Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Guard Egor Koulechov scored just seven points while shooting 20 percent from the field Wednesday night against Tennessee.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida lacked star power to match performance of Tennessee’s physical forwards

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 21, 2018

Florida guard Deaundre Ballard held his hands high above his head, less like a defender and more like a helpless victim signaling his surrender. Tennessee forward Grant Williams pushed him back and back until Ballard looked straight up from under the rim — arms still locked — and watched the ball fall gently through the net.

Americans Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos (right) raised their fists after the 1968 Olympics 200-meter race as "The Star-Spangled Banner" played.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

“Stick to sports” mantra is just plain wrong. It always has been

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 21, 2018

Sport has always been political.

JJ Schwarz hit a home run off the scoreboard in right field Wednesday night. He finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

JJ Schwarz, Nelson Maldonado guide Gators past Bethune-Cookman

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 21, 2018

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Gators fans started to get restless with Bethune-Cookman pitcher Branden Frank.

Pitcher Kelly Barnhill struck out 15 batters in 5.2 innings against Oakland.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida’s softball team dominates Oakland for pair of victories in doubleheader

By Mark Stine | Feb. 21, 2018

Florida’s softball team got its stark-white uniforms plenty dirty on Wednesday night.

Coach Mike White said the Gators' issues with consistency could cost them a trip to the NCAA Tournament. “It’s been a rollercoaster ride,” he said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Mike White: ‘There’s a chance we can go to the NIT’ if UF’s struggles continue

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 21, 2018

Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White stripped himself of certain formalities before Monday’s practice.

Sophomore Katie Chronister will see time in the circle today during UF’s doubleheader against Oakland, according to coach Tim Walton.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Underclassmen expected to contribute Wednesday for Florida softball team

By Mari Faiello | Feb. 21, 2018

One of the most notable factors about Florida’s softball team this season is its deep roster.

Quarterback Feleipe Franks was recruited to Florida as a four-star recruit out of high school according to 247Sports.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Recruiting is a necessary part of college sports. It’s also completely ridiculous.

By Ethan Bauer | Feb. 20, 2018

Feleipe Franks was a lucky one.

Freshman starter Jack Leftwich threw 6.1 innings and allowed only two earned runs in his outing against Texeas Tech at the College World Series Thursday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators baseball’s aggressive tendencies pay off in win over Florida Atlantic

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 20, 2018

Gators pitcher Jack Leftwich had retired his previous 12 batters when FAU second baseman Eric Rivera stepped into the batter’s box to lead off the fifth inning.

UF coach Emily Glaser will put redshirt freshman Elin Esborn and freshman Addie Baggarly into the top two spots in the lineup for the Landfall Tradition.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Brooks dominates, Florida notches first win of the spring

By Chris O'Brien | Feb. 20, 2018

Sierra Brooks’ career at Florida is off to an impressive start.

Senior Caeleb Dressel's two record-breaking performances highlighted the men's swimming and diving team's sixth consecutive SEC Championship.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Caeleb Dressel leads Florida men’s swimming and diving team to Six-Peat

By Jacob McManamon | Feb. 19, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams returned home on Monday after a successful showing at the SEC Championships.

Senior Alejandro Tosti played in his final tournament as a Gator on Sunday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators men’s golf team confident it can still challenge Vanderbilt following season-opening loss

By Sam Campisano | Feb. 19, 2018

The SunTrust Gator Invitational, which concluded on Sunday, did not go as planned for the No. 8 Florida men’s golf team.

Senior Taylor Tomlinson is tied for 12th after two rounds in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship in New Orleans.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida women’s golf team struggles early, retains lead late at Allstate Sugar Bowl

By Chris O'Brien | Feb. 19, 2018

Florida’s women’s golfer Sierra Brooks has responded to her recent demotion well.

Forward Haley Lorenzen scored 18 points and recorded her 16th career double-dboule.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

For Florida’s women’s basketball team, the objective all year has been to stick to the plan

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 19, 2018

There wasn’t a particular moment one could point to that swung the momentum of the game. There wasn’t a slick crossover or a single bucket or rebound that signaled it would be Florida’s day.

Second baseman Blake Reese went 7-for-12 (.583) from the plate over Florida's opening-weekend series against Siena. He leads the team in OPS (1.726).

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida’s touted pitching was as advertised, but its offense stole the show on opening weekend

By Ethan Bauer | Feb. 19, 2018

Friday is supposed to be Brady Singer’s day, Saturday is supposed to be for Jackson Kowar, and Sunday — Sunday is all about Tyler Dyson. The three titans who form UF’s weekend pitching rotation delivered on making every start about them with solid opening-weekend performances all around. But that was expected.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio led the Gators to victory in the SEC Tournament final with a complete-game effort against No. 12 South Carolina.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators softball team off to strong start despite recent loss

By Mark Stine | Feb. 19, 2018

Despite leaving Lafayette on Sunday with its first loss of 2018, the Florida softball team should be encouraged by its performance so far this season.

Chris Chiozza allowed Vanderbilt guard Riley LaChance to drive past him for a go-ahead layup with less than two minutes remaining in Saturday’s 71-68 loss.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

White: Only thing consistent about UF is inconsistency

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 18, 2018

As Vanderbilt guard Riley LaChance’s second free-throw attempt bounced off the rim, guard Joe Toye sprinted into position, jumped up and brought down the rebound. With 2:04 left in the game and down by only one point, the Commodores had another chance to take the lead.

Freshman Duarte Vale teamed with junior McClain Kessler for Florida's only win in doubles play.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis team swept by Illinois in third round of ITA national indoor

By Dylan Rudolph | Feb. 18, 2018

After freshman Duarte Vale and junior McClain Kessler won their doubles match Sunday, they looked across the courts to the other doubles team still in play.

Florida goalkeeper Haley Hicklen earned Big East Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday for her efforts against Villanova and Temple. It was the second time this season she has been awarded the title.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida lacrosse falls flat in the free position, drops first game of the year

By Tyler Nettuno | Feb. 18, 2018

On paper, it might appear as though the Gators had upset the No. 1 Terrapins on Saturday.

Sophomore Marta Perez sits in fifth place after Day 1 of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Championship in New Orleans.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators lead after day one of Allstate Sugar Bowl

By Chris O'Brien | Feb. 18, 2018

After winning the Florida Challenge in late January and then shooting a dismal 11 over last weekend at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, California, Sierra Brooks came out on fire Sunday at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Championship in New Orleans.

The Gators men's and women's swimming and diving teams begin SEC play against LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, today. The meet was postponed due to Hurricane Michael.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida men swimming and diving win SEC Championships, women come in seventh

By Jacob McManamon | Feb. 18, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams completed the final day of the SEC Championships Sunday night at Texas A&M University.