Florida
Before the season began, the SEC preseason media poll was revealed without too many surprises, including Florida picked to finish 7th in the league. Near the top, there was plenty of talent at Kentucky, Alabama, and Arkansas, and a few other intriguing teams ranked above the Gators as well.
Historically, Florida has been a perennial contender in the conference, typically near the very top of the conference, but times are changing in the SEC. After their performance this past week, maybe the Gators aren’t ready for the times to change.
This past Sunday, the Gators got a huge win that propelled them back in the AP Top 25, knocking off a then-ranked Florida State team by 16 points. They dispatched of their rivals with a big game from Colin Castleton, his first of two big games this week. Their impressive defense was fantastic even further on Thursday night when they won a laugher over Milwaukee, an 81-45 win over Pat Baldwin Jr. and company.
Not only is Florida now ranked, but they are starting to turn heads, especially with that defensive intensity. Their performance against Florida State wasn’t perfect, but they still made a statement. Come January or February, it’s the kind of win that helps with seeding. Today, it’s exactly the kind of performance to jumpstart a Florida team looking to advance beyond the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years.