Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | FEATURES

TOUGHEST WARRIOR: How Lauren Evans overcame the battle of a lifetime

By Chris O'Brien | Aug. 14, 2018

Sophomore Deanne Rose is UF's leading returning scorer. She tucked away nine goals and three assists in 2017.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators look to improve strong foundation at FGCU

By River Wells | Aug. 8, 2018

The last time the world saw the UF women’s soccer team, it was shut out in a 2-0 loss against SEC rival South Carolina in the NCAA quarterfinals.Now, with 10 of their starting players back on the roster, a No. 7 ranking in the

Senior running back Jordan Scarlett is returning from a suspension that spanned the 2017 season. "He’s (Scarlett's) in that process of getting himself back to where he was in the past conditioning wise and physically," said running backs coach Greg Knox.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Focuses in camp at each position group on offense

By Mark Stine | Aug. 8, 2018

The UF offensive coaches spoke to the media Tuesday, and each of them talked about their evaluations of fall camp so far.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

FINAL COLUMN: The NBA will surpass the NFL in popularity

By Andrew Huang | Aug. 8, 2018

Slowly but surely, the totem pole is shifting.

Egor Koulechov led the team in rebounding during the 2017-18 season

SPORTS

Alligator Awards: Honorable Mentions

By Chris O'Brien , Andrew Huang , Brendan Farrell and Alligator Staff report | Aug. 6, 2018

We’re not perfect here at alligatorSports. This summer, we’ve been going over some of the best athletes and teams. But now, we’re going to take a look at some of those programs or people that we left out or missed.

A unit of Florida wide receivers, including transfers Van Jefferson (12) and Trevon Grimes (8), rests during Day 1 of fall camp after catching passes from the quarterbacks.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

QBs with lots to learn, transfer receivers settling in

By Mark Stine | Aug. 6, 2018

The Florida Gators will take the field for the first time in full pads today.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Quarterbacks were on display during Day 1 of fall camp

By Mark Stine | Aug. 3, 2018

After the first practice of camp, UF coach Dan Mullen stressed that mental effort will be one of the most important focuses for his players this fall.

Junior defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson said that West Virginia transfer is sleeping on his couch. “That’s my boy. Me and him grew up probably like 20 minutes from each other,” he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Transfers and veterans getting along, Gators learning new system

By Mark Stine | Aug. 2, 2018

Transfer wide receivers Trevon Grimes (Ohio State) and Van Jefferson (Ole Miss) were ruled eligible to play at UF this fall by the NCAA Thursday.

UF head coach Dan Mullen shared his team weapons policy at UF Media Day on Thursday. "I have a no-weapons policy, but it’s not like you’re not allowed to have a gun," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Dan Mullen’s got a confusing gun policy

By Mark Stine | Aug. 2, 2018

UF head football coach Dan Mullen has one of the most interesting policies about his players having weapons.

Mary Wise coached the UF volleyball team to the NCAA championship match last season. She was named AVCA National Coach of the Year for 2017 and claimed her 23rd SEC Championship with the program.

SPORTS

alligatorSports Awards: Record/Milestone of the Year

By Chris O'Brien , Andrew Huang , Brendan Farrell and Alligator Staff report | Aug. 1, 2018

Several records were broken and milestones were achieved during the UF 2017-18 athletic season. We saw Caeleb Dressel torch several records, Chris Chiozza dazzle us with passes, Grant Holloway have himself a year, Jim McElwain slumping and Mary Wise showing why she belongs in volleyball. Our roundtable of Chris O’Brien, Evan Lepak, Andrew Huang, Brendan Farrell and Mark Stine debate about which event was the record or milestone of the year.

Will Kadarius Toney be suspended for his offseason shenanigans?

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

It’s time for Dan Mullen to take control of his football team

By Chris O'Brien and O’B-Wan Kenobi | Aug. 1, 2018

“What in the f--k?”

Former UF swimmer Caeleb Dressel took first in the 100-fly at the Phillips 66 National Championships in Irvine, California. He, along with two other UF notables, will advance to the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators at the USA Swimming Nationals: A weekend roundup

By Brendan Farrell | July 30, 2018

Improvements from former Gator Caeleb Dressel and current and future Gators marked a lively end to the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships in Irvine, California.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

NBA Players with the most to prove next season

By Andrew Huang | July 30, 2018

Carmelo Anthony has finalized his buyout with the Atlanta Hawks, making him a free agent again. His intentions now are to sign with the Houston Rockets.

The UF volleyball team advanced to the national title game for the second time under coach Mary Wise. The Gators played thrillers against Southern California (Dec. 9) and Stanford (Dec. 14) to advance to the championship game.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

alligatorSports Awards: Game of the Year

By Alligator Staff report | July 30, 2018

Of the hundreds of meets, matches and games that UF athletics participated in over the 2017-18 season, only five made the final cut as nominees for the Gators’ best game of the campaign.

Caeleb Dressel struggled at the Philipps 66 on Wednesday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Dressel places sixth, incoming freshmen highlight start of 2018 Nationals

By Brendan Farrell | July 25, 2018

The upset of former UF swimmer and favorite Caeleb Dressel in the 100-meter freestyle headlined Wednesday’s action at the 2018 Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love just signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the team.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Third-wheeling in the Association

By Andrew Huang and Huang Story Short | July 25, 2018

Kevin Love has LeBron James to thank for the three most impactful moments in his career. First, James returned to Cleveland in 2014, offering the All-Star forward an escape route from a woefully uncompetitive Minnesota Timberwolves team. Second, James spearheaded a historic NBA Finals comeback against the vaunted Golden State Warriors, delivering a 2016 championship ring Love’s way.

Running back Jordan Scarlett is expected to be the bell-cow back by our sports editors.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Football offensive position battles

By Chris O'Brien and Mark Stine | July 25, 2018

When fall camp starts on Aug. 3, many of the players on the UF football team will begin duking it out to see who will be in the starting lineup this fall.

Caeleb Dressel set an American, NCAA and UF record, swimming a 39.90 in the 100 free at the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.

SPORTS

alligatorSports Awards: Best Individual Performance

By Chris O'Brien , Andrew Huang , Brendan Farrell and Alligator Staff report | July 25, 2018

Today, we focus on individual effort.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF football player charged with 2 felonies, suspended

By Mark Stine | July 24, 2018

Justin Watkins, incoming freshman and four-star recruit of the UF football team, was in Alachua County jail Tuesday on four criminal charges.