The Gators’ path to the Final Four of the WNIT has been a whirlwind — four games in four cities during a span of 10 days. And it has been equally unconventional.
Since the WNIT expanded from 32 to 64 teams in 2010, Syracuse is the only other program to advance to the semifinals by winning four road games.
The Orange accomplished the feat in 2012 before falling to James Madison in the WNIT Final Four.
“Four really good wins against really good competition, all teams that could have just as easily been in the NCAA Tournament,” coach Amanda Butler said. “I think it speaks a lot about where we have gone — especially in the past month.”
Added senior Jennifer George: “You’re in one city one night and the next city the next night. It’s been a lot, but it’s been a good experience for all of us.
“Being able to play all of these games on the road and being able to win, (we) definitely have a lot of confidence going into each game.”
After topping Florida International 75-68 in the first round and Winthrop 85-53 in the second round, Florida was the only team in the tournament to advance to the Sweet 16 after collecting two road victories.
UF added wins against Charlotte and James Madison to reach the semifinals — a four-game winning streak that is Florida’s longest since a six-game unbeaten stretch in December.
The Gators can capture the first postseason championship in program history with two more victories. Florida plays at Drexel on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The winner advances to the championship game against either Kansas State or Utah.
“Certainly, we would have loved to have had the chance to be in the NCAA Tournament and knew we were good enough to be there,” Butler said. “The things that I’m really proud of our team and our staff as well is that (it) had no impact on what we had an opportunity to do.
“We have been able to use [the WNIT] in a very positive way and now put ourselves in a position to be one of the final four teams in a very, very good field with the opportunity to do something special.”
The journey is surprising given the trouble the Gators had with winning consistently on the road during the regular season. Florida State handed Florida a 31-point drubbing in Tallahassee on Nov. 15. Butler’s squad also dropped a road contest to Michigan during non-conference play.
Against Southeastern Conference opponents, the Gators were equally underwhelming on the road.
UF lost five of its eight league games away from the O’Connell Center.
Florida’s only SEC road victories came against Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama. The Tigers, the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide finished 11th, 12th and 13th, respectively, in the SEC standings this season.
But the Gators have started erasing their road demons with success in the WNIT.
“The best of them has been revealed this postseason, and I think the road challenges have been a big part of that,” Butler said.
“It’s been a great opportunity for us to grow, a great opportunity for them to mature in ways that you just aren’t afforded the same opportunities when you have the comforts of home.”
Contact Phil Heilman at pheilman@alligator.org.
Coach Amanda Butler watches from the sidelines during Florida’s 62-57 loss to Georgia on Feb. 17 in the O’Connell Center.
