they “beat the gauntlet,” that series of offseason mat drills and conditioning tests designed to reveal who is conditioned and who is just coasting. So I asked him the question everyone’s been asking each other at the coffee shop and on the message boards: Would Florida really have canceled spring practice if they didn’t make it? “It would’ve gotten postponed,” he said. “I mean, I wouldn’t start spring ball until we beat the gauntlet.”Players, he said, thought he was kidding at first. They assumed that at some point someone on staff would move the goalposts, massage the times or quietly decide they’d “seen enough.” Nope. “You have to beat it,” Sumrall said. “You’re not gonna get given anything. We were a week out from spring ball, and we had not beaten it. And we weren’t gonna just give it to them. They had to earn it.” If they hadn’t? “We’d still be doing the gauntlet,” he said.“ I would’ve pushed spring ball back. I don’t know if I would’ve canceled it, but I would’ve postponed it for damn sure.” He admitted that canceling an entire spring is almost impossible – they need the practice reps – but he was not going to let the calendar dictate the standard. The standard was going to dictate the calendar. That’s a subtle but important difference from what we’ve seen in recent years. The previous regime loved its slogans. Sumrall prefers a simple, unforgiving metric: You either beat the gauntlet or you don’t, and until you do, the next phase doesn’t begin. URBAN’S SHADOW, TODD’S BLUEPRINT When I brought up Urban Meyer – who has become something of a lightning rod in Gainesville but was, let’s not forget, the architect of two national championships – Sumrall lit up. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Urban Meyer,” he said. “Extremely successful at all of his stops, going back to Bowling Green. What impressed Sumrall most was not just the crystal footballs in Gainesville but the way Meyer built things at places where Florida-level talent didn’t just show up at your doorstep. “Before coming to Florida, he did it at Bowling Green and Utah,” he said. “And then he came here and obviously elevated Florida football, winning two national championships, doing things the way he did them.” Before Sumrall ever took the job, he spent time on the phone with Meyer. “I really enjoyed spending some time talking through what he had done, but also how we have done things since I’ve been a head coach,” Sumrall said. “Getting his feedback on some of that stuff was really enjoyable.” Every time they talk, he says, he wishes he had an hour instead of 15 or 20 minutes. He likes hearing how Urban is wired, how his mind works. He openly admits that a lot of what he does is derived from coaches like Meyer. You can see the fingerprints already. Special teams is period one, not period 20, just like it was in Urban’s heyday. The locker room is stripped of some of the entitlements we saw creep in during the “scared money” era. You earn your way to the fun stuff. Sumrall is also taking notes from Todd Golden on the basketball side. He’s often seated a few chairs away from Golden during games, within “reach out and touch” distance. Todd has built a culture where 15 players and a small army of staffers pull in the same direction. Franz asked if that “all for one, one for all” mentality can be scaled to 200 people in a football operation. “It can most certainly be done,” Sumrall said. “I think it’s very challenging, because of the roster size and the attrition and the depth you have to have … but you have to create an environment where there’s connectivity.” He called Florida’s coaches across all sports “highly successful people” and said he feels blessed to be in the same building with them, from track legend Mike “Mouse” Holloway to softball’s Tim Walton to baseball’s Kevin O’Sullivan. For a guy who grew up watching Florida from afar, this is not just another logo. He knows the neighborhood he just moved into. CONNECTIVITY AND THE HEAD COACH OF EVERYONE When I quoted his earlier line about wanting to interact with every player every day, I told him it sounded borderline crazy. With 120 players, that’s an ambitious promise. He didn’t back away from it. He conceded that sometimes the interaction is “surface-y” – a high-five, a fist bump, a quick word – but he builds it into the structure of practice. At the end of flex, he brings the entire team together around the midfield logo for a one-minute mash-up of offense and defense, high-fives and “dap-ups.” They do it again when the last play of practice is over. “Some days, with a guy, that may be it,” he said. “And it’s very short, but there’s connectivity there.” He doesn’t plant himself in one corner of the field and live with one position group. He moves. “I’m very active at practice, evaluating everyone, interacting with a lot of different people,” he said. “I’m the head coach of the whole team. I’m not the head coach of the offense. I’m not the head coach of the defense. I’m not the head coach of the special teams.” He has coordinators he trusts – offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, defensive coordinator Brad White and special teams coordinator Jonathan Gallante – but he refuses to be an “innocent bystander” who just watches their show. “I want to be in the weeds with as many people in our building as I can and have real, authentic, genuine relationships so that there’s connectivity here,” he said. “It’s important as head coach to know your players and to know your staff, because if you don’t know them, I don’t know how you coach them.” That’s old-school ball coach meets modern CEO. He doesn’t want to be a figurehead on the tower. He wants to be in the drill, in the conversation, in the moment. MENTAL TOUGHNESS, NAVY SEALS AND A HAIL MARY AT APP STATE Franz asked Sumrall to unpack his favorite topic: Toughness. Everybody loves to talk about it. Sumrall actually defines it. “I’m a firm believer that mental toughness precedes physical toughness,” he said. “The mind tells the body what to do.” He believes toughness is trained, not bestowed. “We’re all born as babies, and babies naturally are soft,” he said, laughing. “Soft as a baby’s bottom. We all come into this world that way. And you have to callus yourself to doing things that are hard and embracing things that are hard.” That process starts upstairs. You make up your mind you’re never going to quit and that you’ll find a way to be comfortable being uncomfortable when life gets difficult. He’s seen adversity every year he’s coached – there’s no such thing as a season without it. The question is how a team responds when the storm rolls in. Do you get rattled easily, or do you weather the storm, stand back up and finish the job? He cites former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink’s famous “Good” philosophy. When something goes wrong, your first word should be “Good.” You get a chance to grow, get a chance to learn, get a chance to recalibrate and show back up and maybe reinvent yourself,” Sumrall said. He told us this story: First year as a head coach at Troy, they opened at Ole Miss and lost 27–10. Defensive guru Monte Kiffin came by the tunnel afterward to encourage him. Week three, they were at Appalachian State, just after App had knocked off Texas A&M in College Station. On the first offensive play of the game, his quarterback threw an interception. Most coaches would slam their headset or air out the quarterback. Sumrall clicked into the headset and went the other way. “Good,” he told his staff. “That’s what we wanted to happen. We wanted to go play defense. I was kinda hoping we’d throw a pick just to see if they could catch.” He smiles when he tells it, but it’s not a bit. It’s conditioning. “If you respond to things that go bad like, ‘Aw, shucks, man, what a bad deal,’ you hang your head or you mope, man, you’ve lost,” he said. “When you respond to things that go bad and you go, ‘Good. Opportunity to get better here,’ that’s when you’ve got the mental toughness.” WINNER, LOSER, EVERY DAY Sumrall has built a daily scorecard into the offseason. He doesn’t leave much room for the mushy middle. “There’s a winner and loser to everything,” he said. “We do our mat drills. You pair up with the same guy all morning, and you either won or you lost every day. You didn’t just get by.” He admits he probably hates losing more than he likes winning. “I like winning. I’m good with it,” he said. “But I really like winning just because I hate losing. I freaking hate it.” Players know they are being evaluated on everything they do, and not just in the sense of big-picture “effort.” They know, at the end of the session, whether they were a winner or a loser. That dovetails with how he views the depth chart, especially at the glamor spots fans obsess over. Franz and I asked him about the quarterback competition. There are three good ones in the room.Most fans talk about two: Aaron Philo, who played under Faulkner at Georgia Tech, and returning redshirt freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. Is it a real battle? “Everything’s a competition,” he said. “There’s not any job on our team that’s spoken for.” He used returning starter Jaydon Baugh at running back as an example. “Jadan has been the starting running back here,” Sumrall said. “Jadan probably has the inside track to be the starting running back here, but he’s gotta show up tomorrow and practice his ass off. And if he doesn’t, he won’t be.” Same for the quarterbacks. “I don’t really decide who starts. They do,” he said. “They go to practice every day. They perform every day. They prepare. They lead. I tell our team all the time, I’ve never decided who starts. The players decide.” That’ll preach in any locker room. Next: Part 2: His secret to winning is really not a secret at all. Tune in to the Buddy Martin Show LIVE or Later m-f 9pm est - Interview with Jon Sumrall

If you’re hungry for the freshest updates on the Florida Gators, you’ve landed in the right spot. I’m diving deep into the latest buzz, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Whether it’s football, basketball, or any other Gators sport, I’ve got the scoop that’ll keep you fired up and ready to cheer. Let’s jump right in! Photo by Chris Spears Fresh Florida Gators Coverage: What’s New on the Field and Court? The Gators have been buzzing with energy lately. From jaw-dropping plays to strategic coaching moves, the season is shaping up to be one for the books. The football squad is showing some serious grit, and the basketball team is not far behind, turning heads with their slick moves and teamwork. One thing’s clear: the coaching staff is dialing up the intensity. Practices are sharper, game plans are tighter, and the players are responding with heart. You can feel the momentum building, and it’s electric. Inside the Locker Room: Player Highlights and Team Dynamics with Buddy Martin! Let’s talk players. The roster is packed with talent, but a few names are really standing out. The quarterback’s arm strength and precision have been nothing short of spectacular. Meanwhile, the defense is locking down opponents like a fortress. Off the court, the team chemistry is palpable. These guys aren’t just teammates; they’re brothers. That bond translates into seamless plays and clutch moments when it counts the most. It’s that kind of unity that makes the Gators a force to reckon with and Jon Sumrall is the right man for the job! Basketball Buzz: Gators Dominating with March Madness nipping at our tails! Switching gears to basketball, the Gators are soaring. The offense is fluid, the defense relentless, and the crowd? Absolutely electric. The coaching staff has been tweaking lineups and strategies, and it’s paying off big time. Expect some thrilling matchups this season. The players are hungry for wins, and the energy in the arena is contagious. If you haven’t caught a game yet, you’re missing out on some serious excitement. Exclusive Insights from Franz Beard Now, here’s where things get really interesting. Franz Beard has been on the ground, bringing us exclusive updates and insider info that you won’t find anywhere else. His keen eye and deep connections within the Gators community make his coverage a must-read. He’s been tracking player progress, coaching decisions, and even the behind-the-scenes stories that add color to the season. Trust me, his insights add a whole new layer to understanding what’s happening with the Gators. What’s Next for the Florida Gators? Key Games and Predictions Looking ahead, the schedule is packed with some nail-biting matchups. These games will test the Gators’ mettle and could define the trajectory of the season. Here’s what to watch for: Big rivalry games that always bring out the best in the team Home games where the crowd’s roar can tip the scales Crucial conference battles that impact playoff chances My advice? Mark your calendars, gather your crew, and get ready to witness some unforgettable moments. The Gators are primed to make waves, and you’ll want to be part of every thrilling second. Stay Connected with GatorBait Media for All Things Gators If you want to stay ahead of the curve, GatorBait Media is your go-to hub. We’re committed to delivering in-depth analysis, breaking news, and highlights that keep you in the loop. Our team of qualified journalists lives and breathes Florida Gators sports, bringing you the stories that matter. So, whether you’re tailgating at the stadium or catching the game from your couch, we’ve got your back. Let’s keep the Gator spirit alive and kicking all season long! Ready to dive deeper? Keep checking back for more updates, exclusive interviews, and expert takes that only GatorBait Media can deliver. The Gators are on the rise, and the best is yet to come!

Xaivian Lee had a Senior Night to remember (Photo by Chris Spears) To our Gator baitmedia.com members: We have been hacked are down right now. Hope to have it back up soon. -ranked Florida really didn’t have to make a statement Wednesday night at the O-Dome, particularly since it already had a share of the Southeastern Conference championship no matter the outcome of the Gators’ encounter with Mississippi State. With best player Tommy Haugh sitting this one out as a precaution, having rolled his ankle back on Saturday against Arkansas, the Gators had a built-in excuse to go through the motions, which is exactly what they did the first eight-and-a-half minutes.   Haugh could have played but Todd Golden chose to sit him out with a road trip to Lexington for a regular season-ending game with Kentucky itching to rematch the Gators at Rupp. Arrogance on the part of Golden, who preaches that every time the Gators take the floor it should be treated as if it’s the single most important game of the year? It seemed that way when Mississippi State made 10 of its first 13 shots for a 24-14 lead that had the O-Dome the bulk of the folks in the crowd of 10,969 giving each other one of those “what the hell is going on here?” looks.   Granted, some of the early difficulty had to do with Senior Night, which Golden said is almost always a distraction because “i t's hard to play well with a lot of emotions, you got family in town.” Golden’s response to the combination of Senior Night and the Haugh injury was to start 7-1 Micah Handlogten at the four (power forward) while moving 6-11 Alex Condon out to the three (wing). A front line of Handlogten, Condon and Big Freaky (6-11 Rueben Chinyelu) at center was certainly mountainous but for every added inch of height over and above Haugh’s 6-9 it was doubly awkward.   “W hen you start with me at the four and Condo at the three, we’ve never done that even in practice for, like, ever, so definitely took some adjustments,” Handlogten said after acquitting himself rather nicely with 10 points and nine rebounds on Senior Night.   Adjust is what Golden did and tends to do as well as if not better than any coach in the country, but this one seemed every bit as awkward as his starting lineup. He called on freshman CJ Ingram, one of Florida’s mop-up warriors who gets to make contributions when minutes and seconds dwindle in out of hand games. All he did was launch and connect from the 3-point line on back-to-back possessions that brought the Gators back to within a single point.   The Gators were inspired and the O-Dome crowd became loud and intimidating. Ingram’s contributions were part of an 18-0 run that saw the Gators go from 10-down to an 8-point lead over a 6-minute span.   It was brutal to say the least.   Florida’s 47-35 lead at the half was just the warmup for things to come. The Gators played the second half as if they were sending a “be afraid, be very afraid” message to the rest of the Southeastern Conference and the teams that will hear their name called by the NCAA Tournament selection committee a couple of Sundays from now.   When the horn sounded it was a merciful end to a 108-74 pillage and plundering win that should send shivers up and down the spines of any team that gets in the way of this juggernaut that seems to be getting incrementally better with each outing. This one had to be particularly satisfying for Golden, who earned his 100 th win as Florida’s coach. He got there faster than any coach in Florida’s history and that includes Hall of Famers Norm Sloan and Billy Donovan.   It was the tenth straight win for the Gators (24-6, 15-2 SEC), who are the outright champions of the Southeastern Conference. There was a presentation pre-game in which SEC commish Greg Sankey handed over the championship trophy that perhaps seemed a bit premature considering Alabama still had a mathematical chance to split the title with UF. That, too, might have added to the Senior Night distractions but by halftime all the Gators had to do was show up and maintain a lead over Mississippi State since Georgia bushwhacked Alabama in Athens.   Still, it was important for the Gators to finish like champs, which is exactly what they are — and did. First half distractions in the rearview, the second half was an intimidating, muscle-flexing shot across the bow. Not just Mississippi State, mind you, but the other 15 teams that will gather in Nashville next week for the SEC Tournament.   “I think we were just a little caught in the moment,” Golden said post game. “We started a very unique lineup we probably won’t see again ever with those guys, and Mississippi State was hot, you know. They came out and made shots and made us pay for defense that wasn't elite. And I think once we got kind of back to our regular rotations and got kind of comfortable with who was out there, we settled.   “I think they were 10-for-13 from the field to start the game, if I remember correctly, and then they were five for the next 19. So, [we] really settled in on the defensive end, got stops, and as we discussed about nearly every time I'm up here, when we guard and we get clean rebounds, we're really tough to keep out of transition.”   From that 10-13 shooting start, Mississippi State was just 17-47 the rest of the way. The Gators outrebounded Mississippi State 23-15 in the first half. In the second half, the Gators grabbed 30 rebounds. Mississippi State had (count ‘em) 11.   It was all about the adjustments. The starting lineup was a deadend street because it put players in unfamiliar situations. So when Golden started shuffling players in and out, each time creating different combinations that left Mississippi State dazed and confused, the Gators became that team nobody in his right mind wants to play.   In the absence of Haugh, the team’s leading scorer for the season, Alex Condon picked up the slack on the inside with 26 points seven rebounds and three assists. Rueben Chinyelu posted his 18 th double-double of the season with 11 points and 16 rebounds to go with two assists, three blocked shots and a steal. Handlogten’s 10 points and nine rebounds were supplemented by three assists and a blocked shot.   Out on the perimeter where Mississippi State tried bully tactics that the zebra crew of Pat Adams, Lucas Santos and Will Howard seemed to largely ignore, the Gators caught fire once Ingram came off the bench firing away. Lee turned Senior Night into a night to remember for himself and family that came down to Toronto to watch. Lee finished with 19 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals.   Lee’s inconsistencies in the first half of the season had the experts believing the Gators were perhaps overrated. The way he’s played ever since the Vanderbilt game has turned heads as he’s starting to look like an improved version of the player everyone thought the Gators were getting when he transferred in after a rather spectacular career at Princeton.   “He's been really, really good all conference play, really, and it started with the Vanderbilt game,” Golden said. “I can't remember what the date was in that game, but he was exceptional, hit a huge three that helped us win that game. Over the last month, he's just been special. I mean, I think we all saw it tonight, just the ball control he has, the quickness, his ability to penetrate and keep his dribble alive, and now he's just so confident and comfortable out there. You know, he kind of gets to his spots and does what he wants. So he's -- what was he? – 5-for-7 from two tonight? He’s shooting like 65 percent from two in conference play, something insane like that. He’s playing fantastically well. And obviously him and Boogie [Fland] emerging the way they have has allowed us to really take off and become a really good team.”   The Fland-Lee backcourt can no longer be viewed as a liability but instead is becoming elite. Fland’s night was 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. He didn’t turn the ball over. Lee turned it over just one time.   And, off the bench came Urban Klavzar (10 points), Isaiah Brown (9) and CJ Ingram (8). Klavzar and Brown have become productive staples off the bench. Ingram simply gives opposing coaches one more migraine.   There at the end during mop-up time the roof of the O-Dome just about got blown off when walk-on Cooper Josefsberg knocked down a three and 7-9 Olivier Rioux got into the game, causing what Golden said was “a full circle moment” for the Gators who were 5-4 and being written off by all the experts and fans alike after a 5-4 start.   Golden would have loved to win those games, but he was never discouraged or deterred by the outcome, noting that he “talked to the guys after the game, just how much better we've gotten over the course of the year. I think that's something that kind of gets lost in this day and age. Like, if you're not super successful early, people don't think you're any good. Our team's gotten a lot better. We were good early, we were okay, but we are not anywhere near the same team we were in November, December, and I feel like we're playing some really good basketball right now."   Really good is 19-2 since losing to UConn on December 9. Really good is storming through the SEC for a 3-game lead in league play with one game to go. Really good is all the bracket gurus putting the Gators on the No. 2 line and conceding that they might just be a No. 1 if they win at Rupp Saturday and then turn Nashville into the Gator Invitational for the second straight year.   Really good is a coach with 100 wins already, a national championship last year, an SEC championship this year, and a clear path to go back-to-back as the last team standing at the end of the year.   Really good translates to the rest of the college basketball world these words: Be afraid. Be very afraid because the big bad Gators are hungry for more.   ELSEWHERE IN THE SEC Georgia (21-9, 9-8 SEC) 98, No. 16 Alabama (22-8, 12-5 SEC) 88: Georgia put an end to Alabama’s 9-game winning streak behind a 32-point night by freshman Kanon Catchings. Catchings hit 7-13 from the 3-point line to go with six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. Georgia hit 13-29 from the 3-point line. Alabama launched 42 threes, made 16 and was outrebounded by Georgia 40-30. Labaron Philon Jr. led Alabama scoring with 26 points.   No. 23 Tennessee (21-9, 11-6 SEC) 78, South Carolina (12-18, 3-14 SEC) 59: JP Estrella and Felix Okpara picked up the scoring slack for Tennessee, which played without stud freshman Nate Ament. Estrella scored 22 while Okpara added 20. Ja’Kobi Gillespie had 12 assists for the Vols. Meechie Johnson was South Carolina’s leading scorer with 20.   No. 24 Vanderbilt (23-7, 10-7 SEC) 89, Ole Miss (12-18, 4-13 SEC) 86, OT: Tyler Tanner scored 10 of Vanderbilt’s 13 overtime points and 34 overall to lead the Commodores past Ole Miss. Patton Pinkins had a chance to tie the game with two seconds remaining but his 3-pointer clanged off the rim. Vanderbilt had a chance to win the game in regulation but Duke Miles’ contested layup wouldn’t drop. For Ole Miss, which has lost seven games by seven or fewer points, Pinkins was the leading scorer with 16 points.   Texas A&M (20-10, 10-7 SEC) 96, Kentucky 19-11, 9-8 SEC) 85: Rylan Griffen and Ruben Dominguez came off the bench to combine for 27 points from the 3-point line, leading the Aggies to a decisive win over Kentucky. Giffin hit 4-8 of his threes while scoring 21. Dominguez was 5-8 from three, scoring 17. The Aggies hit 13-28 from the 3-point line for the game.   Auburn (16-14, 7-10 SEC) 88, LSU (15-15, 3-14 SEC) 74: Tahaad Petiford had his best game of the season with 27 points, two rebounds, six assists and four steals as Auburn pulled away from LSU in the second half to go two games over .500 for the season. Defensively, Auburn held LSU’s Max Mackinnon to three points. Mike Nwoko was LSU’s leading scorer with 19 points.   Oklahoma (16-14, 6-11 SEC) 80, Missouri (20-10, 10-7 SEC) 64: The Sooners shot 62 percent (28-45) overall and 12-22 (55 percent) from the 3-point line while assuring a winning record for the regular season. Missouri turned the ball over 16 times and was just 8-24 from the 3-point line. Five Sooners scored in double figures led by Jalon Jones with 13. Missouri’s Mark Mitchell scored 17.   Tonight’s game Texas (18-11, 9-7 SEC) at No. 20 Arkansas (21-9, 11-5 SEC)

By CARLTON REESE GatorBaitMedia.com Todd Golden will not tolerate a static nature to his program. Watching the Florida Gators win is exhilarating. Championships are even better. However, the true joy lies in maintaining that winning edge year after year. Each season feels like a potential title run, whether it’s a conference championship or a national one. Winning it all last year took every Gator fan to a place we thought we might never return to. Despite a rough start to this season, we are back in the conversation. That’s where the real excitement lies. The Thrill of the Hunt Jack Nicklaus once said he cherished those nervous feelings during a golf tournament. Those butterflies can lead to an athlete “choking” under pressure. For Nicklaus, when those butterflies kicked in, it meant only one thing: he was in the hunt. Being "in the hunt" is where everything matters. It’s where the senses are heightened. The food tastes better, the drinks are more intoxicating, and the ride is a thrill. That’s what sustained success looks like. You don’t always win the championship; in fact, you rarely do. But playing for championships and being “in the hunt” makes the journey exhilarating. The Evolution of Florida Basketball Watching this Florida basketball team evolve throughout the year has taught every Gator fan something important. Todd Golden will not tolerate a static nature in his program. Improvement, progress, teamwork, and understanding are essential traits for every player who wears the jersey. These qualities define the team each season and the program overall. That is how success is sustained. The Journey of Development If this season’s Florida basketball team has proven anything, it’s that a starting point is just that—a starting point. There is always a hill to climb. The work to climb it may come at a slow pace, but the reward is being at the top with a view everyone dreams of. In every phase, it seems Florida is a different team from where it began. We can credit Golden and his staff for this transformation. What we see across the board is genuine development. From the player at the end of the bench who only sees a few minutes of garbage time to the sure-fire All-American leading the team in scoring, they all share one thing in common: they are better basketball players today than they were last year or even two months ago. Rising Stars Remember those guards who came in with high expectations and looked like they might be a bust? Today, Xavian Lee is shooting like he’s back in the Ivy League, playing with the confidence of someone who knows he belongs in the Southeastern Conference. Boogie Fland had everyone wondering if he would ever show up. However, he has transformed into a world-class defender. Admit it, two months ago, you thought we were all taken for a ride with these two players. But they have developed into what we hoped they would be. Their emergence as outstanding guards is why Florida looks poised for a serious run at a second consecutive national championship. Not long ago, advancing past the second round seemed like a lofty goal. The Unsung Hero: Alex Condon Alex Condon certainly deserves recognition. Last year, he was the crown jewel of the nation’s best frontcourt. However, for the first half of the season, the spotlight shined on Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh, and rightfully so. Condon became the unsung hero while everyone talked about Bird and Magic. We cringed every time he launched a shot from the top of the 3-point circle, thinking he was just part of Florida’s supporting cast. Today, Condon is Florida’s best passer underneath. He is now scoring at will and controlling the glass. He was once a player no one thought needed to develop, but he did need to develop, and he certainly has. Chinyelu's Transformation Chinyelu has transformed from a man-child who was the opponent’s best fouling option to a player who is not only the best rebounder in the country but also a solid shooter in the lane and from the free-throw line. As a defender, he presents a challenge that no one can gameplan for. Everyone at Florida is a better basketball player than they used to be, and that’s not something many other teams can boast. Observing how Lee, Fland, Condon, Chinyelu, and Haugh have developed excites me for what’s coming next. The Future Looks Bright If these players can develop into what they are today, what does that say for the potential of players like Isaiah Brown or C.J. Ingram? These physical specimens may have ceilings higher than anyone thought, thanks to the guidance of Todd Golden. Great recruiting and portal mastery are essential, but give me a coaching staff that can take good players and develop them into great ones. I’ll show you a team that can compete for championships every year. It feels good, doesn’t it? ---wix---

PHOTO CHRIS SPEARS Gator Spring Football Practice – Day 1   By GatorBait Media.com GAINESVILLE – Sleep wasn’t easy to come by for Jon Sumrall on the eve of his first spring practice as Florida’s head football coach. By his own admission, he woke up at 3 a.m., 3:30 and again at 4 before finally deciding, “might as well go to work.”  You get the sense the man’s not just eager — he’s wired for the grind. Months of building a staff, reshaping a roster, and laying the foundation for a culture overhaul came to a head Tuesday morning when the Gators finally hit the grass at the Sanders Practice Fields. As the sun broke over the nearby Swamp, the sounds of cleats, whistles and full-throttle energy signaled one clear message: The Sumrall Era is on. Early Takeaways: New Era, Familiar Standard If the word of the day was “urgency,” strength coach Rusty Whitt got the memo — and maybe a little extra heat. Whitt joked that Sumrall “ripped” him for not getting players off the field fast enough between drill rotations.  “He’s pushing me, he’s pushing everyone to get things done,” Whitt said. Believe it. The tempo is higher, the tone sharper, and the accountability immediate. This feels different — not flashy, but firm. Jadan Baugh hits grass running, (Chris Spears photo) Injury Report: Managing the Myles, Protecting the Future As for personnel, Sumrall didn’t sugarcoat it: A handful of Gators will miss or be limited throughout camp. Chief among them is linebacker Myles Graham, the team’s leading tackler from 2025 (76 total), who’s on the mend from minor shoulder surgery. He won’t see 11-on-11 contact this spring, though he’s expected to be full go by summer. At wide receiver, Dallas Wilson — sidelined since a November foot injury against Georgia — experienced a “flare-up” during last week’s Gauntlet workout and will sit for precautionary reasons.  “If there were a game this week, he’d play,” Sumrall said. Other limited players include corner Dijon Johnson (ACL), offensive tackle Fletcher Westphal (wrist), and defensive linemen Kam James (shoulder), Kendall Guervil (knee), and Jalen Wiggins (hip).  Several others, including CJ Bronaugh and Chancellor Campbell, remain out following surgeries that date back to last season. The Quarterback Question Asked whether he plans to name a starting quarterback before camp ends, Sumrall reverted to coach-speak with a dose of plain truth: “I don’t really have a timeline. I don’t decide who starts — they do, by how they practice.” Make no mistake: competition will define this spring. Sumrall preaches “iron sharpens iron,” and that philosophy has already taken root. Scene Setter: The Sound of Football Again By 9 a.m., the place started popping and was alive. Assistant coaches lost their voices before breakfast and pads cracked like thunderclaps down the line.  Chris Spears’ sideline report summed it up perfectly: “You can feel it already — pads popping, cleats digging, coaches barking. It’s football season in Gainesville.” For now, the focus isn’t on depth charts, splash plays or viral quotes. It’s about finding the right habits. The standard, as the new head man puts it, “hasn’t changed — just the guy enforcing it.” The Jon Sumrall era has begun. No slogans, no shortcuts. Just football.

Todd Golden can get his 100th win as Florida's coach tonight (Photo by Chris Spears) Fifth-ranked Florida (23-6, 14-2 SEC) earned a slice of the Southeastern Conference pie back on Saturday when the Gators treated the 11,076 jammed into the O-Dome to a barbecue of championship proportions. Tonight they have a chance to put an exclamation point on that Southeastern Conference championship in their final home game of the season against Mississippi State (8 p.m., SEC Network).   A win tonight and it’s not just a slice it’s the entire SEC pie since it will mathematically end any chance Alabama (four SEC losses) can claim a share of the title, but it’s also a chance to give Todd Golden his 100 th win as Florida’s basketball coach. Not even Billy Donovan got to 100 wins as quickly as Golden who is 99-39 in his fourth year with as many as 11 games to go this year with the SEC and NCAA tournaments looming. Donovan was 88-49 after four full seasons. He got his 100 th win 16 games into the 2000-2001 season.   It will also be Senior Night at the O-Dome, a chance for the Gator Nation to shower some love on Xaivian Lee and Micah Handlogten, although Handlogten might get to have a second Senior Night. The 7-1 center who comes off the bench has appealed for another season since a fractured leg prevented him from playing in the 2024 post season and kept him sidelined for the first 24 games of Florida’s 2025 NCAA championship.   So, there will be plenty to celebrate with a win over the slumping Bulldogs (13-15, 5-11 SEC), who have gone down in flames three straight games by a combined 47 points. The Gators may have an opportunity to score 100 or more points for the second consecutive game against a Mississippi State defense that has allowed 84 or more in nine of its losses.   The Gators have won nine consecutive games, rising to fifth in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, raising expectations that they will be a No. 2 seed when the NCAA announces its field of 68 teams a week from Sunday. If the Gators win tonight and Saturday at Kentucky to close out the regular season, then go on a 3-game run to win the SEC Tournament they could make a strong case for a No. 1 seed. Currently, Florida is the No. 4 team in the NCAA NET rankings. The Gators are 10-5 in Quad 1 games and 6-1 in Quad 2. Since Mississippi State ranks outside the top 100 teams in the NET rankings, a win tonight would be a Quad 3.   In the all important analytical rankings, the Gators are No. 4 at both kenpom.com and barttorvik.com . At kenpom.com , the Gators are the No. 11 team in the country in offensive efficiency and No. 4 in defensive efficiency. The Gators are No. 4 in both offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency in the barttorvik.com analytics.   It all adds up to a Florida team that has become one of the teams the network experts consider a legitimate threat to win a second straight NCAA championship. In eight of their last nine games, the Gators have scored at least 84 points. The Gators have scored 90 or more in nine of their SEC wins and 14 times overall this season. The Gators are No. 2 in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing just 71.4 points per game. For their entire 29 games, the Gators are scoring at an 87.1 per game clip, so the average winning margin is 15.7 points, best in the SEC and 9 th nationally.   Anticipated starting lineups No. 5 FLORIDA (23-6, 14-2 SEC): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185, JR)   Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11 SEC): Achor Achor (6-9, 230, SR); Quincy Ballard (7-0, 260, SR); Shawn Jones Jr. (6-6, 205, SR); Jayden Epps (6-2, 190, SR); Josh Hubbard (6-0, 190, JR)   Associated Press top 25: 1. Duke 27-2; 2. Arizona 27-2; 3. Michigan 27-2; 4. UConn 27-3; 5. FLORIDA 23-6; 6. Iowa State 24-5; 7. Houston 24-5; 8. Michigan State 24-5; 9. Nebraska 25-4; 10. Texas Tech 22-7; 11. Illinois 22-7; 12. Gonzaga 28-3; 13. Virginia 25-4; 14. Kansas 21-8; 15. Purdue 22-7; 16. Alabama 22-7; 17. North Carolina 23-6; 18. St. John’s 23-6; 19. Miami (OH) 29-0; 20. Arkansas 21-8; 21. Saint Mary’s 27-4; 22. Miami (FL) 23-6; 23. Tennessee 20-9; 24. Vanderbilt 22-7; 25. Saint Louis 26-3   Coaches top 25: 1. Duke 27-2; 2. Arizona 27-2; 3. Michigan 27-2; 4. UConn 27-3; 5. FLORIDA 23-6; 6. Houston 24-5; 7. Iowa State 24-5; 8. Michigan State 24-5; 9. Nebraska 25-4; 10. Texas Tech 22-7; 11. Illinois 22-7; 12. Gonzaga 28-3; 13. Virginia 25-4; 14. Purdue 22-7; 15. Kansas 21-8; 16. Alabama 22-7; 17. St. John’s 23-6; 18. North Carolina 23-6; 19. Arkansas 21-8; 20. Miami (OH) 29-0; 21. Saint Mary’s 27-4; 22. Vanderbilt 22-7; 23. Miami (FL) 23-6; 24. Saint Louis 26-3; 25. Tennessee 20-9   NCAA NET Rankings top 25 plus SEC: 1. Duke; 2. Michigan; 3. Arizona; 4. FLORIDA; 5. Illinois; 6. Gonzaga; 7. Houston. 8. UConn; 9. Purdue; 10. Iowa State; 11. Michigan State; 12. Nebraska; 13. Texas Tech; 14. Virginia; 15. Kansas; 16. Alabama; 17. Louisville; 18. Vanderbilt; 19. Arkansas; 20. Tennessee; 21. Saint Mary’s; 22. St. John’s; 23. BYU; 24. Saint Louis; 25. North Carolina (SEC: 27. Kentucky; 31. Georgia; 37. Texas; 38. Auburn; 43. Texas A&M; 53. Missouri; 62. Oklahoma; 70. LSU; 91. Ole Miss; 104. Mississippi State; 108. South Carolina SEC in Joe Lunardi (ESPN) bracketology East: 1. Duke; 2. Michigan State; 3. Iowa State; 4. Gonzaga (SEC: 5. Tennessee)   South: 1. UConn; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Purdue; 4. Texas Tech (SEC: 5. Arkansas; 9. Georgia; 11. Texas A&M)   Midwest: 1. Michigan; 2. Houston; 3. Nebraska; 4. Virginia (SEC: 5. Vanderbilt; 10. Texas)   West: 1. Arizona; 2. Illinois; 3. Kansas; 4. Alabama (SEC: 6. Kentucky; 9. Missouri)     Top 25 plus SEC in kenpom.com analytics: 1. Duke 28-2; 2. Michigan 27-2; 3. Arizona 28-2; 4. FLORIDA 23-6; 5. Illinois 22-7; 6. Houston 24-5; 7. Purdue 22-7; 8. Michigan State 24-5; 9. Iowa State 24-6; 10. UConn 27-3; 11. Nebraska 25-4; 13. Texas Tech 22-7; 14. Alabama 22-7; 15. Vanderbilt 22-7; 16. Kansas 21-8; 17. Virginia 25-4; 18. Tennessee 20-9; 19. Louisville 20-9; 20. Arkansas 21-8; 22. Saint Mary’s 27-4; 23. BYU 20-9; 24. Iowa 20-9; 25. Kentucky 19-10; (SEC: 29. Texas 18-11; 32. Georgia 20-9; 38. Texas A&M 10-10; 40. Auburn 15-14; 47. Missouri 20-9; 50. Oklahoma 15-14; 58. LSU 15-14; 79. Ole Miss 12-17; 94. South Carolina 12-17; 96. Mississippi State 13-16   Top 25 plus SEC in barttorvik.com analytics: 1. Duke 28-2; 2. Michigan 27-2; 3. Arizona 28-2; 4. FLORIDA 23-6; 5. Houston 24-5; 6. Illinois 22-7; 7. Purdue 22-7; 8. UConn 27-3; 9. Texas Tech 22-7; 10. Iowa State 24-6; 11. Michigan State 24-5; 12. Nebraska 25-4; 13. Kansas 21-8; 14. Gonzaga 28-3; 15. Tennessee 20-9; 16. Vanderbilt 22-7; 17. Alabama 22-7; 18. Virginia 25-4; 19. Louisville 20-9; 20. St. John’s 23-6; 21. Arkansas 21-8; 22. Saint Mary’s 27-4; 23. Wisconsin 20-9; 24. North Carolina 23-6; 25. Iowa 20-9 (SEC: 30. Kentucky 19-10; 35. Texas A&M 19-10; 38. Texas 18-11; 38. Georgia 20-9; 44. Missouri 20-9; 45. Auburn 15-14; 50. Oklahoma 15-14; 73. LSU 15-14; 81. Ole Miss 12-17; 99. Mississippi State 13-16; 103. South Carolina 12-17   Today’s SEC games Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11 SEC) at No. 5 FLORIDA (23-6, 13-2 SEC) No. 16 Alabama (22-7, 12-4 SEC) at Georgia (20-9, 8-8 SEC) No. 23 Tennessee (20-9, 10-6 SEC) at South Carolina (12-17, 3-13 SEC) No. 24 Vanderbilt (22-7, 9-7 SEC) at Ole Miss (12-17, 4-12 SEC) Missouri (20-9, 10-6 SEC) at Oklahoma (15-14, 5-11 SEC)  Kentucky (19-10, 10-6 SEC) at Texas A&M (19-10, 9-7 SEC) LSU (15-14, 3-13 SEC) at Auburn (15-14, 6-10 SEC)   Wednesday’s SEC game Texas (18-11, 9-7 SEC) at No. 20 Arkansas (21-8, 11-5 SEC)   SEC in CBS bracketology East: 1. Duke; 2. Illinois; 3. Iowa State; 4. Kansas (SEC: 6. Kentucky; 9. Missouri)   South: 1. UConn; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Purdue; 4. Texas Tech (SEC: 5. Vanderbilt; 9. Georgia)   West: 1. Arizona; 2. Michigan State; 3. Alabama; 4. Gonzaga (SEC: 5. Tennessee; 11. Texas A&M)   Midwest: 1. Michigan; 2. Houston; 3. Nebraska; 4. Virginia (SEC: 5. Arkansas; 9. Texas)

Another thunder dunk from Isaiah Brown (Photo by Chris Spears) “The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.” – Confucius   There is nothing beautiful about an uncut, unpolished diamond, yet in the hands of a master what looks like an ugly rock can be transformed into a thing of beauty worth thousands of dollars. Back on December 10 when the Gators were 5-4, having just lost to UConn 77-73 at Madison Square Garden, Florida was that uncut, unpolished stone that had no luster and in the eyes of the so-called experts of college basketball, very little value.   Florida’s loss to UConn was its third against a highly ranked opponent. All three of those games were winnable, but at crunch time it seemed the Gators found creative ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. December 10 found Florida at a crossroads. Would the Gators shatter like an unpolished diamond in the hands of a nervous, unskilled lapidary, or would Todd Golden carefully cut and polish away, carefully studying each cut under a 10X microscope for blemishes and inclusions?   Twenty games later, we know the answer to those questions. Each game since the UConn loss has been like the process that includes cleaving, bruting and polishing. At 23-6 overall and 14-2 in SEC play, Golden doesn’t have a finished product on his hands, but the potential is there for the Gators to be that brilliant, flawless diamond. Think of each of the possible 11 games that could take Florida to a second straight national championship as another cut in a once-ugly stone that is transforming before our eyes into something truly beautiful.   The early season adversities have shaped the Gators into that team no one will want to play in a couple of weeks when the NCAA announces its field of 68 teams that will compete for the national championship. They have caught the eye of bracket gurus such as Joe Lunardi, who have moved the Gators up to their No. 2 line. Lunardi sees a path to a No. 1 seed for the Gators who have won nine games in a row and 18 of their last 20.   If you were to ask John Calipari, the Hall of Fame Arkansas coach whose team suffered the biggest beatdown of an 854-win career at the hands of the Gators Saturday night at the O-Dome, it goes beyond the size and strength of the nation’s best front line. Cal says the Gators are connected.   Todd Golden won’t disagree with that assessment. Those early season losses that would have caused lesser teams to crumble and fall apart have forged a stand in our way at your own peril mentality.   “The credit that this team deserves more than anything is staying together, believing in each other when guys weren't playing at their best, not pointing fingers,” Golden said Saturday night. “Our staff did a great job of keeping our guys aligned and on the same page. Even when we were 5-4, we thought we had a chance to have a special season if we just improved incrementally over the rest of the year and we've done that. I think we're playing as good as anybody in America right now."   The incremental improvements are best seen in the four perimeter guys – Boogie Fland, Xaivian Lee, Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown – who have weathered the storms early on to become one of the best units in the country. Seen as a liability when the Gators were losing, these four guys have bonded and become a team strength.   Because of the ball handling skills of Fland and Lee, the Gators can’t be pressed. They may be the fastest pair of guards in the country when it comes to transitioning from defense to offense. Early on when they couldn’t make shots, they were turning the ball over in critical situations (see the losses to Duke and UConn), but that has changed. Turnovers are a rarity for them and now they’re making shots. Golden’s contention that sooner or later these guys would start making the shots in games that he sees them make in practice is starting to show.   There is nothing wrong with their defense as Arkansas sharpshooters Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas found out Saturday. Acuff needed 19 shots from the field and six free throws to score his 17 points. Thomas, who scored 10, lives on the 3-point line. He only had two attempts. Missed them both.   While Fland and Lee continue to evolve into one of the nation’s best backcourt pairings, Klavzar and Brown off the bench have ensured that there is no letdown at either end of the court when they come off the bench. Klavzar is best known for his 3-point shooting – 40.9 percent for the season, 23 of his last 47 – but as he showed in hounding both Acuff and Thomas, there isn’t much in the way of a defensive letdown when he comes off the bench.   Brown can’t be left alone beyond the arc (38.5 percent for the season), but it is his thunder dunks that put the fear of God in opponents. He had a coast-to-coast jam against Arkansas that had the effect of a stiletto to the heart of the Razorbacks. In the first half, the Gators were +21 points when Brown was in the game. They were +19 for the game. What those numbers tell you is that the Gators expanded their lead when Brown was in the game so there was absolutely no dropoff.     Give Golden credit for sticking with Fland and Lee even when they were struggling and with bringing Klavzar and Golden along to the point that this is a solid and still very underrated unit. They are no longer a liability but have become a strength of the team.   The stone that the Gators were back on December 10 has been sawed, cleaved, cut and polished. What the Gators are now is a tribute to hard work and Golden’s patience in allowing his guys to develop while learning to play with and off each other.   What the Gators could become are national champions. If that happens they will sparkle like that flawless diamond that was polished by friction and adversity. WORST TO FIRST IN THE SEC 16. South Carolina (12-17, 3-13 SEC): A third losing season in the last four years is guaranteed so there is speculation Lamont Paris will be fired. If canned prior to April 1, it will cost $10 million. On or after April 1, the cost will be $7.5 million. He shouldn’t be investing in a major home renovation.   15. LSU (15-14, 3-13 SEC): Win one of this week’s games (at Auburn, Texas A&M) and the Tigers can’t do worse than .500 for the season. That won’t get the Tigers into the NCAA Tournament, which is rumored to be what Matt McMahon needs to be gainfully employed next year. He has an $8 million buyout.   14. Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11 SEC): It will take two wins this week (at Florida, Georgia) and two in the SEC Tournament to ensure at least a .500 season. Chris Jans has a contract that runs through 2030 and a $7 million buyout. He’s probably safe for at least one more year, but nobody in Starkville would mind if he seeks employment elsewhere.   13. Ole Miss (12-17, 4-12 SEC): Chris Beard isn’t going anywhere. At least that’s what he’s saying. Ole Miss isn’t going to fire him. He makes $6 million a year and he’s under contract until 2031.   12. Auburn (15-14, 6-10 SEC): Auburn needs two wins this week (LSU, at Alabama) and two in the SEC Tournament to have a legitimate shot at the NCAA Tournament. Nobody is happy, but Steven Pearl isn’t going anywhere.   11. Oklahoma (15-14, 5-11 SEC): Should the Sooners win one of their two games this week, they’re guaranteed no worse than break even. Beat Missouri and (at) Texas, plus get a win in the SEC Tournament and they probably get an NIT bid. If Joe Castiglione were still the athletic director, Porter Moser would probably get one more year. New AD Roger Denny has no allegiances, so Moser could be a goner if the Sooners don’t secure a winning record.   10. Texas A&M (19-10, 9-7 SEC): The Aggies will make the NCAA Tournament even though they’ve lost six of their last eight games. To avoid a play-in game, they need to get to 20 regular season wins and then win one at the SEC Tournament.       9. Georgia (20-9, 8-8 SEC): Mike White has produced a third straight 20-win season, which has only been done two other times in school history. Mike is well on his way toward having a statue erected outside Stegman Coliseum. The Bulldogs are a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. This week’s game are No. 17 Alabama and a roadie to Mississippi State.   8. Texas (18-11, 9-7 SEC): The Longhorns are assured of a break even season in SEC play, which is a good thing since they’re very capable of losing both games this week (at Arkansas and Oklahoma at home). A .500 record in SEC play will get them into the NCAA Tournament but probably something like a No. 10 or No. 11 seed.   7. Missouri (20-9, 10-6 SEC): The Tigers have won six of their last eight games. They’re ensured of a winning record in the SEC and they will make the NCAA Tournament. Get to 23 wins and they probably make it to the No. 8 line.   6. Vanderbilt (22-7, 9-7 SEC): Since starting out 16-0, the Commodores are 6-7 with four of the losses by a combined 10 points. Duke Miles is healthy again which helps, but the lack of size has been killing Vandy.   5. Tennessee (20-9, 10-6 SEC): The Vols have a nasty habit of blowing big leads and then losing a white knuckle. It happened against Alabama. An equal concern is the health of freshman Nate Ament who hurt his knee in the loss to Bama. The Vols can beat South Carolina without him, but Vandy? They need two wins to get the double-bye at the SEC Tournament.   4. Kentucky (19-10, 9-7 SEC): Hope springs eternal in Lexington after winning two straight. Hope might nosedive this week since the Wildcats have to go to Aggieland and then finish the season at Rupp against the Gators. They’re in the NCAA Tournament, but they need to get to 22 wins if they want anything better than the No. 6 line.   3. Arkansas (21-8, 11-5 SEC): Injuries have taken their toll on the Razorbacks, who will be trying to rebound from a monumental blowout loss at Florida. They are home against Texas and on the road at Missouri this week. They need to win at least one to ensure the double-bye at the SEC Tournament.   2. Alabama (22-7, 12-4 SEC): Alabama is on an 8-game tear that has the Tide flirting with a No. 4 NCAA seed. They could win a share of the SEC title if the Gators do the unthinkable and go 0-2 this week.   1. FLORIDA (23-6, 14-2 SEC): The Gators can clinch the outright SEC championship if they beat Mississippi State Tuesday night.     IF THE SEC TOURNAMENT WERE HELD TODAY Wednesday, March 11 1. No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 16 South Carolina 2. No. 12 Mississippi State vs. No. 13 Oklahoma3. No. 10 Georgia vs. No. 15 Ole Miss 4. No. 11 Auburn vs. No. 14 LSU   Thursday, March 12 5. No. 8 Vanderbilt vs. Game 1 winner 6. No. 5 Kentucky vs. Game 2 winner 7. No. 7 Texas vs. Game 3 winner 8. No. 6 Tennessee vs. Game 4 winner   Friday, March 13 (Quarterfinals) 9. No. 1 FLORIDA vs. Game 5 winner 10. No. 4 Missouri vs. Game 6 winner 11. No. 2 Alabama vs. Game 7 winner 12. No. 3 Arkansas vs. Game 8 winner   Saturday, March 14 (Semifinals) 13. Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner 14. Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner   Sunday, March 15 (Championship game)

Tommy Haugh cuts down the SEC championship net (Photo by Bobby D'Alessio) The Florida Gators have successfully created a dilemma of major proportions for the people on the selection committee who will determine the top four seeds for the NCAA Tournament in two weeks. Do they go strictly by record? It seems almost inevitable that Duke, Michigan, Arizona and UConn will finish with fewer losses than the Gators, who currently stand 23-6, and head-to-head, Duke, Arizona and UConn all own wins over Florida, albeit by a combined 11 points, all nearly three months ago.   But, are any of those teams playing better than Florida right now? Which one of those teams would be favored to take down the Gators after watching how the 7 th -ranked Gators nuked 20 th -ranked Arkansas 111-77 at the O-Dome Saturday night.   Asked that question post game, Arkansas coach John Calipari, who’s been at it long enough to win a national championship while the head coach at Kentucky and accumulate 854 wins in four stops on a Hall of Fame career, responded, “They're playing well. They are, and the biggest thing is they're kind of connected, which makes it even tougher. They're big. They're connected and they play physical. They're not afraid to throw you around. That's how they play.”   The Gators did throw the Razorbacks around like rag dolls. It got so bad in the second half that all Calipari could think about was “I wish it would have gone faster.” Instead, it must have seen an eternity as he had to agonize seconds feeling like minutes as they ticked off the clock and minutes seeming like hours.   While delivering a punishing blow to any hopes the Razorbacks (21-8, 11-5 SEC) had of winning the Southeastern Conference, the Gators – 14-2 in SEC play – clinched their eighth league championship in school history, the first for Todd Golden, who already has the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament scalps of last season hanging from his belt. Florida can claim the title outright Tuesday night when the Gators play Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11 SEC) in their final home game of the year.   “We want to win on Tuesday night on our home floor to get the lone championship and as I just told the team, we're playing for a lot still,” Golden said. “We got a lot to still accomplish. This can't be the best thing that happened to us this year. Not only are we playing to be lone champs on Tuesday, but I told the guys, we're playing to become the best seed possible.   “Because of the way we played in the month of February (8-0), we've opened up a lot of opportunities for ourselves down the stretch and if we take care of business and play really well, there's not a seed out there that is unattainable for us. Obviously, there's other teams competing for it, but we have a lot that's under our control down the stretch here.”    Yes, there is a lot under control of the Gators, who have potentially 11 more games – the final two regular season (Mississippi State and at Kentucky), three at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, and six in the NCAA Tournament where the Gators will be trying to become the second Florida team to win back-to-back national championships. A 16-2 or even 15-3 regular season record in SEC play combined with a 3-game run through the league at the SEC Tournament would make a compelling case for Florida to nudge one of those teams with fewer losses off one of the four No. 1 seeds.   Considering where the Gators were back on December 9, that Florida is even being thought of as a possible No. 1 and a serious national championship contender is a remarkable accomplishment. Lest we forget, the Gators were 5-4 after losing a white knuckler to UConn at Madison Square Garden on December 9.   We can’t also forget that less than a month later, Florida was 9-5 overall having lost the first SEC game of the season on the road at Missouri. Since then, the Gators are 14-1 and right now, there isn’t a team in the country playing better than Florida, currently on a 9-game streak in which the wins are by a combined 208 points. Only Kentucky, a 92-83 loser in a game that wasn’t as close as the score might seem to indicate, has come closer than 13 points during this exercise in which Florida has turned the Southeastern Conference into its own personal playground.   One of those nine wins, it must be noted, was by 23 points over Alabama, the only team standing that has a mathematical shot at tying the Gators for the SEC championship. Bama (22-7, 12-4 SEC) hasn’t lost since the Gators put a 100-77 stomping on the Crimson Tide but any SEC championship illusions will be ground up in the garbage disposal if the Gators win one of their last two.   In many ways, Florida’s obliteration of Arkansas was what Yogi Berra would have called “déjà vu all over again” because it seemed so much like an instant replay the Alabama game. An Urban Klavjar three with 12:49 left in the first half gave the Gators the lead for good at 18-16 and that was like chum on the water for sharks the way it created a feeding frenzy that sent the O-Dome crowd of 11,076 into an apoplectic state that nearly blew the lid off the 46-year-old arena. Arkansas never got closer than seven again.   As the Gators raced out to a 53-34 lead at the half, it wasn’t just the usual suspects doing the damage. Klavzar (8) and Isaiah Brown (10) accounted for 18 of the 53 points in a half that Golden’s entire 8-man rotation took turns inflicting pain and suffering into the Razorbacks. It was bad for Arkansas but it got even worse after the intermission. While the Gators were dunking and bombing their way to a lead that kept on expanding, they were on defensive lockdown against an Arkansas team that came into the game killing it offensively.   In terms of defensive efficiency, Florida is the fourth best team in the country per the kenpom.com analytics, which prompted Calipari to point out, “And we're one of the top three offensive teams in the country, so what you saw today was a really good defensive team taking care of a really good offensive team.”   In the paint, the Gators were at their intimidating best, blocking five shots while altering at least 20 more. On the perimeter, where Arkansas pinned its hopes that freshman bombers Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas could heat up and make enough threes to keep the Razorbacks in the game, the Gators were smothering. It was rare that either Acuff or Thomas found enough of a crease in the Florida defense that they could launch a three. The two (Acuff 1-3, Thomas 0-2) combined to go 1-5. Acuff is a 42.9 percent 3-point shooter, Thomas 40.3. Minus their ability to hit threes, the Arkansas offense stalled. As a team, the Razorbacks were just 4-13 on their threes, not what anyone expected from a team that makes 37.9 percent of its threes to lead the SEC.   Taking Acuff and Thomas out of the Arkansas offensive equation was all part of the Florida defensive game plan.   “ That was a big part of our scout,” Golden said. “I think Jonathan Safir, who had the scout tonight, did a great job by identifying the ways that they could beat us and ways that if we could guard them, that it would be hard for them, and that was a big part of it.  Not letting Acuff … has obviously been phenomenal, he's a great player, but we did a really good job on limiting his opportunities from three.   “And then X (Xaivian Lee), along with Urb (Klavzar) and Boog (Boogie Fland) did a great job on Thomas. You know, he's been a great scorer. He’s been coming on lately providing some 3-point shooting for them, and limiting those guys to one make between them was a big reason why we won the way we did."   With their bombers unable to do much more than taxi down the runway – Acuff took 19 shots from the field and six from the foul line for his 17 points; Thomas needed 13 shots (0-2 from three) to score 10 – Without Acuff and Thomas making shots, Arkansas lacked the firepower to stay with the Gators, who saw seven of the 8-man rotation score in double figures. Tommy Haugh led the Gators with 22 points, while Alex Condon had 17, Fland and Klavjar 14 each, Lee 13, Chinyelu 12 and Isaiah Brown 11.   Florida dominated the rebounding 51-31 led by Chinyelu who grabbed 16. The Gators  outscored the Hogs in the paint 56-44, and got 33 points off the bench. It was overwhelming for an Arkansas team that was thought to be Final Four capable prior to its close encounter with the Gators at the O-Dome.   The Hogs left the O-Dome needing to regroup, maybe not a toss the script and start all over again regroup, but one in which roles are redefined and a team re-energized. The Gators, on the other hand, left the O-Dome with a night to celebrate, a Sunday to recuperate and a Monday to ready for the next rung on the ladder that could take the Gators to a second straight national title.   “ As I continue in my career, you just realize that every year is different and every team is different,” Golden said. “And we were incredibly fortunate to return some really impactful players off a national championship team, but it took us a little bit to get comfortable and to find our way. And the credit that this team deserves more than anything is staying together, believing in each other when guys weren't playing at their best, not pointing fingers.   “Our staff did a great job of keeping our guys aligned and on the same page. Even when we were 5-4, we thought we had a chance to have a special season if we just improved incrementally over the rest of the year and we've done that. I think we're playing as good as anybody in America right now."   ELSEWHERE IN THE SEC No. 17 Alabama (22-7, 12-4 SEC) 71, No. 22 Tennessee (20-9, 10-6 SEC) 69:  Labaro Philon Jr.’s jump shot with 22.8 seconds remaining lifted Alabama past Tennessee in Knoxville. Tennessee’s stud freshman Nate Ament left the game with a knee injury with 7:42 remaining in the first half. The Vols blew a double digit lead in the game’s final minutes. Latrell Wrightsell scored 25 points to lead the scoring for Alabama, which has won eight straight games since losing to Florida. Tennessee’s leading scorer was Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who scored 26.    Kentucky (19-10, 10-6 SEC) 91, No. 25 Vanderbilt (22-7, 9-7 SEC) 79:  Collin Chandler hit 6-8 from the 3-point line while scoring 23 points to lead Kentucky to a blowout win over Vanderbilt. At one point in the game, Vandy was 4-24 from the 3-point line. Besides Chandler, Otega Oweh scored 23 and Denzel Aberdeen 15 for UK. Tyler Tanner led Vanderbilt with 19.    Missouri (20-9, 10-6 SEC) 88, Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11 SEC) 64:  Five Missouri players scored in double figures led by Mark Mitchell’s 17 as the Tigers solidified their chances to make the NCAA Tournament. Missouri hit 51 percent from the field overall and 40 percent from the 3-point line. Josh Hubbard scored 16 for Mississippi State.    Texas (18-11, 9-7 SEC) 76, Texas A&M (19-10, 9-7 SEC) 70:  Ahead by three with 5:18 remaining in the game, Texas got a 3-pointer from Cameron Heide and kept its distance from the Aggies, who have lost six of their last eight games. Tramon Mark scored 23 points to lead Texas while Rashaun Agee had 22 for A&M.   Georgia (20-9, 8-8 SEC) 87, South Carolina (12-17, 3-13 SEC) 68:  Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 18 points as five Bulldogs scored in double figures, evening the SEC record at 8-8. Meechie Johnson scored 20 for South Carolina, which hit just 6-24 from the 3-point line.    Oklahoma (15-14, 5-11 SEC) 83, LSU (15-14, 3-13 SEC) 67:  Nijel Pack hit five 3-points and scored 21 points as Oklahoma moved a game ahead of .500 with a blowout win over LSU. Xzayvier Brown added 20 for the Sooners. LSU, which made only 6-23 from the 3-point line, was led by Max Mackinnon, who scored 17.   Ole Miss (12-17, 4-12 SEC) 85, Auburn (15-14, 6-10 SEC) 79:  Auburn’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament probably hinge on winning both games next week and then one or two at the SEC Tournament after falling to Ole Miss. The Rebels got 26 points each from AJ Storr and Patton Pinkins. The game was won at the foul line where the Rebels hit 13-17 while Auburn was 19-27. Auburn’s scoring leader was Tahaad Petiford, who scored 24.   Tuesday’s SEC games Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11 SEC) at No. 7 FLORIDA (23-6, 13-2 SEC) No. 17 Alabama (22-7, 12-4 SEC) at Georgia (20-9, 8-8 SEC) No. 22 Tennessee (20-9, 10-6 SEC) at South Carolina (12-17, 3-13 SEC) No. 25 Vanderbilt (22-7, 9-7 SEC) at Ole Miss (12-17, 4-12 SEC) Missouri (20-9, 10-6 SEC) at Oklahoma (15-14, 5-11 SEC)  Kentucky (19-10, 10-6 SEC) at Texas A&M (19-10, 9-7 SEC) LSU (15-14, 3-13 SEC) at Auburn (15-14, 6-10 SEC)   Wednesday’s SEC game Texas (18-11, 9-7 SEC) at No. 20 Arkansas (21-8, 11-5 SEC)   Top 25 plus SEC in kenpom.com rankings: 1. Duke 27-2; 2. Michigan 27-2; 3. Arizona 27-2; 4. FLORIDA 23-6; 5. Illinois 22-7; 6. Houston 24-5; 7. Purdue 22-6; 8. Iowa State 24-5; 9. UConn 27-3; 10. Michigan State 23-5; 11. Nebraska 25-4; 12. Gonzaga 28-3; 13. Texas Tech 22-7; 14. Alabama 22-7; 15. Vanderbilt 22-7; 16. Kansas 21-8; 17. Virginia 25-4; 18. Tennessee 20-9; 19. Louisville 20-9; 20. Arkansas 21-8; 22. Saint Mary ‘s 27-4; 23. BYU 20-9; 24. Iowa 20-9; Kentucky 19-10 (SEC: 29. Texas 18-11; 33. Georgia 20-9; 37. Texas A&M 19-10; 39. Auburn 15-14; 47. Missouri 20-9; 50. Oklahoma 15-14; 58. LSU 15-14; 79. Ole Miss 12-17; 95. South Carolina 12-17; 96. Mississippi State 13-16;   Top 25 plus SEC in barttorvik.com rankings: 1. Michigan 27-2; 2. Duke 27-2; 3. FLORIDA 23-6; 4. Arizona 27-2; 5. Houston 24-5; 6. Illinois 22-7; 7. Purdue 22-6; 8. UConn 27-3; 9. Iowa State 24-5; 10. Texas Tech 22-7; 11. Michigan State 23-5; 12. Nebraska 25-4; 13. Kansas 21-8; 14. Tennessee 20-9; 15. Gonzaga 28-3; 16. Vanderbilt 22-7; 17. Alabama 22-7; 18. Virginia 25-4; 19. Louisville 20-9; 20. St. John’s 23-6; 21. Arkansas 21-8; 22. Saint Mary’s 27-4; 23. Wisconsin 20-9; 24. Iowa 20-9; 25. North Carolina 23-6 (SEC: 32. Kentucky 19-10; 34. Texas A&M 19-10; 38. Georgia 20-9; 39. Texas 18-11; 44. Missouri 20-9; 45. Auburn 15-14; 50. Oklahoma 15-14; 73. LSU 15-14; 80. Ole Miss 12-17; 99. Mississippi State 13-16; 102. South Carolina 12-17