Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Austin Appleby, right, celebrates with Quincy Wilson after Florida's 16-10 win against LSU on Nov. 19, 2016, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Roundtable: What was the most memorable moment of the 2016 season?

Dec. 5, 2016

There you have it, Gators fans.

UF guard Eleanna Christinaki goes for a layup during Florida's 53-45 win against LSU on Jan. 17, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators drop tournament title game against Arizona State

By Alejandro López | Dec. 4, 2016

After a back-and-forth first half, the Florida women’s basketball team exploded in the third quarter. Heading into the final 10 minutes of their championship match at the Arizona State Classic, UF had earned the first double-digit lead of the game.

Sophomore right-side hitter Alex Holston swings for a kill attempt during No. 8 seed Florida's 3-1 win against Miami in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament on Dec. 6 in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida volleyball suffers rare early exit from NCAA Tournament

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 4, 2016

After winning the match’s first two sets, the No. 11-ranked UF volleyball team dropped three straight sets to lose to No. 16 Florida State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Jim McElwain looks on during Florida's 54-16 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 3, 2016, in Atlanta.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

LIMPING TO THE FINISH: Gators get Outback Bowl after loss to Alabama

By Ethan Bauer | Dec. 4, 2016

Tyrie Cleveland slumped in his locker with a towel covering his face. Antonio Callaway fell to the floor and stayed there, his jersey pulled up to cover his eyes.

Nick Saban celebrates after winning the SEC Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, in the Georgia Dome.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: For Alabama, a blowout is still something to celebrate

By Ethan Bauer | Dec. 3, 2016

ATLANTA — About six Alabama players — all wearing “2016 Southeastern Conference Champions” hats and T-Shirts — ran from the field to their locker room after the game hollering down the hallway.

Austin Appleby kneels on the field after Florida's 54-16 loss to Alabama on Dec. 3, 2016, in the SEC Championship Game.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida falls in SEC title game for second-straight year

By IAN COHEN | Dec. 3, 2016

ATLANTA — Austin Appleby knelt on the field and gripped the helmet in his right hand.

UF quarterback Austin Appleby gets sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen during Alabama's 54-16 win over Florida in the 2016 Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Enough is enough. It’s time to play a freshman quarterback

By Patrick Pinak | Dec. 3, 2016

ATLANTA — Burn the redshirt.

UF outside hitter Carli Snyder passes a ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Texas A&M on Oct. 9, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators sweep Alabama State in Round 1 of NCAA Tournament

By Ray Boone | Dec. 2, 2016

In the third and final set of Florida volleyball’s match against Alabama State, the Gators were in complete control.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: SEC Championship Game edition

Dec. 1, 2016

Site: Georgia Dome (Cap. 71,228)

Rachael Kramer (right) attempts a block during Florida's 3-0 win over Jacksonville on Sept. 16, 2016, in the Lemerand Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Young Florida volleyball team excited to begin NCAAs

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 1, 2016

With eight freshmen on the Florida volleyball team, nearly half of UF's roster will get its first taste of postseason action tonight against Alabama State to open NCAA tournament play.

Chris Chiozza dribbles the ball during Florida's 88-79 loss to Kentucky on March 1, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball demolishes UNF on road

By Ray Boone | Dec. 1, 2016

Opening the second half of Thursday night’s matchup in Jacksonville, the Gators held a firm 20-point lead over North Florida.

Jim McElwain looks on during Florida's 29-15 loss to Alabama in the 2015 SEC Championship Game.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: McElwain can silence critics with win vs. Alabama

By Ethan Bauer | Dec. 1, 2016

Joey Ivie remembers the pain well.

UF forward Ronni Williams goes for a layup during Florida's 53-45 win against LSU on Jan. 17, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

UF defeats Wofford behind first half surge

By Alejandro López | Nov. 30, 2016

A game removed from its worst shooting performance of the season, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team was looking for efficiency.

Florida guard Kasey Hill drives to the basket as Florida Gulf Coast forward Kevin Mickle defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday Nov. 11, 2016, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union via AP)

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Hill, newly ranked UF basketball team looking to improve

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 30, 2016

On Monday, the No. 24 Gators cracked the top 25 in The Associated Press Poll for the first time since 2014.

Eleanna Christinaki looks to drive to the basket while two Kentucky players defend her during Florida's 92-69 loss to the Wildcats in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on March 4, 2016, in Jacksonville.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators looking to bounce back against Wofford tonight

By Alejandro López | Nov. 29, 2016

The clock had finally struck zero. One team was left dazed by a furious fourth-quarter comeback.

Offensive lineman David Sharpe, right, stands over quarterback Austin Appleby during Florida's loss to Florida State on Nov. 26, 2016, in Tallahassee.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: UF confident in chances vs. ‘Bama

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 29, 2016

Jim McElwain stood at the lectern on Monday and made a bold declaration. With a matchup against No. 1 Alabama — a team with the No. 1 scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense in the country — looming following a double-digit loss to Florida State, the second-year coach was asked about the obvious mismatch of his No. 114-ranked offense facing the elite Crimson Tide defense.

Quincy Wilson prepares for a play during Florida's 32-0 win over North Texas on Sept. 17, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida football: three things to know ahead of Alabama

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 29, 2016

As No. 15 Florida prepares for a matchup with No. 1 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship game on Saturday, here are a few things to know from this week’s conversations with Florida’s players and coach Jim McElwain.

Jalen Tabor (31) claps before walking out of the tunnel at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during Florida's 33-0 win over North Texas on Sept. 17, 2016.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF players: 'Anything can happen' against ‘Bama

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 29, 2016

Jalen Tabor remembers the feeling.

Alabama coach Nick Saban applauds on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: UF vs. ‘Bama: A real-life 'Space Jam'

By Patrick Pinak | Nov. 28, 2016

Twenty years ago, “Space Jam” made its rounds in theaters across the world.

Dallas Mavericks' Dorian Finney-Smith (10) takes a shot over Orlando Magic's Serge Ibaka, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators in the NBA: Finney-Smith getting early-season opportunity as rookie

By Skyler Lebron | Nov. 28, 2016

As many NBA teams have started to find their groove through the first quarter of the 2016-2017 season, the Dallas Mavericks have struggled to even keep five healthy players on the court.