Sports | Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Billy Donovan looks down the court during Florida's 72-47 win against Mississippi State on Jan. 10 in the O'Connell Center. Florida dropped its first SEC home game when on Tuesday, losing 79-61 to LSU.

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Florida drops road contest to LSU

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 21, 2015

Billy Donovan has to wait just a little bit longer.

UF men’s basketball coach Billy Donovan points out to the crowd after winning the 2014 Southeastern Conference Tournament championship in Atlanta. Donovan has won 499 games as a collegiate men’s basketball head coach, with his first win coming on Nov. 26, 1994, during Marshall’s 112-67 win against Bluefield College.

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The path to a milestone: Reflection on Billy Donovan’s first win with No. 500 on the horizon

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Feb. 19, 2015

Billy Donovan has coached teams to the peak of college basketball’s mountaintop.

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Air Jordan: Chance for Donovan’s 500th win gives down season meaning

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 19, 2015

At this point in the season, Florida doesn’t have much to play for.

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UF women’s basketball comeback attempt versus Vanderbilt falls short in OT

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 19, 2015

Florida’s strength lies in its resilience.

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

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Last-second dunk gives UF win over Vanderbilt

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Feb. 18, 2015

For the first time in what seemed like forever, the Gators won a game decided by five or fewer points, defeating Vanderbilt 50-47 on Wednesday in the O’Connell Center.

Billy Donovan looks down the court during Florida's 75-55 win against Auburn on Jan. 15 in the O'Connell Center.

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Florida basketball team can learn from down season

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Feb. 17, 2015

This year’s Florida basketball team has fallen from near the top of college basketball’s Mount Everest to the depths of the Mariana Trench by the standards Billy Donovan has set for the program as its head coach.

Kayla Lewis prepares to shoot during Florida’s 64-56 loss to Tennessee on Feb. 8 in the O’Connell Center. Lewis is the lone senior on the Gators’ roster this season.

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Gators women's basketball ready for tough, fun SEC finish

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 17, 2015

It’s a fair statement to say the Gators women’s basketball team has been dealt a heaping scoop of adversity this season.

East Team’s LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, goes up for a basket during the second half of NBA All-Star basketball game on Sunday in New York.

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InstaGraham: NBA All-Star weekend about more than just basketball

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 16, 2015

The NBA All-Star break is typically regarded as the midway point of the often grueling 82-game regular season schedule — a time when players can relax after 50 games and enjoy the week off.

Billy Donovan looks down the court during Florida's 57-56 win against Arkansas on Saturday in the O'Connell Center.

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Luck not on Gators’ side with regular season starting to wind down

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Feb. 16, 2015

Luck is seen by some as a cop-out.

January Miller drives into the lane during Florida's 72-58 win against Arkansas on Sunday in the O'Connell Center.

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UF women’s basketball falls to No. 13 Mississippi State

Feb. 15, 2015

The Gators women’s basketball team couldn’t defeat its second-straight ranked opponent, falling 75-62 to No. 13 Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi on Sunday afternoon.

Eli Carter dribbles during Florida's 68-61 loss to No. 1 Kentucky on Feb. 7 in the O'Connell Center.

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Florida drops another close contest, drops to losing record

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 14, 2015

Eli Carter had a season-high 22 points, Kasey Hill dished out a career-high-tying 10 assists and the Florida men’s basketball team still couldn’t pull out a win.

Carlie Needles dribbles the ball down the court during Florida's loss to Missouri on Thursday in the O'Connell Center.

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UF women’s basketball upsets ranked Georgia on the road

Feb. 12, 2015

The Florida women’s basketball team secured its first win over a ranked opponent this season, defeating No. 24 Georgia 51-48 in Athens on Thursday night.

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

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Rebels sink last-second three-pointer to steal win from Gators

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 12, 2015

Dorian Finney-Smith’s three-pointer should have been good enough.

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.

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Freshman adjusting to collegiate basketball

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 11, 2015

Chris Chiozza is making strides in his first year at UF.

Michael Frazier II (from left), Dorian Finney-Smith and Chris Walker huddle during Florida's 68-61 loss to No. 1 Kentucky on Saturday in the O'Connell Center.

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Billy Donovan wants Gators to work on internal motivation

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 10, 2015

In coach Billy Donovan’s eyes, the Gators truly played like Gators for the first time this season against Kentucky.

Amanda Butler calls out a play during Florida's 64-56 loss to No. 6 Tennessee on Feb. 8 in the O'Connell Center.

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Gators working on shot selection with season winding down

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 9, 2015

The first half of Sunday afternoon’s game against No. 6 Tennessee looked different from most games the Florida women’s basketball team has played this year.

Michael Frazier attempts a three-point shot during Florida's loss to No. 1 Kentucky in the O'Connell Center.

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Gators likely without Michael Frazier against Ole Miss on Thursday

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 9, 2015

Florida could be without one of its top scorers for the near future.

Cassie Peoples drives down the court during Florida's 64-56 loss to No. 6 Tennessee on Feb. 8, 2015 in the O'Connell Center.

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Florida’s rally falls flat against No. 6 Tennessee

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 8, 2015

For one of the few times this season, the Gators women’s basketball team played with fight when it hosted No. 6 Tennessee on Sunday.

Kasey Hill goes up for a layup during Florida's 68-61 loss to No. 1 Kentucky on Saturday in the O'Connell Center.

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Gators men’s basketball looks to build off loss to Kentucky

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 8, 2015

Even though Florida (12-11, 5-5 Southeastern Conference) was on the losing end of a 68-61 showdown against No. 1 Kentucky (23-0, 10-0 SEC), coach Billy Donovan saw his team take a step in the right direction.

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Gators keep it close, but ultimately lose to No. 1 Kentucky

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 7, 2015

The Gators almost did the unthinkable.