The surprising silver lining from Florida leaving the SEC Tournament early

Mar 14, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden watches against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn ImagesAfter riding the wave of a 12-game winning streak, Florida saw its momentum come to a screeching halt as the Gators were bounced from the SEC Tournament 91-74 by Vanderbilt. The biggest concern for Florida as it gets ready for the NCAA Tournament is that its three-point shooting woes returned, and against Vanderbilt, they also saw the turnover bug make a comeback.

But if one wants their glass to be half full, there are some good omens Florida can point to from…