NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”
NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”
NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”
NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”
NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”
NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”
NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”
NASHVILLE, Fla. – Eight to zero.
That is how Florida’s showdown with 19th-ranked Alabama within the Southeastern Convention Event began Friday evening. And never in a great way for the Gators.
Twenty-one to 2.
That was how the sixth-seeded Gators closed the primary half, producing one in all their most devastating and spectacular runs – extra like an ambush – of the season in what they was some of the spectacular victories of 2023-24, an historic 102-88 pounding of the third-seeded Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Enviornment that superior them into the match semifinals for the primary time in 5 years.
UF’s All-SEC backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin mixed for 42 factors and made 20 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt because the Gators gave the offensive powerhouse Tide a lesson in learn how to rating factors. One other lesson, truly. In three video games towards Bama this season, Florida has averaged 100.0 factors, topped by its 105-87 thumping simply 10 days in the past in Gainesville. The Gators’ 102 factors Friday was this system’s most in 99 SEC Event video games, relationship to the primary occasion in 1933.
Clayton (22 factors, 4 assists) and Pullin (19, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) have been two of 5 teammates to succeed in double-figure scoring. Grad ahead Tyrese Samuel completed with 18 factors and 4 rebounds, freshman backup ahead Alex Condon had 12 off the bench, with junior Will Richard pitching in 10. Backup freshman ahead Thomas Haugh and 7 factors and a team-high 9 rebounds.
“Alabama is a superb crew, however we beat them fairly comfortably tonight,” UF coach Todd Golden stated. “I believed it was an awesome effort from our group.”
UF shot practically 51 % for the sport, went 31 of 36 from the free throw line (86.1 %), had extra rebounds (39-35) and turned the ball over simply seven occasions towards a crew that thrives on steals and transition alternatives. Defensively, Florida restricted Alabama, ranked No. 2 within the nation in offensive effectivity coming in, to simply 46.5 % and solely six of 25 from the 3-point line (24.0).
All informed, the Gators regarded much more just like the bunch that was taking part in its finest basketball a pair weeks in the past.
“Tonight was crucial in simply getting again to what we all know we will do,” junior guard Will Richard stated in an unstated reference to the humbling, regular-season ending loss up the highway at Vanderbilt simply six days earlier than. “Taking part in our function, taking part in exhausting, taking part in collectively, having enjoyable on the market, making an attempt to win.”
As for that latter level, Florida (23-10), which is searching for its first SEC Event crown because the 2014 crew that went to the Closing 4, is within the semifinals for the primary time since 2019 – simply the second time over their final 9, relationship to 2015 – and can sq. off Saturday towards seventh-seed Texas A&M (20-13) round 3:30 p.m. (ET). The Aggies have gained 5 straight towards the Gators by a mixed 10 factors, with every recreation taking place to the ultimate possession.
Fourth-seeded Auburn (25-7) and ninth-seeded Mississippi State (21-12) will meet within the different semifinal after three of the match’s prime 4 seeds — Tennessee (1), Kentucky (2) and Alabama (3) — have been eradicated within the quarters for the primary time since 1981.
The SEC championship recreation is ready for Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida has a uncommon likelihood to be there.
“Positively large to get a win like this on this style,” stated Pullin, who the evening earlier than fouled out in UF’s slim 85-80 second-round escape towards 11-seed Georgia. “I feel it is simply staying collectively and doing what we’re speculated to do.”
It didn’t begin that approach.
Not two minutes into the sport, Golden was calling a timeout after watching Alabama hit 4 of its first 5 photographs, together with three layups, whereas Florida was lacking its first 4, to fall behind 8-0.
“Clearly regarding,” Golden stated. “After that, I believed we performed unbelievable the remainder of the best way.”
Or as Bama coach Nate Oats put it, “Issues have been rolling … then they acquired adjusted.”
Florida settled down, talked just a few issues via and acquired again into the sport comparatively simply.
“I believed we performed fairly poised the remainder of the evening,” Condon stated.
He and Haugh, the freshman BFFs, have been large causes for that. The rookie duo spelled the beginning entrance courtroom of Samuel and 7-foot-1 middle Micah Handlogten and good issues began to occur. Midway via the interval, the sport was tied at 17. 4 occasions over the following 4 minutes, Bama had four-point leads, the final time when All-SEC guard Mark Sears (22 factors) knifed via the UF protection for a reverse layup to place the Tide up 31-27.
Then it started. First Clayton dropped an NBA 3-pointer to get his crew inside one on the 5:22 mark. Then he hit two free throws for the primary lead of the sport. His factors began an avalanche of 17 straight, with a driving layup by Aaron Estrada (17 factors) breaking the run on the 1:10 mark. Haugh, although, answered with a driving layup of his personal and Richard acquired a run-out dunk with 20 seconds left to cap the first-half scoring and ship the Gators to the locker room up 48-33 and with all of the momentum following their 21-2 blitz.
All through the spree, the Gators had Condon and Haugh on the ground, battling for rebounds, ideas and guarding in a way that set the tone for the remainder of the crew; and the remainder of the sport.
“I feel we steadiness one another out a bit, simply crashing for rebounds,” Condon stated of his teaming with Haugh. “It appears like limitless power after we’re on the market taking part in collectively.”
The Gators took these feels into the second half, scoring the interval’s first 4 factors (making it a 25-2 run), surging to a 21-point lead via three minutes and taking all of it the best way to 24 with 10 minutes to play.
Florida’s collective foot by no means got here off the pedal, one thing the crew had struggled with when constructing large leads at occasions this season.
“Pay attention, Alabama will not be the kind of crew which you could ever take a breath,” Golden stated. “Once you play them, no matter whether or not we had the 15-point lead or not, we knew we have been going to need to hold scoring, staying aggressive and taking part in exhausting for the rest of the sport if we needed to win.”
Certainly, Bama shot higher than 51 % within the second half and scored 55 factors. Florida, although, shot practically 52 % and scored 54 factors, together with a 21-for-24 second half on the free throw line simply 24 hours after going 23-for-41 within the 85-80 second-round slugfest towards Georgia. This was a problem the Gators have been up for.
Whereas it is March and all of the speak is concerning the upcoming “insanity,” earlier than the Gators look to that match – and sure, they’re going to be in it for the primary time in two years, and with an enviable seed, because of this newest conquest – they’ve lots to play for this weekend nonetheless.
“I used to be telling everybody we’ve got to pack for 4 days as a result of we’re not coming right here to simply mess around,” Samuel stated. “No. We’re making an attempt to win this and go to the match with additional confidence and ensure groups learn about us and that we will go and get these video games in March.”
They acquired an enormous one Friday and regarded like the most effective model of themselves alongside the best way.
“After the primary two minutes, I felt like we have been the crew we have been for the final 30 video games. Actually the final month and a half of convention play the place we actually stepped it up,” Golden stated. “Only a bodily crew that performs exhausting, with no concern of failure. I feel our guys did a very good job of that tonight. Even after we acquired the large lead within the second half, we by no means relaxed. We saved pushing it, saved staying aggressive, saved attending to the foul line, by no means actually allowed them to make it a recreation.”