Sports | Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

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.

Forward Paulina Hersler put up 12 points and was the only Gator to score in double figures Thursday night against Tennessee.

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‘A tale of two halves:’ UT defense too much for Florida in final home game of season

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 22, 2018

The number two appeared in the box score numerous times after Thursday night’s Florida women’s basketball game.

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.

Forward Haley Lorenzen will play her last game at the O'Connell Center as a Gator Thursday night against Tennessee.

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Lorenzen, Hersler have confidence in Florida’s future in the frontcourt

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 21, 2018

When seniors Haley Lorenzen and Paulina Hersler hear the buzzer sound for the final time as members of Florida’s women’s basketball team, they will leave a gaping hole in UF’s starting frontcourt.

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.

Forward Haley Lorenzen scored 18 points and recorded her 16th career double-dboule.

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For Florida’s women’s basketball team, the objective all year has been to stick to the plan

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 19, 2018

There wasn’t a particular moment one could point to that swung the momentum of the game. There wasn’t a slick crossover or a single bucket or rebound that signaled it would be Florida’s day.

Chris Chiozza allowed Vanderbilt guard Riley LaChance to drive past him for a go-ahead layup with less than two minutes remaining in Saturday’s 71-68 loss.

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White: Only thing consistent about UF is inconsistency

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 18, 2018

As Vanderbilt guard Riley LaChance’s second free-throw attempt bounced off the rim, guard Joe Toye sprinted into position, jumped up and brought down the rebound. With 2:04 left in the game and down by only one point, the Commodores had another chance to take the lead.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver switched up the All-Star Game's mechanics for the 2017-18 season.

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Dear Adam Silver: Show the draft, please

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 18, 2018

Show the draft!

Dyandria Anderson celebrated Senior Day by going 6 of 9 from the field for 16 points while dishing out four assists.

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Gators women’s basketball teams sends off seniors with blowout victory over Commodores

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 18, 2018

A hand in her face didn’t stop Dyandria Anderson. From the left wing of the three-point line, the senior guard shot over her defender, finding nothing but the bottom of the net and giving Florida a 16-point lead midway through the third quarter.

Guard Chris Chiozza scored just six points in Saturday's loss to Vanderbilt.

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Gators lacking consistency from back court during recent stretch

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 18, 2018

Consistency.

Guard Egor Koulechov had a chance to tie up the game late, but his shot wouldn't go down. He finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

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Gators choke away another game in three-point loss to Commodores

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 17, 2018

Down 71-68 with 8.9 seconds left, the Gators had a chance to tie the score.

Despite guard Funda Nakkasoglu's 24-point performance against Texas A&M on Thursday, the Florida women's basketball team fell to the Aggies 85-80.

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Gators suffer sixth straight loss against ranked opponent

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 16, 2018

With just over a minute left in the fourth quarter and the Florida women’s basketball team down by one possession, Texas A&M had the ball. From the right wing, freshman Chennedy Carter pulled up from three and watched as her shot fell through the basket.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza will play a big role in Saturday's matchup against Vanderbilt.

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UF looking to end late-game woes on Saturday against Vandy

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 16, 2018

When Yante Maten drilled his second three-pointer in 12 seconds, another Florida lead died. The 11-point advantage the Gators built crumbled during a furious Georgia comeback, a loss Florida coach Mike White called as tough as any he’d experienced.

Center John Egbunu has not played in a game this season due to a knee injury.

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John Egbunu might not be back, but could that be better for Florida?

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 16, 2018

At the beginning of the regular season, Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White relayed to the media what team doctors were telling him about injured center John Egbunu. Late January was the targeted time period for the redshirt senior’s return.

Mike Okauru provided a surprise burst off the bench in Wednesday's loss to Georgia. The freshman guard posted 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

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Mike White disappointed in defensive struggles, Mike Okauru has breakout performance

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 14, 2018

Georgia forward Pape Diatta raced toward the right corner of the court and collected a rebound off his own missed three-pointer with 6:11 left in the second half.

Coach Mike White said Wednesday night's loss to Georgia was the toughest he has had to endure as a head coach. “We shouldn’t have even been in overtime," he said. "We had some miscommunication.”

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Gators collapse in final seconds of regulation, fall in overtime to Georgia

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 14, 2018

Nursing a six-point lead with 17 seconds left to play, the Gators men’s basketball team gave up a three-point shot to Georgia forward Yante Maten. Florida still led 59-56.

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.