Entering March Madness, it felt like Florida was destined to repeat as national champions. Their front court was among the most dominant in the country, and the guard play had improved to a point where it felt like the Gators could take on anyone in the country.
Instead, the Gators suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Iowa to end their season in the second round. Florida became the eighth defending national champion out of the last nine to not advance past the second round of the tournament.
But there was another piece of destiny in place that it looked like Florida might be able to overcome, only for Florida to falter for the same reasons that put them in that place to begin with.