Kevin O'Sullivan: This Florida team got us back to where we need to be

Despite losing in the College World Series Finals to LSU, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan knows that there are positives that can be taken away from Florida’s season.

One of the biggest things about this team, according to O’Sullivan, is that this team got Florida back to where it expects to be. That means going to the College World Series in Omaha, which the Gators hadn’t made since 2018.

“Yeah, anytime you come out to a World Series and have the run we had the foundation is set,” Kevin O’Sullivan said. “I kind of struggle with the program was in a tough spot or whatever. It’s very hard to do this every year. So we go on the run for four years, from ’15 through ’18, and then obviously ’19 was a different year because we were younger.”

From 2019 through 2022, Florida didn’t get beyond the NCAA Regional. However, they did at least make the NCAA Regional every season except the pandemic-shortened year.

“And then in ’20, that was taken away from us because of COVID,” O’Sullivan said. “And we’re 16-1. And then last year it really started to pick up speed again. So it was really ’19 was the year we weren’t as good as we wanted to be. Because ’20 we were but the season was shortened.”

As Kevin O’Sullivan explained, each season is different. However, the expectations are always going to be to get to Omaha and play for a championship. This year Florida was able to do that.

“Last year we hosted a Regional when we were 6-12 in the league and we get going again. And this year is obviously a different year. But these guys have certainly got us back to where we need to be. And quite honestly, the expectations are to get to Omaha and play for a national championship.”

Next year’s team is going to look different than this year’s. That’s part of the challenge and it’s one that Kevin O’Sullivan is excited for.

“I personally love that challenge. And our players do too. That’s just the culture that we have.”

Kevin O’Sullivan praised Florida’s star players

After the loss to LSU, Kevin O’Sullivan took the time to praise the Gators’ star players and emphasize that one loss should not define their season.

“There’s some other guys that maybe had an opportunity to be up here too. But each one of them has their own story, right? Wyatt [Langford] had four at-bats his freshman year. He’s turned himself, in my opinion — you could flip a coin between him and Dylan Crews. That’s my honest opinion. I think they’re both tremendous players. They’re going to have great careers moving forward,” O’Sullivan said.

“You’ve got a guy like BT [Riopelle] who was one of the very few transfer portal guys we’ve had. He’s evolved into one of the best leaders, human beings, I know. You guys all know his story that he’s going to move on. And this was his last game. And that’s very emotional for him. And you’ve got a guy like Josh [Rivera] who’s been in our program for four years. You see him develop not only as a baseball player. You could talk about the hitting and the defense, but the maturity level.”