Since bracketologists and bubble watchers began plotting out and predicting the NCAA tournament field, Florida’s hung out in purgatory.
Two weeks ago, the Gators’ trajectory resembled a nosedive. At 12-11 overall, coach Mike White’s squad exited a five-game stretch against TCU, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Auburn and Tennessee with just one victory to show for itself. Meanwhile, any flexibility for his flaky front court evaporated after Gorjak Gak redshirted and Keith Stone was lost on Jan. 19 to a knee injury against Georgia.
Forced to play a four-guard lineup, Florida’s stingy defense, which had helped it limp along, became a sieve, allowing 14 more points per 100 possessions than it had over the season’s first 18 games, according to HoopLens.