Sports | Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Despite five consecutive losses, coach Cameron Newbauer likes the progress he has seen in his team. "I’m just so proud of our squad,” he said.

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Gators women’s basketball wraps up 6-game stretch against ranked teams with matchup against No. 17 Texas A&M

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 14, 2018

If the Gators women’s basketball team was disappointed following its fifth consecutive loss of SEC play on Sunday, it hardly showed. Instead, coach Cameron Newbauer and his players talked about the fight and pride that has been a staple of postgame press conferences and pre-practice soundbites all season long.

Florida men's basketball coach Mike White isn't satisfied with his team's defense despite it holding South Carolina to a season-low 41 points on Saturday. “I don’t want to act like this is a new season and we’ve got it all all figured out," he said.

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Gators men’s basketball team geared up for matchup with Bulldogs

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 13, 2018

More than three quarters of the way through a season filled with highs and lows, the Florida men’s basketball team faces Georgia tonight at 9 in the O’Connell Center in the teams’ second meeting of the year. The Gators (17-8, 8-4 SEC) fell 72-60 at Georgia (13-11, 4-8 SEC) on Jan. 30, their second of three straight SEC losses, but enter tonight’s matchup riding momentum from convincing wins over LSU and South Carolina. Here are three things to look for in tonight’s rematch, which will air on the SEC Network.

Coach Cameron Newbauer said even with mounting loses, he's happy with the mentality of his team. “They’ve bought into just being the best we can every moment and not playing the scoreboard,” he said.

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Despite UF’s women’s basketball team’s current five-game losing streak, coach Cameron Newbauer isn’t deterred

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 13, 2018

It has been a rough past couple of weeks for Florida’s women’s basketball team.

Florida center Kevarrius Hayes recorded five rebounds and two blocks in the Gators' 65-41 win over South Carolina on Saturday.

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Strong defense sets bar for Gators against South Carolina

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 12, 2018

South Carolina guard Frank Booker sprinted toward the basket on a fastbreak opportunity midway through the second half. With no one in his sight, Booker went up for what appeared to be an easy layup, only to have Florida center Kevarrius Hayes come from behind to swat the ball off the backboard and into the hands of guard Jalen Hudson.

Florida guards Funda Nakkasoglu (pictured) and Delicia Washington combined for 56 points in UF’s 92-82 loss against Mercer.

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Florida women’s basketball team drops fifth in a row in loss to South Carolina

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 11, 2018

Just over a minute into the third quarter, South Carolina forward A’ja Wilson mirrored her teammates’ ball movement across the floor as she shuffled from one side of the paint to the other. Guard Doniyah Cliney received a pass and immediately spotted Wilson posting up just to the right of the lane. With a lob into Wilson, Florida forward Paulina Hersler abandoned her inside position to take a swipe at the ball.

Forward Kevarrius Hayes led a resurgent Florida defense against South Carolina Saturday afternoon. The junior provided two blocks and five rebounds in 15 minutes.

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Florida men’s basketball team shuts down South Carolina, cruises to 65-41 victory

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 10, 2018

South Carolina forward Chris Silva attacked the rim, put the ball up and had it swatted back by Florida center Kevarrius Hayes.

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."

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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.

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).

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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.

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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.

After losing his eighth conference game of the season, UF coach Cameron Newbauer remained positive about his team's effort. “I could not be more proud of this group and their fight tonight on the road against a top-15 team,” he said.

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Florida women’s basketball team showing potential despite recent losses

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 6, 2018

With slightly over seven minutes remaining in Monday night’s game, Florida held a one-point lead over No. 15 Missouri. However, when the last shot missed the rim and the contest went final, the Gators dropped their eighth SEC game of the season and their third straight conference game against a ranked opponent.

Florida guard Delicia Washington turned in a season-high 23 points Monday night in a losing effort against No. 15 Missouri.

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Florida’s women’s basketball team comes up short, drops third consecutive conference game

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 5, 2018

Down by two with 10 seconds remaining, Florida guard Funda Nakkasoglu circled to the right-side corner. She picked up her dribble after her defender stepped up. Five seconds left. Nakkasoglu made an outlet pass to teammate Delicia Washington, who instantly felt the presence of a Missouri player in her face. Three seconds left. Washington gave up the ball to forward Haley Lorenzen at the top of the key, who heaved a desperation three-pointer from well beyond the arc.

After Florida scored a season-low 50 points against Alabama on Saturday, forward Keith Stone was not happy with the team's offensive production. "It's pretty frustrating," he said.

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Gators trying to stay afloat in midst of back-to-back losses

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 4, 2018

A common approach to sports is to “control the controllables.” Teams can only focus on their own effort and attention to detail. They have no way of affecting their opponent’s preparation.

Coach Cameron Newbauer used Florida's recent bye week as an opportunity to hit the recruiting trail.

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Florida facing No. 15 Missouri tonight following bye week

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 4, 2018

For Florida women’s basketball players Haley Lorenzen and Funda Nakkasoglu, there’s one phrase that comes to mind to describe the past week.

Coach Mike White said the lack of identity for his team is frustrating. “We’ve got to find other ways to score other than a catch-and-shoot three,” he said.

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Gators flop in second half against Alabama, get nothing from their bench

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 3, 2018

When the Florida men’s basketball team isn’t hitting shots, things get ugly.

KeVaughn Allen paced the Gators with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting, but the Crimson Tide offense wouldn't relent in the second half.

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Florida men’s basketball team collapses against Crimson Tide for second straight SEC loss

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 3, 2018

Alabama forward Braxton Key received a pass inside the three-point line and immediately drove toward the basket. He powered through the Florida’s defense, converting a contested layup with 7:29 left in the second half to cap off an 11-0 run for the Crimson Tide.

Mike White wants to see his team step up its physicality against Alabama on Saturday. "Maybe we can get a guy or two to... (get) us some hard rebounds," he said.

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Florida men’s basketball team hoping to bounce back against Crimson Tide

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 1, 2018

Mike White walked into the media room of Stegeman Coliseum on Tuesday not sure how to answer questions about his team’s shooting woes at the end of a 72-60 loss to Georgia.

UF coach Mike White didn't mince words after the Gators put up 60 points - their second-lowest mark on the season - in a loss to UGA. “They were tougher, more physical, more aggressive… they played with more edge than we did,” White said.

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Florida men’s basketball team’s offensive woes against UGA due to more than just the ‘Dogs defense

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 31, 2018

At its best, the Florida men’s basketball team’s offense is an explosive, high-scoring machine capable of hitting shots from anywhere on the court.

Florida guard KeVaughn Allen scored nine points against Georgia on Tuesday. After leading UF in scoring last season, Allen has fallen into a lesser role behind transfers Jalen Hudson and Egor Koulechov.

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Florida men’s basketball team, KeVaughn Allen continue to struggle with consistency

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 30, 2018

Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White has said all season that one of his team’s shortcomings is its ability to play with consistency. Facing Georgia in Athens on Tuesday, the Gators continued that trend, suffering a loss several days after a big win for the third time this month.