Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | SOCCER

alligatorSports 2018 World Cup Predictions

By Chris O'Brien and Alligator Staff report | July 11, 2018

With a matchup between France and Croatia set for the World Cup Final, our staff, which doesn’t know very much about soccer, is here to give you its predictions on which team it believes will come out victorious on Sunday. Our report consists of sports writers Chris O’Brien, Mark Stine, Andrew Huang, Brendan Farrell and Evan Lepak.

Wide receiver Van Jefferson figures to be one of the most impactful newcomers for the UF football team.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Top incoming recruits/transfers rundown for fall sports

By Chris O'Brien , Andrew Huang and Alligator Staff report | July 10, 2018

There are many incoming freshmen and transfers joining UF Athletics for the 2018-19 season. With the first sporting event of the 2018 fall sports season under one month away (soccer exhibition match at Florida Gulf Coast on Aug. 7), it’s time to get acquainted with some of the new faces of the Florida Gators. Sports writers Chris O’Brien, Andrew Huang and Mark Stine highlight newcomers to watch for the upcoming football, volleyball and soccer campaigns.

Tiger Woods hasn’t won a tournament since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational or a major since the 2008 U.S. Open.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Stop giving coverage to Tiger Woods

By Chris O'Brien and O’B-Wan Kenobi | July 9, 2018

Read the title. Then read it again, and again and again.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher was snubbed from the 2018 MLB All-Star Game even though he leads the AL in ERA at 2.09.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Blake Snell’s All-Star snub is because of where he plays

By Mark My Words | July 9, 2018

Blake Snell has been one of the most dominant starting pitchers in all baseball through the 2018 season. During his third season in Tampa Bay, he’s unexpectedly led the Rays to a record on the plus-side of .500 (46-44) and put himself in serious contention for the American League Cy Young Award.

Mary Wise coached the UF volleyball team to the NCAA championship match last season. She was named AVCA National Coach of the Year for 2017 and claimed her 23rd SEC Championship with the program.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

alligatorSports Awards: Who is UF's Coach of the Year?

By alligatorSports Staff Report | July 4, 2018

There were 12 University of Florida athletics teams that finished in the top five nationally in their respective sports during the 2017-18 season. This statistic, a program record, begged the question, who is the best coach among this crop of talented teams? Sports writers Alanis Thames, Andrew Huang, Chris O’Brien and Mark Stine nominated their picks in this alligatorSports Awards installment.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

We may be witnessing the greatest World Cup of all-time, and it might be a farce

By Mark My Words | July 4, 2018

In a previous column from June 14, I claimed that the World Cup is the greatest event in sports.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

I’m starting to like the new-look NBA

By Huang Story Short | July 3, 2018

Professional basketball just got a whole lot better.

Third baseman Jonathan India was taken fifth overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2018 MLB Draft. He led the SEC in on-base percentage (.497), slugging percentage (.717) and home runs. India was selected as the conference's Player of the Year.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

UF navigated through 2018 on individual brilliance

By Chris O'Brien | July 3, 2018

Despite ending with a 5-2 loss to Arkansas at the College World Series on June 22, the Florida Gators’ 2018 season shouldn’t be overshadowed by the team’s failure to repeat as national champions.

UF starting pitcher Brady Singer pitched 5.0 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits in Florida's elimination game loss to Arkansas on Friday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Campbell cruises, Arkansas eliminates Florida in CWS

By Chris O'Brien | June 22, 2018

The last time he faced the defending champs, Arkansas starting pitcher Isaiah Campbell only lasted one inning and gave up six runs (five earned) on four hits and four walks.

Freshman starter Jack Leftwich threw 6.1 innings and allowed only two earned runs in his outing against Texeas Tech at the College World Series Thursday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

After sluggish start, Florida recovers to eliminate Texas Tech

By Chris O'Brien | June 22, 2018

He’s a freshman, but he sure didn’t look like one Thursday night.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

We need to talk about the World Cup’s Inner Demons

By Mark My Words | June 20, 2018

Last week I explained why the World Cup is the greatest event in sports.

UF left fielder Amanda Lorenz reached base safely in all 67 games for the 2018 season. She also received the SEC Player of the Year honor.

SPORTS

ALLIGATOR AWARDS: Athlete of the Year

By Chris O'Brien , Andrew Huang , Dylan Rudolph and Alligator Sports Staff | June 20, 2018

As the Florida Gators athletics season winds down, we look back at some of the best athletes for the university. Our panel of Mark Stine, Chris O’Brien, Dylan Rudolph, Alanis Thames and Andrew Huang selected its nominees for the alligatorSports Athlete of the Year award:

Third baseman Jonathan India went 2 for 5 with four RBIs in UF's 6-1 victory over Texas at the College World Series Tuesday. He gave the Gators a five-run lead with a three-run homer in the sixth inning.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

India breaks game open in sixth, Kowar powers UF to win over Texas

By Chris O'Brien | June 19, 2018

As soon as he finished his swing, he knew.

Arizona center Deandre Ayton will look to hear his name called when the Phoenix Suns make their first-overall selection at the NBA Draft on Thursday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Back from the future: Next season’s NBA All-Rookie Team

By Huang Story Short | June 18, 2018

With the 2018 NBA All-Rookie Team’s recent release and the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday, I decided to time-travel to a year from now and bring back 2019’s All-Rookie Team.