Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Funda Nakkasoglu, Florida's leading scorer with 15.2 points per game, struggled to put away buckets against Kentucky. She shot 3-of-15 from the field for 8 points.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida’s shooting woes continue as Gators drop fourth straight SEC game

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 11, 2018

Trailing by two with less than seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Gators inbounded the ball in front of their bench. After a cross-court pass from forward Haley Lorenzen found guard Funda Nakkasoglu open on the right side of the court, Nakkasoglu attempted an off-balance three-pointer.

On two separate occasions this season, KeVaughn Allen has put up just two points, a far cry from UF's 2016-17 leading scorer.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: It’s time for KeVaughn Allen to break out of his scoring slump

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 10, 2018

KeVaughn Allen stole the ball nine minutes into the second half, calmly dribbled to the three-point line with no one around him and drained a shot to extend Florida’s lead by 14.

Gabby Seiler was recruited by Cameron Newbauer while he was an assistant coach with Georgia. Nearly nine years later and after leading UF soccer to a 17-7 record and an NCAA quarterfinals appearance, Seiler is finally on his team.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women’s Basketball Notebook: Seiler partakes in first practice with UF ahead of Thursday’s game against Kentucky

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 10, 2018

With sophomore guard Sydney Morang ruled out for the season in late November with concussion-like symptoms, the Florida women’s basketball team has lacked backcourt depth at practice for most of the year.

Kevarrius Hayes' defense - three blocks, a pair of steals and seven rebounds - helped light the way for the Gators in Wednesday night's 71-54 win over Mississippi State.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators thrash Bulldogs in 71-54 blowout

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 10, 2018

Florida center Kevarrius Hayes patrolled the paint midway through the second half, eyeing the ball as it moved around the perimeter. When Mississippi State guard Eli Wright drove toward the basket and attempted a layup, Hayes slapped it away, generating cheers from fans at the O’Connell Center.

Jack Szaranek was one of the top young soccer players in Dunfermline, Scotland, when a gruesome leg injury forced him to switch his focus to swimming. "If I hadn't broke my leg, then I may have never gotten the chance to come out here to the University of Florida and swim for one of the best teams in the nation," he said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

FROM THE PITCH TO THE POOL: How Jack Szaranek’s gruesome leg injury altered the course of his athletic career

By River Wells | Jan. 9, 2018

Jack Szaranek breathed heavily as he sprinted down the field.

Former Gators tight end Mike Mularkey coached the Tennessee Titans to a one-point victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL playoffs on Saturday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Robinson scores first touchdown, Mularkey leads Titans to victory

By Sam Campisano | Jan. 9, 2018

Demarcus Robinson picked a good time to score his first NFL touchdown.

After winning its fifth national championship over the past nine seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide and coach Nick Saban are the only things helping the SEC remain the powerhouse of college football.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: The SEC needs Alabama more than Alabama needs the SEC

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 9, 2018

It’s good to be king.

After watching his team lose three of its first four games in December, Florida men's basketball coach Mike White is pleased with the recent play of UF's offense. "I think we have a better understanding of who operates where," White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF looks to continue win streak tonight against Mississippi State

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 9, 2018

Florida men's basketball coach Mike White knew his team was lacking in offensive confidence before its Christmas break.

“You just start an SEC season, where everybody is bigger, faster, stronger, quicker,” said coach Cameron Newbauer after a loss to Alabama. “And you’ve gotta be tougher immediately. There’s no days off.”

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Newbauer frustrated following Florida women’s basketball team’s 0-3 SEC start

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 8, 2018

Coach Cameron Newbauer was nearly at a loss for words to describe his team’s nine-point defeat against Alabama on Thursday.

Kelly Barnhill collected a handful of national awards for her pitching in the 2017 season after going 26-4 with a 0.51 ERA. She will be one of six current and former Gators playing for Team USA in two upcoming tournaments.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Kelly Barnhill selected to U.S. National Team along with five other UF softball alums

By Mari Faiello | Jan. 8, 2018

Six current and former Florida softball players were selected to the 2018 United States Women’s National Teams on Saturday.

Jon Gruden agreed to a 10-year, $100 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, making him the highest-paid coach in NFL history.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Aside from new Raiders coach Jon Gruden, what else can $100 million buy?

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 8, 2018

The Oakland Raiders made ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl winner Jon Gruden their head coach on Saturday, with an official welcome slated for Tuesday. Gruden last coached in 2008 before getting fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a 9-7 record. Yawn. Another NFL team hiring a new coach? Pretty boring stuff. It happens every year.

Former UF quarterback Malik Zaire wore a Schutt AiR XP Pro helmet with a basic, single-bar facemask. “It was all about simplicity,” Zaire said. “And it looked the best, in my opinion.”

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Ever wonder how football players choose their facemasks? It’s a little more complicated a process than you’d think

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 7, 2018

The average football game only features about 11 minutes of actual football, according to the Wall Street Journal, with the other 49 lost to runoff between plays. So tonight, when Alabama plays Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship, take one of those dormant 49 minutes of replays, huddle shots and sideline views to inspect Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts and his Bulldogs equal, Jake Fromm.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza is averaging 14 points and six assists per game in SEC play this season. "I think he's one of the most underrated guys in the country," UF coach Mike White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Chiozza, Hayes propelling Florida to top of the SEC standings

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 7, 2018

Three games into conference play, the Florida men’s basketball team’s identity is beginning to take shape.

Alicia Boren's 39.575 in all-around was a Gators gymnastics opening-day record on Saturday. Boren and the No. 2 Gators are set to take on the No. 3 LSU Tigers on Friday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF moving on after season-opening win against WVU

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 7, 2018

The moment junior Alicia Boren’s feet hit the mat at the end of her uneven bars routine, her face transformed into a smile as bright as the sparkles on her uniform.

Coach Mike Holloway's men's (No. 1) and women's (No. 4) indoor teams will look to capitalize on a fast start to their seasons. “We always talk about leaving your failures (and) successes in the building,” Holloway said. “Our mindset is always that we’re just trying to get better.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators place first in five events at Orange and Purple Classic

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 7, 2018

Ten Gators made their collegiate debut and the Florida men’s and women’s track and field teams won five events to kick off their indoor seasons on Saturday at the Orange and Purple Classic in Clemson, South Carolina.

Dyandria Anderson scored 12 points, including the final bucket in regulation, in a double-overtime thriller against Ole Miss.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators climb back from double-digit deficit but fall to Ole Miss in double OT

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 7, 2018

After receiving an inbound pass at the top of the key, Florida forward Paulina Hersler pulled up with five seconds left in the fourth quarter. Down by two, Hersler missed a shot to the right of the rim, but guard Dyandria Anderson pulled down an offensive rebound and scored a layup with less than one second remaining to send the game to overtime.

Caeleb Dressel won the 200 fly Saturday afternoon against FAU. His win was one of seven consecutive victories for the men's team to start the event.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida defeats FAU for second win in two days

By River Wells | Jan. 6, 2018

If the Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were tired after their dual meets against Florida State on Friday, they showed no signs of it against FAU on Saturday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Chiozza beats buzzer again to lead Florida past Missouri

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 6, 2018

Chris Chiozza saw it coming the whole way.

Caeleb Dressel won two individual titles and was part of the winning relay squad in the UF men's swimming team's 209-91 victory over the Seminoles on Friday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF swimming defeats FSU in Sunshine Showdown

By River Wells | Jan. 5, 2018

When it comes to UF swimmers Caeleb and Sherridon Dressel, it’s easy to tell they’re cut from the same cloth.

Junior Alicia Boren broke UF’s record for the highest all-around score in a season opener in program history, registering a 39.575 all-around score against West Virginia on Friday. The Gators defeated the Mountaineers 195.900-194.425 to open the season 1-0.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators open season with win over West Virginia

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 5, 2018

For the fifth year in a row, the Florida gymnastics team proved that starting off the season away from home has no effect on its performance. The Gators (1-0) kicked off their 2018 schedule with a 195.900-194.425 win over West Virginia (0-1) on Friday night at the WVU Coliseum.