Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida guard Jalen Hudson leads the team in scoring this season, but managed just six points against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

How NBA prospects fared in the SEC Tournament

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 12, 2018

ST. LOUIS — In his first year playing for coach Mike White and the Florida Gators, junior transfer Jalen Hudson leads the team in scoring. The 6-foot-6 guard has garnered attention as an NBA draft prospect for his breakout season and is projected by some to be a late second-round selection. Hudson was one of Florida’s most consistent players over the course of the season. He finished the year on a tear, averaging 22.7 points per game on 57-percent shooting in the last three regular season games but struggled in the team’s SEC tourney loss to Arkansas, where he finished with six points.

Sophomore Sierra Brooks paced Florida with an even par at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic over the weekend.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida cruises to second straight win of the season in home tourney

By Chris O'Brien | Mar. 12, 2018

Never before had a team shot even par or better overall at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville. That is, never before Sunday.

Left fielder Amanda Lorenz tied up the score in the bottom of the fifth inning with a 3-RBI triple in Florida's 5-3 victory over LSU.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF sweeps No. 23 Kentucky in conference-opening series

By Mark Stine | Mar. 11, 2018

The UF softball team took the field on Sunday without one of its senior leaders and the walk-off hero from Saturday night’s thriller against Kentucky.

Senior Alex McMurtry tied a school record with a 39.825 in all-around against Nebraska on Friday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida ends regular season on McMurtry’s record night

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 11, 2018

The Florida gymnasts were silent as they took their seats in front of the post-meet press conference Friday night. It wasn’t the attitude of a team that had just ended its last home competition with its second-highest meet total of the season. A somber mood settled over the room like a wet blanket.

LSU running back Derrius Guice said he was asked if he liked men and if his mother was a prostitute by different teams leading up to the NFL Draft.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Derrius Guice's question is an indictment of bigoted NFL fans

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 11, 2018

If you’ve kept up with the NFL Combine or anything surrounding it in the past couple of weeks, you may have heard LSU running back Derrius Guice spill some tea on an unidentified team after one of its scouts asked Guice a pointed question in a private interview.

The UF men's and women's track and field teams both took first and fourth, respectively, at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida track and field wins fourth indoor championship, first since 2012

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 11, 2018

Grant Holloway stared at the NCAA trophy in his hands as his teammates jumped into each other’s arms.

Freshman pitcher Jordan Butler came in to pinch hit against Rhode Island in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

After walk-off win, Gators set sights on ‘Noles, SEC schedule

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 11, 2018

When Jordan Butler hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that scored Deacon Liput for the game-winning run, the freshman was mobbed by his teammates down the first-base line.

Chris Chiozza and the Gators locked up a 6 seed on Selection Sunday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

GATORS GOING DANCING: UF nabs No. 6 seed for NCAA Tourney

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 11, 2018

While most college basketball teams gathered around a television set, anxiously waiting to hear if they made the cut for the NCAA Tournament, the Gators were stuck inside an airplane on a St. Louis runway.

Kentucky's Kevin Knox, center, scores between Tennessee defenders Jordan Bowden (23) and Admiral Schofield, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Southeastern Conference tournament Sunday, March 11, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Kentucky buries Tennessee late for fifth-straight SEC Title

By Benjamin Brandt | Mar. 11, 2018

ST. LOUIS – By standards set in the skies of eight national titles, the Kentucky men’s basketball team’s 10-loss regular season might have disappointed. But with a fourth consecutive SEC championship, things are back to normal for the Wildcats.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza drives to the basket during Florida's 80-72 loss to Arkansas on Friday in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Takeaways from Florida's SEC Tournament loss

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 11, 2018

Things were looking up for the No. 23 Florida men’s basketball team.

UF women's golfer Sierra Brooks shot an overall score of 2 under through two rounds of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Saturday, helping put Florida in first place with one day left.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators lead after two rounds at SunTrust Gator Invitational

By Chris O'Brien | Mar. 10, 2018

The Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, Florida, is known for being one of the more difficult golf courses to play on in the country.

Florida first baseman had three of the Gators' four RBIs against Missouri.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Kvistad helps Gators walk off against Wildcats on Saturday

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 10, 2018

With three balls and two strikes on the board and the score tied 2-2, Kayli Kvistad stepped up to the plate for the sixth time in the series.

The Florida men's sprint medley relay team of juniors Kyren Hollis, Ryan Clark, Michael Timpson Jr. and freshman Benjamin Lobo Vedel took first at the National Relay Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

NATIONAL CHAMPS: Florida’s men come from behind to win NCAA indoor title, women place fourth

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 10, 2018

There are many aspects of track and field that make it unlike other sports.

Florida starter Tyler Dyson recorded six strikeouts and gave up one unearned run in 6.1 innings pitched on Saturday in UF's 9-2 win over Rhode Island.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators complete sweep of Rams behind pair of victories

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 10, 2018

Florida starter Tyler Dyson recorded six strikeouts and gave up one unearned run in 6.1 innings pitched on Saturday in UF's 9-2 win over Rhode Island.

Kentucky forward Wenyen Gabriel scored 23 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the three-point line in the Wildcats 86-83 victory over Alabama on Saturday in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Saturday Roundup: Tennessee and Kentucky to play for SEC championship

By Benjamin Brandt | Mar. 10, 2018

ST. LOUIS — After a harsh, Arkansas-heavy crowd sang goodbye to the Florida men’s basketball team on Friday night, just four programs remained in SEC Tournament action.

Guard Jalen Hudson came into the SEC Tournament averaging 15.6 points per game. He ended Florida's quarterfinals loss with six.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Hudson’s offensive struggles doom Florida in loss to Arkansas

By Benjamin Brandt | Mar. 10, 2018

ST. LOUIS — Florida guard Jalen Hudson just wanted one more shot. And then another.

Forward Keith Stone came one point shy of a season high, scoring 22 in the Gators' SEC Quarterfinals loss to Arkansas.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Dear Gators Basketball Fans: Don’t expect another deep run in the NCAA Tournament

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 10, 2018

ST. LOUIS — I’m going to start this column with a prediction, one that will most likely come true.

Guard KeVaughn Allen scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting in the Gators' SEC Quarterfinals loss to Arkansas Friday night.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators’ offense crumbles against Arkansas in quarterfinals of SEC Tournament

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 10, 2018

ST. LOUIS — Jaylen Barford grabbed his 10th rebound, securing a double-double between a pair of Gators under the rim.

Senior Josie Kuhlman clinched the match against LSU Friday night with a 6-3, 6-4 win.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Women’s tennis defeats LSU in second consecutive sweep

By River Wells | Mar. 9, 2018

When an errant tennis ball from LSU’s Jessica Golovin fell just outside the boundary of play, senior Josie Kuhlman hit it anyway. By the time it touched the ground on the opposite side of the court, she was already on her way to shake hands with her opponent as the crowd began to cheer.

Senior KeAndre Bates is the reigning national champion in both the triple jump and the long jump. Bates will defend his title this week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, starting Wednesday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators women sit in second, men in third after Day 1 at NCAA Championships

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 9, 2018

The stage was set and the lights were bright as fans filled the 4,000-plus maroon seats inside Gilliam Indoor Stadium to watch the best track and field athletes in the nation compete for a national championship.