Sports | Men's Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Chris Chiozza drives the ball into the paint during Florida's 68-61 loss to No. 1 Kentucky on Feb. 7, 2014 in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball looking to ground Hawks in tourney

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Nov. 19, 2015

While the first two games of the season have resulted in wins for the Gators, they are still just the first two games. Florida defeated Navy on the road by 18 and blew out North Carolina A&T at home by 50, but the competition will only increase in difficulty from here, starting Saturday in Connecticut.

UF men's basketball coach Mike White smiles after a play during Florida's 104-54 win against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 16, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Column: UF men’s basketball will finish higher than projected

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 17, 2015

What strikes you first is their confidence: their faces calm and smiling, even after an offseason of so much upheaval and uncertainty.

UF swingman DeVon Walker shoots a three-pointer during Florida's 104-54 win against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 16, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida’s DeVon Walker thriving after injury

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Nov. 17, 2015

DeVon Walker is grateful to be back on the court.

UF swingman Devon Walker jumps for a layup during the second half of Florida's 104-54 win against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 16, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF men’s basketball dominates in home opener

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Nov. 16, 2015

In Florida’s home-opener, North Carolina A&T didn’t seem to have a chance.

UF forward Devin Robinson rises for a dunk during Florida's 89-42 exhibition win against Palm Beach Atlantic.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Mike White, Gators prepared for home opener against North Carolina A&T

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 15, 2015

In the wake of Florida’s 59-41 win over Navy on Friday, Mike White walked off the still-emptying court in Annapolis, Maryland, and into his crowded locker room.

UF forward Devin Robinson soars for a dunk during Florida's 89-42 exhibition win against Palm Beach Atlantic on Nov. 5, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF men’s basketball downs Navy in season opener

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 14, 2015

Florida started off the Mike White era with a win.

UF men's basketball coach Mike White reacts after a play during the first half of Florida's 89-42 win against Palm Beach Atlantic in an exhibition game Nov. 5, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball opens Mike White era

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Nov. 12, 2015

Mike White and his coaching staff are ready to pick up the pieces of the Gators’ disappointing 2014-15 campaign and return the program to prominence. This year’s young and fairly new team has shown preseason potential, but will hit the ground running tonight on the road as the regular season begins.

UF men's basketball coach Mike White talks with redshirt freshman guard Brandone Francis-Ramirez during the first half of Florida's 89-42 win against Palm Beach Atlantic in an exhibition game Nov. 5, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball team a work in progress

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Nov. 11, 2015

Last Thursday, Mike White took the court of the O’Connell Center for the first time as Florida’s head coach. In an 89-42 exhibition game victory over Division II Palm Beach Atlantic, White observed his team’s strengths and weaknesses in a game situation just eight days before the regular season began.

UF's Kasey Hill passes during Florida's 89-42 exhibition win against Palm Beach Atlantic on Nov. 5, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF men’s basketball focused on limiting turnovers

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 8, 2015

The words began synchronously, as if each player had the same message delivered to them just moments before, and as if each player was still hesitant to heap praise on a win that didn’t feel much like a real victory.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

A new era begins under Mike White

By GRAHAM HALL | Nov. 5, 2015

With 10 minutes until tip-off, Mike White walked onto the O’Connell Center floor for the first time as the new head coach of Florida’s men’s basketball team.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

The good and the bad in UF’s exhibition game

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 5, 2015

With Florida’s 89-42 drubbing of Palm Beach Atlantic in its exhibition game on Thursday, here are a few takeaways from coach Mike White’s inaugural game at the helm of the Gators.

UF center John Egbunu goes up for a dunk during Florida's 89-42 win against Palm Beach Atlantic in an exhibition game on Nov. 5, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball downs Palm Beach Atlantic in coach Mike White’s debut

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Nov. 5, 2015

A new chapter of Florida basketball tipped off on Thursday night under head coach Mike White.

UF center John Egbunu walks onto the O'Connell Center court during Gators Madness on Oct. 2, 2015.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF men’s basketball still solidifying rotation, starting lineup

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 3, 2015

Last year, college basketball was too low scoring for the NCAA’s taste.

Devin Robinson dunks during Florida's 62-61 loss to Ole Miss on Thursday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF men’s basketball counting on sophomore forward to improve this year

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Oct. 20, 2015

Devin Robinson knew that he had room to grow following his freshman season.

Devin Robinson dunks during Florida's win against Vanderbilt on Feb. 18.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball working to improve shooting woes

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 15, 2015

As last season dragged to a close, and as Florida lost eight of its last 12 games, one thing was abundantly clear.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Center finding his voice for UF men’s basketball

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 12, 2015

About two weeks ago, after he was finished fielding questions from a throng of reporters at Florida’s Media Day, John Egbunu headed towards the exit with a layer of sweat coating his face.