Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Jaterra Bonds looks for an opening during Florida’s 68-62 loss against Georgia on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators look to end skid against Vols

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 22, 2014

The Gators’ Southeastern Conference schedule comes to a head tonight.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

NFL should end extra point, other sports’ rules should change

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Jan. 22, 2014

Every now and then, Grantland.com attempts to write the worst sports column on Earth. Today, Adam will try, too.

Elliott Orkin attempts to hit the ball during his singles match against UNF on Jan. 22.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Freshman leads Florida to victory in first dual match of season

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Jan. 22, 2014

Elliott Orkin waited a long time to play college tennis, and he played a decisive role in his first collegiate dual match.

DeVon Walker attempts a layup down the lane during Florida’s 72-50 win against Georgia on Jan. 14 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Bench contributors playing major role

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 21, 2014

If there ever were a point during Billy Donovan’s tenure at Florida when he needed a deep bench, this would be the year.

Bridget Sloan performs a flip on the balance beam during Florida’s win against Kentucky on Feb. 22, 2013, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Sophomore looks to build on decorated freshman season

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 21, 2014

Bridget Sloan’s 2013 campaign ended with the Southeastern Conference Freshman Gymnast of the Year award.

Gordon Watson hits a ball during Florida’s 7-0 win against St. John’s on Jan. 6, 2013. The junior won the singles event of the Gainesville ITA Circuits Draw on Monday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators open season ranked No. 15

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Jan. 21, 2014

The Florida men's tennis team will kickoff its dual-match season at home against North Florida on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Casey Prather attempts a free throw against South Carolina on Jan. 8 in the O’Connell Center. Prather scored 21 points against Auburn after recovering from a bone bruise in his right knee.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Prather returns with strong showing off bench

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 20, 2014

Prior to Florida’s 68-61 win at Auburn on Saturday, coach Billy Donovan listed Casey Prather as active but doubted his senior forward would play much.

Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman (25) hits the ball away from San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree (15) during the NFC Championship game on Sunday in Seattle.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Sherman OK by me

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 20, 2014

By now, you’ve probably read about or listened to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman’s controversial postgame comments following his team’s 23-17 win in the NFC Championship over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Former UF coordinator leads Seattle defense to Super Bowl

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 20, 2014

Dan Quinn has proved to be the 12th man for the Seahawks in his first season as Seattle’s defensive coordinator.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators looking ahead to conference-championship meet

By Logan McGuire | Jan. 20, 2014

With two dual meets remaining this season and the Southeastern Conference Championships a month away for the No. 3 Florida men (6-0, 3-0 SEC) and No. 8 women (4-2, 2-1 SEC), the season’s last head-to-head matchups are being used to gauge how Florida’s swimmers are racing and what final adjustments are needed.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Freshman making impact on court early in season

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Jan. 20, 2014

Success is no stranger to Elliott Orkin.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Keegan and Oyen can't ride momentum into final day of tournament

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Jan. 19, 2014

Kourtney Keegan and Sofie Oyen struggled on the final day of the 2014 Freeman Memorial Tennis Championships at the Fertitta Tennis Complex in Las Vegas.

Ronni Williams attempts a layup in Florida’s 59-52 win against Arkansas on Jan. 9 in the O’Connell Center. Williams fouled out for the 11th time this season on Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Fouls doom Gators in second straight loss

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 19, 2014

For the first time this season, the Gators have lost consecutive games.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators remain undefeated despite shortened roster

By Logan McGuire | Jan. 18, 2014

It was another win on Saturday for the Florida’s swimming and diving men’s and women’s teams over FAU to keep the undefeated all-time record against the Owls going.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Women's team complete upset, men flourish in second day

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Jan. 18, 2014

Head coach Roland Thornqvist is already beginning to reap the fruit of his team’s labor.

Florida forward Casey Prather (24) drives past Auburn forward Alex Thompson during the No. 7 Gators' 68-61 win against the Tigers on Saturday in Auburn Arena.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Prather returns from knee injury to help Florida knock off Auburn 68-61

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 18, 2014

Back after missing two games due a bone bruise in his right knee, Casey Prather fueled Florida throughout its contest Saturday against Auburn.

Mackenzie Caquatto sticks a dismount in a quad meet Jan. 27, 2012. Caquatto struggled in UF’s season opener, but the senior rebounded Friday night to help Florida knock off Auburn.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Caquatto rebounds off poor performance to help UF earn second win

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 18, 2014

Two weeks into the 2014 gymnastics season and Florida has already begun the uphill battle towards improvement. The Gators improved their record to 2-0 after a road win against Auburn on Friday night. An .850 margin allowed UF (197.075) to defeat Auburn (196.225).

UF women's tennis coach Roland Thornqvist and the Gators were predicted to win the Southeastern Conference by the other SEC coaches.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida voted most likely to capture SEC

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Jan. 18, 2014

Head coach Roland Thornqvist isn’t the only one with high hopes for his team this season.

Florida swimmers line up to begin the men’s open 400-meter individual medley during the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational on Sept. 28 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

After first day at SMU Invite, Gators sit in second

By Logan McGuire | Jan. 18, 2014

After the first day of competition at the Classic at Southern Methodist University the No. 3 Gators (5-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) men’s swimming and diving team is sitting in second place with 154 points, 21 points behind first place Michigan.

Casey Prather dribbles during Florida’s 67-66 win against Florida State on Nov. 29, 2013, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | BLOGS BASKETBALL

Prather available for Florida against Auburn but likely in limited capacity

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 17, 2014

Casey Prather (bone bruise in right knee) will be available for No. 7 Florida’s road matchup with Auburn on Saturday at 4 p.m., but Billy Donovan is doubtful the senior forward will log significant minutes against the Tigers.