Although the Gators will not be dancing this postseason, they still have the opportunity to continue playing.
After failing to be selected to the NCAA Tournament, UF learned late Monday night that it earned an at-large bid to the WNIT. Florida will face Florida International in the first round on Thursday at U.S. Century Bank Arena in Miami.
“We can’t dwell on disappointment (from not being selected to the NCAA Tournament), we just don’t have time for that,” coach Amanda Butler said. “We’ve got a new mission, (and) we’re excited about that mission.”
The NCAA Selection Committee’s decision to exclude the Gators from the 64-team field was unsurprising. Florida (18-14) dealt with inexperience and injury throughout the season and struggled en route to an eighth-place tie in the Southeastern Conference.
Without a true signature victory, UF’s only hope of making the Big Dance hinged on earning an automatic bid by winning the SEC Tournament.
However, after defeating Arkansas in the first round, Florida lost 82-73 to top-seeded and ninth-ranked Tennessee in the quarterfinals on March 8 to all but seal its trip to the WNIT.
Despite failing to earn a second consecutive NCAA Tournament selection, which would have been a first under Butler, the WNIT berth represents Florida’s sixth straight postseason appearance.
UF last failed to make the postseason following the 2006-07 season, when the Gators suffered through a disastrous 9-22 campaign that led to the dismissal of Carolyn Peck.
Butler has led the Gators to two appearances in the NCAA Tournament and four trips to the WNIT during her six seasons. Florida most recently played in the WNIT two seasons ago, advancing to the third round before dropping an 81-77 overtime contest to Charlotte.
Jaterra Bonds, who was a freshman on the team, led the Gators with 23 points in the loss. The junior guard was Florida’s top scorer this season, averaging 12.7 points per game.
The Gators have failed to advance past the third round of the WNIT during Butler’s tenure, but Bonds hopes a successful run can help redeem an otherwise frustrating season.
“As a team, especially as a big BCS school and being Florida, you never want to go to the lesser tournament,” Bonds said. “So it’s a disappointment, but we still want to prove a point.”
Progressing deeper in the WNIT could also have long-term benefits. With the Gators expected to lose only senior Jennifer George from this season’s team, extra weeks of practice and meaningful games will help the development of Florida’s returners.
Butler said that is one of the main things she hopes her team takes away from the experience.
“The more games that get played, the better they are going to be, especially those young players,” Butler said. “It’s a great opportunity to continue to develop, to continue to figure out who we are as a unit, because the reality is we are playing for right now but a majority of this unit will be back next year.
“As far as we can go this year is going to give us a head start for those guys as they move forward.”
Contact Phillip Heilman at pheilman@alligator.org.
Florida will play Florida International in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday night at 7 in U.S. Century Bank Arena in Miami. The Gators enter the tournament with an 18-14 record this season.
