Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Coach Dan Mullen and the Gators will hold open practices on Friday and Saturday afternoon.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Three Gators football questions that merit answers entering spring practice

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 16, 2018

Dan Mullen knows expectations are high.

Outfielder/pitcher Andrew Baker has developed a reputation as being one of the funnier players on the Florida roster. But it was the young lefty's faith and family helped guide him through his low points.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Family, faith and baseball: Andrew Baker’s evolution from little league novice to UF two-way player

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 15, 2018

Andrew Baker leaned forward with his hands on his knees. He oozed a confidence and swagger that would have made Muhammad Ali blush.

Trae Young and the Oklahoma Sooners made the NCAA Tournament ahead of bubble teams like USC, Middle Tennessee, Marquette and Oklahoma State.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Putting Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament was the right call

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 15, 2018

Picture this scenario. You decide to go to the movies, but you aren’t sure what film you want to see. In front of you are two choices.

Florida guard Egor Koulechov scored 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting in Thursday night's 77-62 win over St. Bonaventure.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators bounce Bonnies in first round of NCAA Tournament

By Benjamin Brandt | Mar. 15, 2018

No bizarre buzzer-beaters or cunning second-half comebacks maddened the nightcap action at American Airlines Arena on Thursday in Dallas.

Freshman Taylor Ault finished 39th out of 64 swimmers in the 500-yard free Thursday afternoon in her first NCAA Championship event.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators women’s swimming and diving team struggles on Day 2 of NCAA Championships

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 15, 2018

It was a rough afternoon for Florida on the second day of the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

The Florida men's basketball team will attempt to use last season's 77-70 loss to South Carolina in the Elite Eight to propel it on another impressive showing at the NCAA Tournament. “We have pieces that have been here,” UF guard Chris Chiozza said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida using last season’s Elite Eight loss as motivation for 2018 NCAA Tourney run

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 15, 2018

Former Florida forward Justin Leon shot a desperation three-pointer as time was about to expire in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on March 27, 2017.

Florida walk-on guards Mak Krause and Andrew Fava celebrate during UF's 108-68 win over North Florida on Nov. 16.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS: The story of Andrew Fava and Mak Krause

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 15, 2018

Attacker Lindsey Ronbeck missed the second half of the game against Navy with an apparent knee injury.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida lacrosse team gearing up for conference action

By Tyler Nettuno | Mar. 15, 2018

If there’s one thing the Gators lacrosse team has going for it heading into Big East play, it’s momentum.

Junior Rachel Slocum said she is excited for the upcoming SEC Championships. “I'm just trying to leave it all out on the floor,” she said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators focusing on “the little things” in week off before SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 15, 2018

The Gators gymnastics team is spending its week off between the regular season and SEC Championships in its usual spot — the practice gym.

Center fielder Nick Horvath is hitting .345 this year after failing to break the .200 mark in his first two seasons.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Nick Horvath’s bat coming alive at perfect time for Florida

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 15, 2018

During the beginning of his career at UF, Gators center fielder Nick Horvath struggled in the batter's box. His average at the plate was below .200.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS: Mak Krause's and Andrew Fava's journeys from student managers to walk-ons

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 15, 2018

The Florida men's basketball team’s walk-ons washed clothes, toweled floors and got battered by bigger, stronger players, all for an opportunity that they thought might never come. But when it did, it changed them — and those around them — forever.

Sydney Sell and three of her teammates will compete in the 200-yard IM on Thursday

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida’s women’s swimming and diving team competes in 800-yard relay on Day 1 of NCAAs

By Jacob McManamon | Mar. 14, 2018

The Florida women’s swimming and diving team began the first day of the NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, finishing 22nd in the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Junior Alfredo Perez advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Individual Men's Tennis Championships.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis team drops hard fought battle to TCU on Wednesday

By River Wells | Mar. 14, 2018

Striking the ball down the middle of the court, junior Alfredo Perez’s tennis racket slipped from his hands. His opponent, TCU’s Alex Rybakov, gingerly returned the ball to the opposite side of the court.

Former President Barack Obama unveiled his 2018 March Madness bracket on Wednesday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Barack-etology: Gators in March Madness

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 14, 2018

Barack Obama’s annual March Madness picks were released Wednesday and the former commander in chief has picked the sixth-seeded Gators to be bounced in the second round by Texas Tech, a three-seed out of the Big 12.

Sophomore Johannes Ingildsen (pictured) and junior Alfredo Perez make up the No. 1 doubles pairing in the country. They're hoping to carry their momentum into a home matchup against TCU.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida returns home for midweek matchup against TCU

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 14, 2018

After a weekend road trip, the No. 12 Florida men’s tennis team returns to its home court to play No. 32 TCU on Wednesday. The midweek matchup is set to begin at 6 p.m. at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Florida's Taylor Ault will be the lone freshman on the Gators women's swimming and diving team to compete in the NCAA Championships this week in Columbus, Ohio.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida Women set to compete at NCAA Championships

By Jacob McManamon | Mar. 14, 2018

The No. 17 Florida women’s swimming and diving team is in Columbus, Ohio, this week for the NCAA Championships.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks is looking to move on from a disappointing 2017 campaign.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Franks ready for a fresh start in 2018

By Dylan Dixon | Mar. 14, 2018

For Feleipe Franks, the start of spring football practice this week brings one thing to the forefront of his mind.

Craig Sager threw out the first pitch of a Cubs game in June 2016. He was a longtime NBA sideline reporter before his death in December 2016.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

An honest assessment of bias in sports reporting

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 14, 2018

Long after the Florida basketball team’s lifeblood had trickled from its veins on Friday in St. Louis, the Arkansas Razorbacks continued to pound a beaten UF team that just wouldn’t stop trying. That was much to the frustration of one broadcaster on press row, who slammed a table with his open palm and mouthed something under his breath.

Midfielder Shannon Kavanagh tied her career high of four goals Tuesday against Navy. “She came in clutch,” Gators coach Amanda O’Leary said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Gators avoid second consecutive loss with comeback victory against Navy

By Tyler Nettuno | Mar. 14, 2018

Despite being tied at 16 with the No. 10 team in the country with just over six minutes to play, freshman midfielder Shannon Kavanagh kept her cool.

Keith Stone is having a breakout season in 2017-18. But the young forward wasn't too confident heading into it.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Bouncing Back from a Dark Place: Keith Stone is making strides this season after receiving heavy fan criticism

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 14, 2018

Keith Stone glanced down at his phone as it started to buzz.