Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Anna Danilina picked up a victory in singles play on Saturday, but it wasn't enough, as the Gators fell to Florida State 4-3.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators return to ITA indoor championships off losing streak

By River Wells | Feb. 9, 2018

After senior Josie Kuhlman’s heartbreaking loss on Wednesday to hand the Gators their second loss in a row, coach Roland Thornqvist assured that the team’s level of play would be enough to lead it to victory during the season. At the first meet of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships on Friday, Florida will have an imposing first test to see if those words will ring true.

2017 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year Haley Hicklen and six preseason All-Big East team members return to coach Amanda O'Leary's team this season.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Big East-favorite Gators set to open their season at home against Colorado

By Tyler Nettuno | Feb. 9, 2018

The Florida lacrosse team has not reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2015.

While the Gators have five upperclassmen on the Preseason All-SEC Team, a slew of freshmen are set to make immediate contributions. "I'm really excited to see how it's going to piece together," senior Aleshia Ocasio said.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators open season against Illinois State

By Mark Stine | Feb. 9, 2018

Last year, the Gators turned to their underclassmen to fill pivotal roles. This year could prove to be similar.

Florida guard Egor Koulechov looks forward to matching up against South Carolina forward Chris Silva, who recorded a double-double against UF on Jan. 24. "We'll have a good game plan," Koulechov said. "I'll do whatever I gotta do."

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF hits road for rematch with South Carolina

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 9, 2018

Florida point guard Chris Chiozza has been posting career numbers all season. He’s scoring, rebounding and assisting at his highest rate since he stepped foot in Gainesville four years ago. The Gators men's basketball team has needed all of it in a topsy-turvy 2018 campaign.

Senior Alex McMurtry and the No. 5 Gators gymnastics team will play host to No. 9 Alabama tonight at the O'Connell Center. “I think it’s just easier on home turf and we have that momentum," she said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF, ‘Bama square off tonight at O’Connell Center

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 9, 2018

Jenny Rowland was all smiles in the Florida gymnastics team’s practice facility Tuesday morning. Her excitement about returning home for the Gators’ sixth match of the season was evident as she laughed and joked with reporters.

Sophomore Grant Holloway and the No. 1 men's track team will join the No. 6 women's track team on a road trip to a pair of meets over the weekend.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida track and field competes in last meets before SEC Indoor Championships

By Alanis Thames | Feb. 9, 2018

UF’s No. 1 men’s and No. 6 women’s track and field teams are in Iowa and South Carolina today and Saturday for a two-meet weekend. The pair of matchups will be their last before SEC Indoor Championships start later this month.

Junior Alfredo Perez and the No. 11 Gators are playing tonight in their first matchup outside of Florida this season.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 11 Florida begins roadtrip at No. 13 Michigan

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 8, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team will open a stretch of indoor play tonight on the road against No. 13 Michigan. Following a disappointing loss to then No. 22 Florida State, the Gators hope to adopt a more aggressive brand of tennis.

Sophomore Marta Perez will be part of the Gators' starting lineup in their second tournament of the season.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Glaser, Gators women’s golf team travel to California after opening-day loss to Miami

By Chris O'Brien | Feb. 8, 2018

Florida women’s golf coach Emily Glaser chuckled.

Guard Funda Nakkasoglu led the Gators in scoring with 43 points through the first two games. She's the only UF player shooting over 50.0 percent from the field (57.1).

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball crumbles in turnover-ridden blowout to Miss. State

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 8, 2018

With under a minute to go in the third quarter and the game well out of reach, Mississippi State’s Zion Campbell drove through the lane. Her layup went off the glass and through the bottom of the net, giving the Bulldogs a 36-point lead and doubling Florida’s total points in the process.

Guard Delicia Washington released her potential game-winning layup too late as time expired in regulation. Florida went to overtime with Northwestern and lost, 83-74.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Delicia Washington, Gators women’s basketball team hopes to continue growth against No. 2 Mississippi State

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 7, 2018

Delicia Washington plays like a cheetah on a sugar rush.

Pelicans F/C Anthony Davis was nearly the only unanimous pick by the alligatorSports NBA Awards Selection Panel. He's predicted to be the NBA Defensive Player of the Year by three-fourths of the panel.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Two trade deadline hypotheticals that could alter the course of the NBA

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 7, 2018

With the 2018 NBA trade deadline coming today at 3 p.m., I’ve come up with a couple of trades I think could push potential title contenders over the edge.

After accruing the nation's No. 14 ranking, coach Dan Mullen and the Gators could see immediate impacts from four of it's top incoming freshmen.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Four Florida football signees likely to make an impact in 2018

By Ethan Bauer | Feb. 7, 2018

Four Florida football signees likely to make an impact in 2018

Dan Mullen added six more recruits Wednesday to round out his first signing class as the Gators' head coach. “I’m excited about the athleticism that we’ve brought in today and the flexibility those guys have,” he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

National Signing Day Recap: UF adds six recruits to roster on Wednesday, bringing freshman class total to 19 players

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 7, 2018

After adding 13 players to it’s roster on Dec. 20 during the first ever early signing period, Florida football coach Dan Mullen tacked on six more recruits to his 2018 signing class on Wednesday.

Senior Josie Kuhlman lost the third and deciding set in the clinching match for Oklahoma State Wednesday night.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Josie Kuhlman unable to finish off third-set lead in ‘heartbreaking’ collapse for Florida women’s tennis team

By River Wells | Feb. 7, 2018

Senior women’s tennis player Josie Kuhlman couldn’t help but feel confident.

Guard KeVaughn Allen only had seven points but made a crucial bucket with under five minutes to go in a win over LSU.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators bounce back from recent struggles with home win over LSU

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 7, 2018

With 4:32 left in the game and the shot clock winding down, KeVaughn Allen had a decision to make.

First-year Florida football coach Dan Mullen is looking to round out UF's 2018 freshman class on Wednesday during National Signing Day.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida Gators Football 2018 National Signing Day Blog

Feb. 7, 2018

After adding 13 players to its roster on Dec. 20 during the early signing period, Florida’s football team is looking to round out its 2018 freshman class on Wednesday.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. starred in an ad parodying "Dirty Dancing," that aired during the Super Bowl.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

What were the three best commercials of Super Bowl LII?

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 7, 2018

Ah yes, the Super Bowl. The event where millions of people around the country flock to a TV set for three and a half hours, not to watch the championship game of America’s most popular sport, but to obsess over the new, fun, flamboyant commercials that debut throughout the night.

Coach Roland Thornqvist said the freshmen starting for the No. 3 Gators will gain experience by playing both No. 18 Oklahoma State tonight as well as in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships starting Friday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis team facing Oklahoma State on Wednesday following tough loss to FSU

By River Wells | Feb. 6, 2018

Last Saturday, the No. 3 Florida women’s tennis team walked into its dual meet against Florida State with a 55-1 all-time record against the Seminoles, but was swiftly defeated 4-1.

Despite the Florida men's basketball team dropping three of its last four games, guard Chris Chiozza isn't worried. "We went through this before where we bounced back pretty well," he said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball team looking to end SEC skid Wednesday against LSU Tigers

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 6, 2018

After three straight conference losses, senior guard Chris Chiozza — leader of the reeling Florida men’s basketball team — is ready to see some changes take place during the second half of SEC play.

Nelson Maldonado is still nursing a lingering arm injury from late last season and will likely start the year as Florida's designated hitter.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida’s baseball team lost some position players to the MLB Draft. Meet their replacements.

By Ethan Bauer | Feb. 6, 2018

There are holes.