Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Even though UF interim coach Randy Shannon went 28-22 at Miami as the head coach before being fired, many of Florida's players have expressed interest in having Shannon take over as the Gators' coach. “We play our best for (him),” linebacker David Reese said.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: The case for Randy Shannon as Florida's next head coach

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 19, 2017

Please, save me your sighs.

The Gators haven’t beaten the Seminoles since 2012, meaning both last year's and this year's seniors never did. “We just want to send those guys out with a good win,” sophomore running back Lamical Perine said. “There’s going to be a whole lot of fans coming out for that game. It’s going to be a nice game.”

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

With newfound momentum, Gators can save sinking ship of a season vs. FSU

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 19, 2017

Sentimentality crept through Florida’s locker room after the team’s win over UAB on Saturday. Finally, after six weeks and five games without a win, the Gators could celebrate. And they did.

UF forward Deanne Rose scored the game-winning goal in double overtime in Florida's 1-0 win against Washington State on Sunday.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Game-winning goal vs. Cougars sends Gators to Elite Eight

By Mark Stine | Nov. 19, 2017

Deanne Rose stood inside the Washington State box with open arms as her teammates rushed from the sidelines. The freshman had just scored in double overtime for her fifth game-winning goal of the season, helping Florida advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Florida shot 12.5 percent behind the arc in its first 20 minutes against the Wildcats, nailing just one three-pointer from Egor Koulechov. In the second half, the Gators didn’t shoot much better. They made two three-pointers on 10 attempts, with Chris Chiozza making one and Jalen Hudson notching the other.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Column: The Gators keep relying on three-pointers. That could be a problem later on.

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 19, 2017

After the Gators attempted 54 three-point shots in their first two games of the regular season, it became clear they had a green light to shoot the ball whenever they pleased.

Junior Jessica Pascoe (middle) led the Gator women to a second-place finish at the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Florida, with the second-fastest overall time in the women's 6k.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Gators cross country team ‘not satisfied’ with fall, looking ahead to spring track season

By Alana Gomez | Nov. 19, 2017

By the time sophomore Jessica Pascoe reached the 2700-meter mark, the discomfort in her heel was too much to handle. Just under 11 minutes into the NCAA South Regional Championship on Nov. 10, Pascoe retired to the sidelines to nurse the stabbing pain in the back of her foot.

Both Jan Switkowski and Ben Lawless notched victories in West Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday, with Lawless leading a podium sweep in the men’s 1650 freestyle event and Switkowski in the men’s 200 backstroke.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF men’s team places first, women in second at Purdue Invitational

By River Wells | Nov. 18, 2017

In October, both Ben Lawless and Jan Switkowski earned the SEC Male Swimmer of the Week award. After their performances on Day 3 of the Purdue Invitational at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatics Center, it wouldn’t be a stretch to hear their names called once again.

UF’s rushing attack exploded for 257 yards against UAB on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Win over UAB shows Gators have the tools to beat Florida State

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 18, 2017

Are you tired of retorting, “Oh yeah? Well our academics are better,” when a Florida State fan asserts their football team’s superiority? I would be.

Chauncey Gardner Jr.'s 42-yard interception return set up Florida's first touchdown of the game on Saturday in its 36-7 win over UAB.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators end five-game skid with 36-7 victory over UAB

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 18, 2017

As Kylen Binn’s pass soared 35 yards through the air, Chauncey Gardner Jr. stopped dead in his tracks.

Adarius Lemons rushed for a team-high and career-high 89 yards on 11 carries during Florida’s 36-7 win on Saturday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Lemons has career day, offensive line solid despite injuries

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 18, 2017

After a season of limited playing time, Adarius Lemons had a breakout game on Saturday.

The inexperience and lack of depth in Florida's 84-54 loss to Florida State in the O'Connell Center showed just how much farther coach Cameron Newbauer has to push his Gators team.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators blown out by Seminoles at home

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 17, 2017

Freshman forward Mikayla Hayes got the feed in the paint, dribbled once and spun over her left shoulder. She went up for the jump hook but was soundly rejected by Florida State’s Chatrice White, much to the delight of the FSU contingent behind the Seminoles’ bench.

Jan Switkowski notched one individual win and two second place finishes in relay events at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center on Day 2 of the Purdue Invitational.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF men’s team still on top after second day of Purdue Invitational

By River Wells | Nov. 17, 2017

Senior Jan Switkowski’s performance was hard to beat on the first day of the Purdue Invitational in West Lafayette, Indiana. On the second day of the meet, he did precisely that.

UF midfielder Mayra Pelayo scored the only goal of the game as Florida defeats USF, 1-0, Thursday night.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer defeats USF in strong defensive showing

By Mark Stine | Nov. 17, 2017

Just before halftime, Mayra Pelayo measured up a cross with her weaker left foot while a cluster of hungry Gators waited in the box. She miss-hit the pass with such perfection that it arched over the heads of everyone in the area and into the top corner. Goal, Florida.

As a player, you’re not supposed to criticize your teammates. You’re definitely not supposed to question their effort after a loss. And you’re absolutely not supposed to do it in public in front of reporters. But David Reese wasn’t punished and his teammates weren’t angry. Everyone knew he was right.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

David Reese was tired of being the hardest-working player on UF’s defense. So he let his teammates know.

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 17, 2017

Distracted is an understatement.

KeVaughn Allen’s dunk reflected just how one-sided Florida’s second game of the season was, as the No. 8 Gators dominated North Florida, 108-68, Thursday night.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators offense dominant in win over North Florida

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 17, 2017

Gliding through the air, KeVaughn Allen dunked the ball as an explosion of cheers echoed through the O’Connell Center.

In the Gators’ 108-68 victory over North Florida in the O’Connell Center, UF showed how much its defense has improved since opening practices.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida flaunts defensive strides in win over UNF

By Skyler Lebron | Nov. 17, 2017

Mike White stressed the need to improve defensively before the season started.

Eight Gators beat writers pick eight college football games against the spread.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column Week 12: New Head Coach Edition

Nov. 17, 2017

Chip Kelly? Scott Frost? Dan Mullen?

Canada's Deanne Rose, right, and Zimbabwe's Sheila Makoto fight for the ball during a group F match of the women's Olympic football tournament between Canada and Zimbabwe in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)

SPORTS | SOCCER

Deanne Rose returns for UF soccer team in second round of NCAA Tournament

By Mark Stine | Nov. 17, 2017

For the second week in a row, Florida will play host for the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.

Coach Cameron Newbauer said UF has to do a better job passing and hauling in rebounds if it wants to beat No. 17 Florida State tonight at 7 at the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Turnovers, rebounds a focal point heading into UF’s women’s basketball game with FSU

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 17, 2017

Up by two with less than five minutes remaining against Arkansas State, the Gators pushed hard up the court. As the play developed, sophomore guard Delicia Washington received a long outlet pass but stepped out of bounds. Turnover.

Caeleb Dressel and Jan Switkowski were both part of the winning 200 free relay team, and both were on the second-place 400 medley relay team. Dressel also emerged victorious in the 200 individual medley.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators men’s swim team thrives on first day of Purdue Invitational

By River Wells | Nov. 17, 2017

Caeleb Dressel, Khader Baqlah and Jan Switkowski were three of 13 Olympians who competed on the first day of the Purdue Invitational in West Lafayette, Indiana. And with their performances over the course of Thursday, they made sure to remind everyone of that fact.

Houston's Rob Gray reacts while dunking the ball as Connecticut's Kentan Facey, left, looks on, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: The NCAA is the wrong type of savage

By Skyler Lebron | Nov. 15, 2017

The NCAA has a microscopic amount of chill.