Red-hot Florida Gators surge into AP Top 25
The Florida Gators are one of the hottest teams in college basketball and now they’ve been rewarded for their play. Todd Golden’s team cracked the Associated Press Top 25 on Monday for the first time this season — and the first time in Golden’s two seasons as coach.
Florida, now 18-7 overall, 8-4 in the SEC, is No. 24 in the AP Poll.
The Gators just missed making the Coaches Poll; they’re 28th in those rankings.
Behind 21 points from junior guard Walter Clayton and a career-high 17 from freshman forward Thomas Haugh, Florida won 88-82 over Georgia on Saturday in Athens, Ga. The Gators now have won seven out of eight games.
They play at No. 13 Alabama on Wednesday night.
“It’s obviously been a good little run for us,” Golden said after the win over Georgia. “We’re handling success. We’re playing really hard. Probably did a better job in the second half with our physicality and getting 50-50 balls and I really thought that was a difference. But obviously a really challenging game, challenging environment and our guys did a great job stepping up and getting the win.”
Florida received 124 votes in the AP Poll, one vote ahead of No. 25 BYU and 11 behind No. 23 Texas Tech. In the Coaches Poll, the Gators are 24 votes back of No. 25 TCU.
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Florida was just 11-6, 1-3 in the SEC following a Jan. 16 blowout loss at Tennessee (85-66). But since then, the Gators are 7-1 — in all league games — and have beaten two ranked teams — Kentucky ancd Auburn.
After Saturday’s win at Georgia, Florida sits at No. 28 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball NET rankings, which factors in things such as quality wins and strength of schedule.
The Gators trailed Georgia big early in that game.
“We knew we were going to take their best punch early on and I think they made the first seven or eight field goals, and we just didn’t do a good enough job being proactive defensively,” Golden said. “That was really it. But credit to them, they came out really aggressive and knocking down shots, and really the change came at halftime. The challenge was, ‘Hey listen, we can’t be OK giving up 46 points in a half and think we’re gonna be good.’ And I thought our guys did a better job on that end.”
Most current projections have the Gators solidly in the field for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
