4. Florida (26-7)
Florida opened the season with a loss to Arizona and later opened conference play with a tough loss at Missouri. Back then this team didn’t exactly look like a squad that could defend as national champions. However, Todd Golden’s team has really found its footing and actually won the SEC by three games thanks to a late charge, including 11 straight wins to finish the year.
Six days after a season finale win at Kentucky, the Gators knocked off the Wildcats again in the SEC Tournament, winning that quarterfinal 71-63. Alex Condon impressed with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Thomas Haugh added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Everything came unraveled in the semifinals, with Florida trampled 91-74 by Vanderbilt. The Commodores shot the cover of the ball and controlled the game down the stretch despite 19 points and 9 rebounds from Haugh in a losing effort.
Before Saturday’s disappointment, the Gators had run off 12 wins in a row and looked like a sure thing for a top-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Things have clearly changed a bit with that poor showing against Vanderbilt, but how much does it really change things? The Gators had a real stinker but it’s better to have that kind of showing now as opposed to next week, though they’ll have to wait and see if this means a 2-seed instead.