It's only been 19 days since the end of spring classes, but UF sports teams were plenty busy during the intermission.
BASE HEATS UP: The UF baseball team has found its stride despite losing two of three to LSU in Baton Rouge, La., this weekend. The Gators won eight games in a row from April 21 to May 3, including a sweep of last year's national runner-up Georgia in Athens. Taking three from the Bulldogs vaulted UF into first place in the Southeastern Conference East Division, and the Gators currently hold a two-game lead.
UF will play its final non-conference game tonight when it hosts Jacksonville before finishing up its SEC slate with a home series Thursday through Saturday against Kentucky. The Gators have clinched one of the eight berths in the SEC Tournament.Division winners are guaranteed the top two seeds, while the other six positions are determined by record.
TYUS STAYING AT UF: Gators forward Alex Tyus decided to stay in Gainesville after all. The school released a statement by the sophomore forward on April 28, 10 days after he initially declared his intent to transfer. Tyus was the team's leading rebounder (6.2 per game) last season and second on the squad in points (12.5 per game).
"It's great to know that his heart is here at the University of Florida," coach Billy Donovan said in a statement.
THREE GATORS TAKEN IN NFL DRAFT: UF continued its streak of having a player selected in the first round for the third straight year. Wide receiver Percy Harvin was drafted No. 22 overall by the Minnesota Vikings. The Oakland Raiders drafted wide receiver Louis Murphy in the fourth round with the 124th overall selection. Tight end Cornelius Ingram, who sat out the 2008 season due to a preseason ACL tear, went to the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round with the 153rd overall pick.
Four players (offensive linemen Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins, running back Kestahn Moore and long snapper James Smith) signed free-agent contracts after the NFL Draft. Trautwein went to the Rams, and Watkins went to the Texans. The Broncos picked up Moore while Smith went to the Bengals.
