Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF men's basketball coach Mike White was pleased with his team's defense against Kentucky on Saturday. "We showed a lot of resiliency," he said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Staunch defense sparked UF basketball to win over Kentucky

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 21, 2018

Kentucky guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander collected a rebound on a missed KeVaughn Allen layup with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Eight seconds later in transition, Gilgeous-Alexander turned the ball over, allowing Florida to respond with two free throws to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 56-55.

Gymnastics coach Jenny Rowland said her team's improvement throughout its first three meets is apparent, culminating in its win against Kentucky on Friday. “We worked better together as a team,” Rowland said. “The energy was fantastic.”

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics moving on from first SEC win

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 21, 2018

After completing its third meet of the season, the Florida gymnastics team added another win to its record, putting up its first SEC victory of the year.

Florida's gymnastics team has reached the Super Six 11 times since 2006.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

UF gymnastics is the model sport at Florida: Competitive. Compassionate. Fun.

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 21, 2018

All-American gymnast Alex McMurtry celebrated after her team lost a competitive match to LSU on the evening of Jan. 12. Or, at the very least, she didn’t care at all about the loss.

Junior Alfredo Perez and the Gators men's tennis team begin dual-match play tonight against UCF.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida hosts UCF tonight in its men's tennis dual-match season opener

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 21, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team kicks off its dual-match season today against UCF as the No. 9-ranked program in the country. The Gators have won all 16 previous matchups with the Knights, including a 7-0 sweep in 2013 when the teams last met.

After losing its first five SEC games, the Florida women's basketball team is on a current two-game winning streak, defeating Ole Miss 61-60 on Sunday afternoon.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators stage late comeback, defeat Ole Miss at O'Dome

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 21, 2018

With a raucous home crowd surrounding them, the Gators broke their huddle and trotted out for one more defensive possession. Eight seconds remained in the game, and Ole Miss needed a bucket to pull back into the lead.

Junior guard Jalen Hudson didn't have the best night shooting, going just 4 of 13 from the field. But he came up with a huge block with under 10 seconds to go to secure Florida's second win in its last three meetings against Kentucky.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Defensive plays down stretch help Florida beat No. 18 Kentucky

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 20, 2018

The Kentucky men’s basketball team had two opportunities to tie the score in the final moments of the game.

Caeleb Dressel showed off in front of a sell-out crowd on Senior Day, winning the 100-yard butterfly by .36 seconds and the 50-yard freestyle by .55 seconds. He was also part of both men's relay wins.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida men’s swimming and diving team defeats Auburn on Senior Day while women’s team loses to Tigers by 21

By Jacob McManamon | Jan. 20, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams faced Auburn on Saturday at the O’Connell Center.

Sophomore Grant Holloway set a new Gators record in the 60-meter hurdles Friday night with a time of 7.49 seconds, besting former Florida hurdler Eddie Lovett's mark by .01 seconds.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators track and field teams shine in Clemson Invitational, clocking some of the fastest times in collegiate history

By Alanis Thames | Jan. 20, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s track and field teams excelled this weekend at the Clemson Invitational with numerous athletes setting school records and recording some of the fastest times in NCAA history.

The No. 6 Gators never trailed in their meet against Kentucky Friday night. But their night was not without its flaws. “It wasn’t a perfect night,” coach Jenny Rowland said. “We made a lot of improvements in different areas from our first road meet, which is always good to see.”

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida wins first SEC meet against Kentucky

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 19, 2018

Kennedy Baker stuck a solid landing, glancing first to the left at her teammates, then to the right at assistant coach Adrian Burde for approval. She smiled at the close of her performance, starting the Gators off with a season-best 9.800 on the uneven bars.

Florida men’s tennis coach Bryan Shelton has shifted his focus to UF’s home opener against UCF on Monday following freshman Duarte Vale’s exit from the City of Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic. “We know UCF is a really good team this year,” he said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Duarte Vale eliminated in Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic, Gators men’s tennis team getting ready to host UCF

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 18, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team was one player shy of its usual squad during Thursday afternoon’s practice. Freshman Duarte Vale was busy competing in the second round of the City of Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic while the rest of his teammates were in Gainesville preparing for their home opener against UCF on Monday.

UF track athlete Grant Holloway enters this weekend’s action looking to build off his recent 60-meter hurdles time of 7.69, tied for the second-fastest mark in the nation.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida track and field teams hoping to continue early-season success at Clemson Invitational

By Alanis Thames | Jan. 18, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s track and field teams will compete at the Clemson Invitational today and Saturday in Clemson, South Carolina, for the Gators’ third meet of the 2018 indoor season.

Gymnastics coach Jenny Rowland said she wasn't thinking too much on her team's loss to LSU but instead was looking forward to tonight's matchup against Kentucky. “I’m not one to look back and dwell from day to day,” she said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics team looking to win first SEC meet tonight against Kentucky

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 18, 2018

Jenny Rowland was the epitome of positivity on Wednesday. As she led the Florida gymnastic team’s practice, the third-year coach showed no sign of worry, instead displaying confidence in the wake of UF's 197.250-197.125 home loss to LSU on Jan. 12.

Florida guard Jalen Hudson is leading UF this season with 16.5 points per game. "He's consistently improving his energy level," Gators coach Mike White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Jalen Hudson coming off solid outing as Gators men’s basketball team prepares for Kentucky

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 18, 2018

Florida guard Jalen Hudson stood at the left wing of the three-point line as he received an incoming pass from teammate Egor Koulechov. As soon as Hudson shot the ball, he started backpedaling, confident his attempt would fall through the basket.

Caeleb Dressel and 14 other swimmers will be honored as part of Senior Day festivities this Saturday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida swimming and diving teams hosting Auburn on Saturday for Senior Day

By Jacob McManamon | Jan. 18, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are set to take on Auburn this Saturday at the O’Connell Center on Senior Day.

Forward Paulina Hersler tied her career high with 19 points in Florida's 65-51 win over Arkansas, its first conference victory in the Cameron Newbauer era.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Paulina Hersler, Haley Lorenzen lead UF women’s basketball team to first SEC win of 2018

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 18, 2018

At the start of the third quarter, Florida forward Paulina Hersler received a pass and pulled up from the top of the key for the Gators’ first shot of the frame. The shot went straight through the basket, increasing UF’s lead over Arkansas to double digits and jump starting a 14-4 run to start the second half.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

KeVaughn Allen looked like old self for Florida men’s basketball team on Wednesday night

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 17, 2018

KeVaughn Allen stepped up to the three-point line from the right side of the court with two Razorbacks players guarding him as 32 seconds remained in the first half. He pulled up for the shot, towering over defenders as the ball sailed into the basket.

“This group responds,” coach Cameron Newbauer said. “They respond from film, they respond from just their own personal thoughts from the game. I look forward to practice each day because of that.”

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Coach Newbauer all smiles before Thursday’s matchup with Arkansas

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 17, 2018

The shift in Cameron Newbauer’s mood between Sunday’s postgame press conference and Tuesday’s practice was palpable.

KeVaughn Allen poured in a career-high 28 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field in Florida's 88-73 win over Arkansas. “Wow, did he play a great game,” coach Mike White said. “He needed it, and we needed it.”

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

KeVaughn Allen scores season-high 28 as Gators beat Arkansas on Wednesday, move back into first in SEC standings

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 17, 2018

Florida guard Chris Chiozza dashed toward the basket, zipping through a scattered Arkansas defense as he ran the length of the court on a fast break. As he entered the paint, Chiozza hit fellow guard KeVaughn Allen with a no-look, behind-the-back bounce pass. Allen hit the three-pointer from the right wing of court, increasing UF’s lead to 12 points.

New Orleans Saints third-string quarterback Taysom Hill nearly blocked a punt in Sunday's divisional round playoff game, prompting praise from Fox broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Let’s talk about race in NFL broadcasting

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 16, 2018

In games that I have no emotional stake in, I root for chaos. And punts — both blocked and returned — provide a good chance of something ridiculous happening.

Florida men's basketball coach Mike White and the rest of the Gators are entering today's contest against Arkansas short-handed, with as many as five players expected to sit out.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Short-handed Gators face Arkansas tonight at O'Dome

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 16, 2018

The list of injuries was already long for the Florida men’s basketball team.