Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Jon Gruden agreed to a 10-year, $100 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, making him the highest-paid coach in NFL history.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Aside from new Raiders coach Jon Gruden, what else can $100 million buy?

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 8, 2018

The Oakland Raiders made ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl winner Jon Gruden their head coach on Saturday, with an official welcome slated for Tuesday. Gruden last coached in 2008 before getting fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a 9-7 record. Yawn. Another NFL team hiring a new coach? Pretty boring stuff. It happens every year.

Former UF quarterback Malik Zaire wore a Schutt AiR XP Pro helmet with a basic, single-bar facemask. “It was all about simplicity,” Zaire said. “And it looked the best, in my opinion.”

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Ever wonder how football players choose their facemasks? It’s a little more complicated a process than you’d think

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 7, 2018

The average football game only features about 11 minutes of actual football, according to the Wall Street Journal, with the other 49 lost to runoff between plays. So tonight, when Alabama plays Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship, take one of those dormant 49 minutes of replays, huddle shots and sideline views to inspect Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts and his Bulldogs equal, Jake Fromm.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza is averaging 14 points and six assists per game in SEC play this season. "I think he's one of the most underrated guys in the country," UF coach Mike White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Chiozza, Hayes propelling Florida to top of the SEC standings

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 7, 2018

Three games into conference play, the Florida men’s basketball team’s identity is beginning to take shape.

Alicia Boren's 39.575 in all-around was a Gators gymnastics opening-day record on Saturday. Boren and the No. 2 Gators are set to take on the No. 3 LSU Tigers on Friday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF moving on after season-opening win against WVU

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 7, 2018

The moment junior Alicia Boren’s feet hit the mat at the end of her uneven bars routine, her face transformed into a smile as bright as the sparkles on her uniform.

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 place first in five events at Orange and Purple Classic

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 7, 2018

Ten Gators made their collegiate debut and the Florida men’s and women’s track and field teams won five events to kick off their indoor seasons on Saturday at the Orange and Purple Classic in Clemson, South Carolina.

Dyandria Anderson scored 12 points, including the final bucket in regulation, in a double-overtime thriller against Ole Miss.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators climb back from double-digit deficit but fall to Ole Miss in double OT

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 7, 2018

After receiving an inbound pass at the top of the key, Florida forward Paulina Hersler pulled up with five seconds left in the fourth quarter. Down by two, Hersler missed a shot to the right of the rim, but guard Dyandria Anderson pulled down an offensive rebound and scored a layup with less than one second remaining to send the game to overtime.

Caeleb Dressel won the 200 fly Saturday afternoon against FAU. His win was one of seven consecutive victories for the men's team to start the event.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida defeats FAU for second win in two days

By River Wells | Jan. 6, 2018

If the Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were tired after their dual meets against Florida State on Friday, they showed no signs of it against FAU on Saturday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Chiozza beats buzzer again to lead Florida past Missouri

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 6, 2018

Chris Chiozza saw it coming the whole way.

Caeleb Dressel won two individual titles and was part of the winning relay squad in the UF men's swimming team's 209-91 victory over the Seminoles on Friday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF swimming defeats FSU in Sunshine Showdown

By River Wells | Jan. 5, 2018

When it comes to UF swimmers Caeleb and Sherridon Dressel, it’s easy to tell they’re cut from the same cloth.

Junior Alicia Boren broke UF’s record for the highest all-around score in a season opener in program history, registering a 39.575 all-around score against West Virginia on Friday. The Gators defeated the Mountaineers 195.900-194.425 to open the season 1-0.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators open season with win over West Virginia

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 5, 2018

For the fifth year in a row, the Florida gymnastics team proved that starting off the season away from home has no effect on its performance. The Gators (1-0) kicked off their 2018 schedule with a 195.900-194.425 win over West Virginia (0-1) on Friday night at the WVU Coliseum.

Haley Lorenzen ended the game with 14 points on 55 percent shooting from the field, but could not come up with a bucket late in Thursday night's against Alabama.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida drops to 0-2 in SEC play following close loss to ‘Bama

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 4, 2018

Florida forward Haley Lorenzen called for the ball with just over five minutes left in the game. After setting a screen for a streaking teammate, Lorenzen posted up Alabama’s Ashley Williams, boxing her out beneath the basket before snatching an inlet pass from teammate Delicia Washington with both hands. She raised up for the layup, was fouled by Williams and ultimately landed a pair of late free throws to go up by two.

Egor Koulechov went 5-of-6 from three-point range and led the Gators with 19 points against the Aggies in College Station, Texas, Tuesday night.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators beat Aggies behind barrage of three-point shots

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 2, 2018

Florida center Kevarrius Hayes threw down an emphatic putback slam after guard Egor Koulechov botched a layup attempt, sending the Gators’ bench to its feet and disappointed Aggies fans out of Reed Arena.

“They started to chip away at (the lead) and we started to collapse and cave in,” Florida coach Cameron Newbauer said after Florida's 84-55 loss to Auburn. "“We’ve just got to have more of a resolve about ourselves and someone has to pick us up.”

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators second half meltdown leads to first SEC loss of season

By Justin Ahlum | Dec. 31, 2017

With under four minutes left in the second quarter, Florida guard Funda Nakkasoglu was sent to the charity stripe for a pair of free throws. After Nakkasoglu buried one of her two attempts, the Gators slowly watched their eight-point lead slip away at the end of the half and went into the break ahead by one.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza scored 17 points in Florida’s 81-74 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday to open SEC play.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators stave off late comeback from Vanderbilt to win SEC opener

By Jake Dreilinger | Dec. 30, 2017

With the Gators leading by four points with 43 seconds left in the game, Florida guard Chris Chiozza drove past Vanderbilt forward Clevon Brown from the top of the three-point line and converted a contested layup to seal the victory for UF.

Florida forward Haley Lorenzen scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in Florida's 85-51 victory over Delaware State on Wednesday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida thrashes Delaware State behind big day from Lorenzen

By Morgan McMullen | Dec. 27, 2017

With the final seconds winding down and the game well in hand, Florida guard Tameria Johnson ran down a Delaware State fast break attempt and poked the ball away. As she took it across half court, coach Cameron Newbauer signaled his offense to run one more play. But Johnson, looking over to her bench, lost the handle and was called for a backcourt violation. The freshman laughed it off, shook her head and jogged back for the final defensive possession of the afternoon.

Despite coming up short in the national championship match, the 2017 Florida volleyball team had a season to remember.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Year in Review: Gators volleyball team had a season for the ages

By Andrew Huang | Dec. 23, 2017

Things were supposed to be different this time for Florida’s volleyball team.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza recorded 16 points, four assists, four steals and no turnovers on Friday in UF's 75-60 win over Incarnate Word at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida edges past Incarnate Word behind play of Chris Chiozza

By Skyler Lebron | Dec. 22, 2017

Chris Chiozza stripped the ball from Incarnate Word guard Keaton Hervey, spun to his left and fired a pass to teammate KeVaughn Allen.

Florida guard Paulina Hersler scored a game-high 19 points on Thursday to lead the Gators to a 71-51 win over Saint Joseph's at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Hersler leads Gators over Saint Joseph’s on Thursday

By Justin Ahlum | Dec. 21, 2017

With two and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter, Florida guard Paulina Hersler received a pass at the top of the key. She stepped back, jumped up and drained the three-pointer, giving the Gators a 24-point advantage, their largest lead of the contest.

Florida guard Chris Chiozza recorded 19 points, seven assists and three steals in UF's 72-63 win over James Madison on Wednesday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Chiozza’s performance helps Florida defeat James Madison on Wednesday

By Jake Dreilinger | Dec. 20, 2017

Chris Chiozza stole the ball from a James Madison guard late in the first half, sprinted down the court and scored an uncontested layup.

Florida women's basketball coach Cameron Newbauer wasn't happy with his team after it recorded just two assists in the second half of its five-point loss to Chattanooga on Wednesday. "Playing all individual, selfish, one-on-one basketball," he said.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators lose to Chattanooga following ‘selfish’ second-half play

By Morgan McMullen | Dec. 20, 2017

Dyandria Anderson hadn’t scored all game. Undeterred, the Florida guard drove down the right side of the court. With the Gators down by three and just under five minutes remaining in the contest, Anderson lurched hard into a trailing defender and drained a layup while drawing a foul. She then swished the free throw and tied the game up at 55 apiece.