Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Vince McMahon announced last week his intention of resurrecting the XFL, a football league he founded in 2001. The league folded after one season.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Vince McMahon would like to sell you some mediocre high school football again

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 31, 2018

Hoo, boy.

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.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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.

As a sophomore, pitcher Kelly Barnhill recorded the lowest ERA in the country (0.51) and the most strikeouts per seven innings (13). Her efforts earned her multiple national awards.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Kelly Barnhill ready to lead Gators on another deep run in 2018

By Mark Stine | Jan. 31, 2018

It’s just over a week until the start of the Florida softball team’s season, but if you walk up to the pool at the O’Connell Center, you just might find UF pitcher Kelly Barnhill doing laps.

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.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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.

Eagles starting left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai has one of the most unique names of the players competing in Super Bowl LII.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Looking for a fun way to pass the time during Super Bowl LII? Here’s how.

By Dylan Dixon | Jan. 30, 2018

If you see eye-to-eye with me on this year’s Super Bowl matchup, you’re most likely feeling dejected and dispirited.

Guard Chris Chiozza was just one of two Gators to reach double figures in scoring against Georgia Tuesday night. He finished with 13 points and six assists.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 23 Florida’s offense withers against Georgia in 72-60 loss

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 30, 2018

With just under five minutes left in the game, Georgia forward Yante Maten received a pass at the top of the key.

UF coach Roland Thornqvist had tooled with the idea of changing his lineup away from pairing seniors with freshmen. After his team's success over the weekend, he reconsidered.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis team sticking with senior-freshman doubles format

By River Wells | Jan. 29, 2018

Two hundred eighty-one days.

Forward Kevarrius Hayes stepped up on defense the last time the Gators played in Athens against Yante Maten and the Georgia Bulldogs. Maten currently leads the SEC in scoring.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball team takes on Yante Maten, Bulldogs in SEC road game on Tuesday

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 29, 2018

Georgia forward Yante Maten posted up and overpowered then-Florida forward Justin Leon, rising up for a point-blank, uncontested layup.

Andy Andrade is the No. 3 freshman on Florida's depth chart, but coach Bryan Shelton expressed confidence in his young player. “I think a lot of people are going to overlook this guy,” Shelton said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

‘Don’t sleep on Andy Andrade': Freshman impresses in first week of dual match season

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 29, 2018

Andy Andrade wrapped his arm around his coach and smiled. He looked comfortable and confident. Volunteer assistant coach Scott Perelman had just joined Andrade on the sideline after the freshman concluded a speedy 6-0 first set win on the No. 5 singles court against South Alabama on Saturday. The two sat close on Andrade’s bench. They laughed.

Graduate transfer Paulina Hersler is posting career highs in points per game(12.2), rebounds per game(6.8) and three-point percentage (37 percent) during her time as a Gator.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Paulina Hersler paying dividends for Gators women’s basketball team this season

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 29, 2018

Before Paulina Hersler came to UF, the graduate transfer started only two games at UCLA and averaged under 11 minutes per game. Now, at a new program under a new head coach, the forward from Sweden has shined throughout the season, playing well in the paint and stretching the floor with her ability to shoot the ball from long range.

Taylor Tomlinson putts during the 2015 Suntrust Gator Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Sierra Brooks shines in Florida debut despite Gators falling to Miami

By Chris O'Brien | Jan. 29, 2018

Going into the 18th hole of the second and final round of the Florida Challenge in Lecanto, Florida, on Monday, UF women’s golfer Sierra Brooks knew she needed to give her team a boost. In a tie for first with Miami’s Dewi Weber, Brooks slammed a shot all the way to the green to set up an eagle attempt.

The Florida swimming and diving teams are competing in the Auburn Invitational this weekend after concluding their dual meet seasons against Tennessee on Friday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swimming and diving teams complete dual-meet season, look ahead to Auburn Invitational

By Jacob McManamon | Jan. 29, 2018

The dual-meet season for Florida’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams concluded in Knoxville, Tennessee, this past weekend.

Coach Mike Holloway's men's (No. 1) and women's (No. 4) indoor teams will look to capitalize on a fast start to their seasons. “We always talk about leaving your failures (and) successes in the building,” Holloway said. “Our mindset is always that we’re just trying to get better.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators track and field teams climb individual rankings after success at Razorback Invitational

By Alanis Thames | Jan. 28, 2018

Florida’s No. 1 men’s and No. 5 women’s track and field teams concluded a competitive weekend at the Razorback Invitational on Friday and Saturday with some of the best times and marks in the nation.

Chris Chiozza is averaging an SEC-best 6.1 assists per game, but he showed off his scoring ability against Baylor on Saturday. “When he’s scoring on top of his facilitating, then he just goes to another level,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Chris Chiozza has always been a consistent passer. On Saturday, he showed just how far his shooting can take him

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 28, 2018

Chris Chiozza dribbled to the top of the key and made a deep jump shot over Baylor's Manu Lecomte, opening Florida' scoring against the Bears on Saturday. On the ensuing possession, Chiozza stole the ball from forward Tristan Clark, sprinted down the court and found teammate Egor Koulechov for a three-pointer in transition.

Florida catcher/first baseman JJ Schwarz decided to return to school after being selected in the final three rounds of last year's MLB Draft.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Kevin O'Sullivan: UF baseball "not defending a national championship... It's a different team"

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 28, 2018

Walk by McKethan Stadium this week and listen. Really listen.

Florida’s Alex McMurtry became the first gymnast in UF history to record multiple 10.0s in one meet. “I just had to trust my gut and go for it,” she said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida moving on from victory over top-ranked Oklahoma

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 28, 2018

In a sold-out O’Connell Center on Friday night, the Florida gymnastics team put on a show for its home crowd. Its efforts didn’t go to waste as the No. 5 Gators (3-1, 1-1 SEC) overcame No. 1 Oklahoma 198.150-198.125. In addition to two perfect 10.0s in one night, Florida also took first in three of its four events.

Junior Alfredo Perez persisted through a grueling singles match that lasted an hour and 45 minutes against USF Sunday afternoon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis team sweeps USF to clinch spot in ITA Indoor Championship

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 28, 2018

Junior Alfredo Perez’s roar echoed inside the Perry Indoor Facility at the Ring Tennis Complex on Sunday. He had just turned the bad fortune of a serve’s awkward bounce off the net into an aggressive backhand winner. The shot kept Perez alive in the first set tiebreaker of a highly competitive match he’d eventually win, 7-6(6), 6-2, over South Florida senior Grayson Goldin.

Senior Josie Kuhlman was the first to win her singles match of the day and helped her team earn a spot at the ITA Division I Women’s Team Indoor Championships in February.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF women’s tennis team clinches ITA Indoor Championships berth with win over Louisiana-Monroe

By River Wells | Jan. 28, 2018

Every competing senior on the Florida women’s tennis team won their singles match in a 4-0 rout of Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, leaving UF’s freshmen unable to finish their matches. During Sunday’s matchup with Louisiana-Monroe at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, it was their turn to close the dual-match out.

Florida guard Funda Nakkasoglu's 19 points against Georgia on Sunday wasn't enough to propel the Gators to a win over the Bulldogs.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida women’s basketball team blows fourth-quarter lead, falls to No. 21 Georgia

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 28, 2018

As the final seconds ticked away in the third quarter, Florida clung to a five-point lead. With Georgia dribbling out the clock for the final shot of the period, UF guard Funda Nakkasoglu and forward Haley Lorenzen double-teamed Georgia’s Que Morrison and forced a turnover. Nakkasoglu grabbed the loose ball, raced down the court and banked in a buzzer-beating layup.

Senior Anna Danilina and the No. 3 Gators swept Cal State Fullerton Saturday afternoon in their first dual-match meet of the season. “Everyone was a bit nervous,” Danilina said. “But I think we handled it well."

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis team sweeps Cal State Fullerton to advance to ITA Kick-Off Weekend Finals

By River Wells | Jan. 27, 2018

As senior Anna Danilina crouched down awaiting a serve, the home crowd at the Ring Tennis Complex began to clap in unison, a signal to Cal State Fullerton freshman Genevieve Zeidan that the match was about to come to an end.