Sports | Men's Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Arkansas guard Jaylen Barford is averaging 17.9 points per game, good for fourth in the SEC.

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SEC Tournament Scouting Report: Arkansas Razorbacks

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 9, 2018

The rematch is on. Sixth-seeded Arkansas (22-10, 10-8 SEC) takes on third-seeded Florida (20-11, 11-7) in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals Friday at 9. The Razorbacks earned a shot against the Gators — who defeated the Hogs 88-73 on Jan. 17 — by taking down South Carolina 69-64 Thursday night in the second round of the bracket.

Guard Chris Chiozza was named First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team on Tuesday.

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Gators hoping strong defense carries them past Arkanas on Friday in SEC quarterfinals

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 9, 2018

Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White hears the criticism.

Guard KeVaughn Allen led UF in scoring Friday night in its home opener against Charleston Southern. He had 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting.

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Notebook: Hudson and Allen lead Gators to win over Kentucky, Chiozza and Koulechov celebrate Senior Day

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 3, 2018

Kentucky guard Quade Green put up a shot while double-covered that bounced off the front of the rim and was tipped towards the baseline. UF guard Egor Koulechov ran after it, hovering out-of-bounds to save the ball, and tossed it back in play.

Guard Chris Chiozza broke the all-time UF record for career assists Saturday against Kentucky.

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Chiozza sets UF record, Gators roll against No. 23 Kentucky

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 3, 2018

Fans held their breath. They had been waiting almost 14 minutes for Chris Chiozza to set the UF career assists record against rival Kentucky on Senior Day in the O’Connell Center.

Guard Jalen Hudson said he’s looking forward to opening the season against FSU. “I live for games like this. I never had a season where your first game is a really tough competitor and a rival,” he said.

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'Already Written:' The Jalen Hudson Story

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 1, 2018

LeBron James, JaKarr Sampson and Jerome Lane.

Guard Jalen Hudson scored a game-high 27 points in Florida's 73-52 win against Alabama Tuesday night.

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Hudson performance against Alabama a good sign for Gators before Kentucky

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 28, 2018

It didn’t take much to get Florida guard Jalen Hudson going on Tuesday.

Guard Mike Okauru played seven minutes and didn't attempt a shot in the Gators' win against Alabama on Tuesday.

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Free the freshmen: Mike White’s late-game blowout strategy is baffling

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 28, 2018

Some things in life just puzzle me.

Guard Jalen Hudson scored 27 points against Alabama Tuesday night.

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Florida spoils Alabama’s Senior Night with 73-52 beatdown

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 27, 2018

Shoot. Miss. Repeat.

Guard Chris Chiozza will look to improve upon his prior performance against Alabama. He finished with four points, four assists and two rebounds in the first matchup between the Gators and Crimson Tide

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Gators vs. Crimson: A star-studded point guard matchup and more

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 26, 2018

With the race to earning a top SEC seed in the final stretch, conference foes Florida and Alabama face off tonight at 7 in Tuscaloosa.

Freshman forward Dontay Bassett set career-highs in minutes (24) and points (12) in Saturday's game against No. 12 Auburn.

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Bassett 'doing the dirty work' in Gators men’s basketball’s win over Auburn

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 25, 2018

After his team claimed the opening tip-off, Auburn guard Mustapha Heron started driving toward the basket from the right side before stopping to make a pass through the paint. The ball never reached its target.

Guard KeVaughn Allen buoyed the Florida offense Saturday night with a game-high 24 points.

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Florida ends three-game skid with upset of No. 12 Auburn

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 25, 2018

Florida guard KeVaughn Allen remained impossibly composed. Despite having just launched the ball 65 feet through the air to connect on a first-half buzzer beater, he wore his usual collected, serious expression.

Coach Mike White and the Gators men's basketball team have dropped three consecutive games for the second time this season.

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Gators continue tough SEC slate against No. 12 Auburn

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 22, 2018

It doesn’t get any easier for Mike White and the Gators.

Guard Chris Chiozza had 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the Gators' Wednesday night loss to Tennessee.

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Gators drop third consecutive game in five-point defeat to the Volunteers

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 21, 2018

Chris Chiozza received an inbound pass and drove toward the basket. Down by five with 25 seconds remaining in the contest, the senior guard sprinted by two defenders as he made a beeline for the hoop.

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

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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.

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.

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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.