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Sports

Notebook: Pease says Dunbar improving

By TOM GREEN | Mar. 21, 2012

To say 2011 was a disappointment for Quinton Dunbar would be an understatement.

Sports

Florida softball benefitting from Rogers on the field, in the clubhouse

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Mar. 21, 2012

The crowd sees Hannah Rogers stare down batters with a steely, hardened gaze as she whips her arm back to crank a 65-mph fastball mere inches away from bare flesh and bones.

Seniors Azania Stewart, Jordan Jones and Deana Allen embrace following their season-ending NCAA Tournament loss to Baylor on Tuesday.

Sports

Undefeated Baylor too much for UF

By JOE MORGAN | Mar. 20, 2012

For the second time in coach Amanda Butler’s tenure, the nation’s top-ranked team has ended the Gators’ season.

Freshman guard Brad Beal (23) gets tangled up with Norfolk State forward A.J. Rogers and guard Brandon Wheeless while driving to the basket in UF’s third-round win Sunday.

Sports

Florida prepping for fast-paced Marquette

By JOHN BOOTHE | Mar. 20, 2012

For nearly a week, the West region of the NCAA Tournament was a tease.

Sports

Notebook: Gillislee believes pass-protection issues behind him; Manning deal with Broncos puts Tebow in limbo

By TOM GREEN | Mar. 20, 2012

Mike Gillislee remembers what it was like in practice during his freshman season.

Sophomore pitcher Johnny Magliozzi pumps his fist after striking out Samford’s Tommy Corbin on March 20, 2011. Magliozzi has a 2-0 record with a 3.07 ERA and two saves in 14.2 innings this season.

Sports

Magliozzi leads Gators baseball in gritty midweek win

Mar. 20, 2012

For the first month of the season, Johnny Magliozzi wasn’t quite himself.

Florida attacker Kitty Cullen splits two Dartmouth defenders while attacking the goal during the Gators’ 20-4 win against the Big Green on Tuesday. Cullen scored five goals.

Sports

Florida lacrosse routs ranked Dartmouth at home, sets new goal record

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Mar. 20, 2012

The last time the Gators welcomed a ranked opponent to Gainesville, Florida’s players experienced the closest game they have seen in their three years with the team.

Sports

McQuay, UF track looking for outdoor success

By KATIE AGOSTIN< | Mar. 20, 2012

Close, but no cigar.

Sports

Healthier Johnson experiencing increased success for UF gymnastics

By LANDON WATNICK< | Mar. 20, 2012

Alaina Johnson has always been one of UF’s most talented athletes, but she is also its most physically fragile all-around competitor.

UF guard Kenny Boynton (1) ended a recent slump with 20 points in Sunday’s 84-50 victory against Norfolk State. Boynton had been held to single digits in three of the four previous games.

Sports

Donovan pleasantly surprised by Boynton breaking slump

By JOHN BOOTHE | Mar. 19, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — In his 16 years at Florida, Billy Donovan has yet to find an end-all cure for a shooting slump.

UF center Azania Stewart (13) will be tasked with defending Naismith Trophy finalist Brittney Griner.

Sports

Gators face tall challenge against top-seeded Bears

By JOE MORGAN | Mar. 19, 2012

Heading into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Gators feel like an afterthought.

Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (18) is reportedly in contract negotiations with the Broncos, leaving Tim Tebow’s future with the team uncertain.

Sports

Notebook: Roberson making long-awaited comeback from neck injury

By TOM GREEN | Mar. 19, 2012

When Marcus Roberson left Florida’s game against South Carolina on Nov. 12 with a neck injury, coach Will Muschamp said he thought the then-freshman cornerback would be sidelined for about a month with a neck strain.

Freshman Johnny Magliozzi will get his third career start tonight when No. 1 UF hosts Samford. Magliozzi is 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA in four appearances. He has struck out four batters and walked three in 8.2 innings of work.

Sports

Top-ranked UF baseball trying to avoid midweek letdown vs. Samford

Mar. 19, 2012

It would be easy for the Gators to stretch their weekly Monday off day into Tuesday.

The Gators have cut down on turnovers the last two weeks after a season-high 19 against Georgetown on March 7. No. 4 UF hosts No. 8 Dartmouth tonight.

Sports

Florida lacrosse looks to continue recent cleaner play against Dartmouth

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Mar. 19, 2012

In the Gators’ biggest win of the season, coach Amanda O’Leary was bothered.

UF senior Bob van Overbeek returns a volley. Van Overbeek won only his second match since Feb. 3 against Ole Miss on Friday.

Sports

Van Overbeek drops fifth straight as Gators men's tennis loses to No. 1 Trojans

By ELI MARGER | Mar. 19, 2012

To be the best, you have to beat the best. Bob van Overbeek hasn’t quite done that yet.

Five Gators scored in double figures, including Erik Murphy (10 points), as Florida toppled No. 15 seed Norfolk State to reach the Sweet 16 in back-to-back years. UF faces No. 3 seed Marquette on Thursday.

Sports

Gators blow out Spartans, advance to Sweet 16

By MATT WATTS | Mar. 18, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — So much for Cinderella.

Coach Amanda Butler has the ninth-seeded Gators in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after Florida’s 70-65 win against eighth-seeded Ohio State. UF will face undefeated Baylor on Tuesday.

Sports

UF women's basketball shuts down Big Ten POY, will face top seed Baylor next

By JOE MORGAN | Mar. 18, 2012

Florida can now turn its focus to Brittney Griner and No. 1 Baylor.

Coach Billy Donovan pointed to the efforts of Brad Beal (14 points, nine boards) and Mike Rosario (12 points) as catalysts to UF’s win.

Sports

Rosario enjoying different viewpoint this time around

By JOHN BOOTHE | Mar. 18, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — For 10 exhilarating days last year, Mike Rosario watched from afar as his teammates made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Sports

Column: Defense emerges at key time to help spur pair of blowouts

By GREG LUCA | Mar. 18, 2012

OMAHA, Neb.

Freshmen Taylor Gushue (17) and Casey Turgeon (2) each hit solo home runs in Florida’s 8-2 win against Vanderbilt on Sunday.

Sports

Freshmen lead Florida baseball's sweep of Vanderbilt; Thompson has torn ACL

Mar. 18, 2012

The No. 1 baseball team in the country started four freshmen in its lineup Sunday afternoon. This wasn’t an exhibition or a midweek pushover — it was Florida against Vanderbilt with a sweep in the opening weekend of Southeastern Conference play on the line.