Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior safety Josh Evans (24) said junior Jaylen Watkins (14) has the potential to be the shutdown cornerback the Gators’ defense lacked last season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

More physical, Watkins impressing in crowded secondary

By TOM GREEN | Mar. 22, 2012

Jaylen Watkins spent his offseason reflecting on what he did wrong.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

South Carolina halts Florida baseball's win streak at 18

Mar. 22, 2012

Austin Maddox flinched when the contact came.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators softball dominating SEC cellar dwellers

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Mar. 22, 2012

Year after year, the Southeastern Conference proves to be one of the most daunting leagues in college softball — at least for teams like Arkansas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

UF track opens outdoor season at UCF

By KATIE AGOSTIN< | Mar. 22, 2012

After traveling more than 2,094 miles to Boise, Idaho, to wrap up the indoor season, the Gators will have a short trip this weekend as they travel to Orlando for their first meet of the outdoor season.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Stanford tops UF women's tennis in national championship rematch

By ELI MARGER | Mar. 22, 2012

Five matches had passed in the 2012 season, and the Gators were undefeated. They had dropped only two out of 35 possible points and looked poised to make a run at another national title.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women's tennis thriving in doubles play

By ELI MARGER | Mar. 21, 2012

One point can be the difference in collegiate tennis.

Florida center Patric Young towels off during a practice last week in Omaha, Neb. Young and Marquette forward Jae Crowder have gone back and forth in the media this week ahead of their Sweet 16 meeting tonight in Phoenix.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida braces for physical game against Marquette in Sweet 16

By JOHN BOOTHE | Mar. 21, 2012

Two days before they were due to share the same court, Florida’s players were already feeling the extra dose of physicality Marquette usually has in store for its opponents.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Project Defensive Scoresheet: UF rounding into form at right time

By GREG LUCA | Mar. 21, 2012

Countless hours of statistical analysis provide a realistic account of Florida's defensive performance this season with and without its best defender, Will Yeguete. Despite losing the lockdown forward, the Gators are playing their best defense of the year in the NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Loss to eventual champs South Carolina still fresh for UF baseball ahead of rematch

Mar. 21, 2012

Florida’s trip last year to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series continues to weigh on Preston Tucker’s mind for all the wrong reasons.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Pease says Dunbar improving

By TOM GREEN | Mar. 21, 2012

To say 2011 was a disappointment for Quinton Dunbar would be an understatement.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball benefitting from Rogers on the field, in the clubhouse

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Mar. 21, 2012

The crowd sees Hannah Rogers stare down batters with a steely, hardened gaze as she whips her arm back to crank a 65-mph fastball mere inches away from bare flesh and bones.

Seniors Azania Stewart, Jordan Jones and Deana Allen embrace following their season-ending NCAA Tournament loss to Baylor on Tuesday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Undefeated Baylor too much for UF

By JOE MORGAN | Mar. 20, 2012

For the second time in coach Amanda Butler’s tenure, the nation’s top-ranked team has ended the Gators’ season.

Freshman guard Brad Beal (23) gets tangled up with Norfolk State forward A.J. Rogers and guard Brandon Wheeless while driving to the basket in UF’s third-round win Sunday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida prepping for fast-paced Marquette

By JOHN BOOTHE | Mar. 20, 2012

For nearly a week, the West region of the NCAA Tournament was a tease.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Gillislee believes pass-protection issues behind him; Manning deal with Broncos puts Tebow in limbo

By TOM GREEN | Mar. 20, 2012

Mike Gillislee remembers what it was like in practice during his freshman season.

Sophomore pitcher Johnny Magliozzi pumps his fist after striking out Samford’s Tommy Corbin on March 20, 2011. Magliozzi has a 2-0 record with a 3.07 ERA and two saves in 14.2 innings this season.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Magliozzi leads Gators baseball in gritty midweek win

Mar. 20, 2012

For the first month of the season, Johnny Magliozzi wasn’t quite himself.

Florida attacker Kitty Cullen splits two Dartmouth defenders while attacking the goal during the Gators’ 20-4 win against the Big Green on Tuesday. Cullen scored five goals.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida lacrosse routs ranked Dartmouth at home, sets new goal record

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Mar. 20, 2012

The last time the Gators welcomed a ranked opponent to Gainesville, Florida’s players experienced the closest game they have seen in their three years with the team.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK