Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel dunks the ball in the Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators flash promise, room to grow in first week of basketball season

By Topher Adams | Nov. 13, 2023

Florida (1-1) defeated the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds before falling to the Virginia Cavaliers in the Hall of Series in the first week of the college basketball season. Second-year head coach Todd Golden was happy with the way his team fought against the Cavaliers and remains optimistic moving forward.

Florida outside hitter Sofia Victory hits the ball during the Gators' match against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators dominate Crimson Tide with clean sweep

By Krisha Sanghavi | Nov. 12, 2023

The No. 21 Florida Gators (16-7, 8-6 SEC) swept the Alabama Crimson Tide (10-16, 0-15 SEC) 3-0 Sunday evening in the Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Florida women's basketball head coach Kelly Rae Finley during her team's game against Missouri Feb. 27, 2022.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Me’Arah O’Neal, daughter of Shaquille O’Neal, commits to Gators women’s basketball

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 12, 2023

Me’Arah O’Neal, the daughter of former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, announced her commitment to the Florida Gators women’s basketball team Sunday, according to ESPN.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels runs the ball in the Gators' 52-35 loss to the LSU Tigers on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators fall victim to Jayden Daniels’ Heisman moment

By Topher Adams | Nov. 11, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-5, 3-4 SEC) fell to the No. 18 Louisiana State Tigers (7-3, 5-2 SEC) 52-35 Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. Daniels became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision history with 350 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in one game.

Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall warms up ahead of the Gators clash with LSU November 11, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida vs. LSU: Live Updates

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 11, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-4, 3-3 SEC) battle the LSU Tigers (6-3, 4-2 SEC) at Tiger Stadium Saturday. Follow along here for live updates.

Redshirt junior Parker Valby runs during the NCAA South Regional on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Florida’s women’s cross country team is nationals bound; men place 10th at regionals

By Isabella Morales | Nov. 11, 2023

With a total of 29 teams staggered across the turf, only two would automatically qualify for the NCAA XC National Championships Nov. 18 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Florida placed 2nd with 79 points, punching them a ticket straight to Panorama Farms, where the University of Virginia will host the race.

Sophomore libero Emily Canaan dives to set the ball in the Gators' 3-0 win against the LSU Tigers on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

No. 21 Gators sweep LSU in three-set victory

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Nov. 10, 2023

The No. 21 Florida Gators (15-7, 7-6 SEC) defeated the Louisiana State Tigers (10-13, 5-8) 3-0 Friday evening in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Graduate student Tyrese Samuel rises up for a dunk in the Gators' 93-73 win against Loyola Maryland on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators fall in close matchup to Virginia for first loss of season

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 10, 2023

The Florida Gators (1-1) fell to the Virginia Cavaliers (2-0) 73-70 in Charlotte, North Carolina Friday night. Four Gators finished the game scoring in double figures. UF shot 40% from the field and just 28% from deep.

Florida lineman Austin Barber celebrates a UF touchdown during the Florida Gators Football game vs the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators look to flip the script in Baton Rouge

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 10, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-4, 3-2 SEC) open their final three-game stretch against the No.18 Louisiana State Tigers (6-3, 4-2 SEC) 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Stadium. The Gators are 14-point underdogs against LSU.

The Florida Gators' offensive line gets set against the LSU Tigers' defensive line in the Gators' 45-35 loss to the Tigers on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Know Your Enemy: LSU Tigers

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 10, 2023

The Gators (5-4, 3-3 SEC) and Tigers (6-3, 4-2 SEC) both lost their previous matchups and are looking to get back on track with a victory Saturday. UF lost an overtime heartbreaker at home to Arkansas, while LSU fell on the road to bitter rivals Alabama. I sat down with Peter Rauterkus, the sports editor of the Reveille, the student newspaper at LSU, to break down the matchup.

Sophomore center Micah Handlogten dunks the ball in the Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Handlogten, Samuel and Condon might become UF’s “Big Three”

By Brandon Hernandez | Nov. 10, 2023

The trio of sophomore forward Micah Handlogten, graduate student forward Tyrese Samuel and freshman forward Alex Condon produced 44 points as a collective in UF’s season opener. All showed signs of agility, movement and a defensive identity for the Gators.

Senior guard Aliyah Matharu shoots a jumpshot in the Gators' 83-69 win against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida defeats Bethune-Cookman by double digits

By Krisha Sanghavi | Nov. 9, 2023

The Florida Gators (2-0) defeated the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (0-2) 83-69 Thursday afternoon in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Head coach Kelly Rae Finley coaches senior guard Aliyah Matharu during the Gators' 82-65 win against the UNF Ospreys on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball signs highest-rated recruit in program history

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 8, 2023

Florida women’s basketball secured the signing of Alivia “Liv” McGill Wednesday, officially making her the highest-ranked recruit in program history. The Florida men’s basketball team also landed the signing of a top recruit. Four-star guard Isaiah Brown signed with Todd Golden’s Gators Wednesday.

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III dives toward the end zone in the Gators' 39-36 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Napier finds silver lining in Gators’ Arkansas loss

By Krisha Sanghavi | Nov. 8, 2023

Disappointment flooded Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as the Florida Gators suffered a 39-36 loss against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas snapped a six-game losing streak and clinched its first-ever victory in the Swamp to halt the Gators’ undefeated season at home. Although fans found the loss a tough pill to swallow, Florida head coach Billy Napier found silver linings in the performance.

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel goes up for a layup during the Florida Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Analysis: The Riley Kugel experience is must-watch basketball

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 7, 2023

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel has been highly regarded as a potential breakout player heading into his second season in Gainesville and was named to the Coaches’ Preseason First-Team All-SEC team. He’s already proving why he was tabbed to the list as he scored 23 points, grabbed six steals and dished four assists in UF’s 93-73 season-opening win against Loyola Maryland.

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel rises up to dunk the ball in the Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators dismantle Greyhounds in season opener despite offensive struggles

By Brandon Hernandez | Nov. 6, 2023

The Florida Gators (1-0) pounded the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds (0-1) 93-73 in their season opener at home in the Exactech Arena. The Gators shot 58.1% from the field, 50% from the free throw line and held LMU to shoot at a 45.8% clip.

Senior guard Leilani Correa takes a jump shot in the Gators' 82-65 win against the North Florida Ospreys.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators use big second half to take down North Florida in season opener

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 6, 2023

The Florida Gators (1-0) took down the North Florida Ospreys (0-1) 82-65 in their season opener Monday in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The Gators continually found space down low and scored 54 points in the paint.

Florida head coach Todd Golden coaches the Gators' during a practice the day before their Southeastern Conference tournament game Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Preview into Florida’s season opener opponent Loyola Maryland

By Brandon Hernandez | Nov. 6, 2023

Any underdog team can go into enemy territory and grab a win in the world of college basketball. Especially when no team has played a minute on the court for the 2023-2024 season. In the case of the Florida Gators men’s basketball team, they’ll look to avoid this going into their season opener against the underdog Loyola Maryland Greyhounds — an opponent they’ve never faced.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz is embraced by his teammates in the Gators’ 39-36 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Hogs run wild, create questions for rest of Florida’s season

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 6, 2023

The Gators have now dropped their last two games and face a gauntlet the rest of the way in search of clinching bowl eligibility. While one loss is more excusable as it came against the No. 1 team in the country — the Georgia Bulldogs Oct. 28 — the other spells questions for Florida the rest of the way out.

Redshirt senior Allison Wilson points to the sky after she finished first for the Florida Gators in the Mountain Dew Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Transfer Allison Wilson shares her journey overcoming injury

By Hailey Hurst | Nov. 6, 2023

Florida transfer and redshirt senior Allison Wilson gave it her all in the world of cross country since her days as an Alabama distance runner. Wilson came face-to-face with her injuries and the decision to put a pause on her running career during the 2021 season.