Florida Gators 11-Game Win Streak
No. 5 Florida Gators men's basketball closed the regular season with an 84-77 win over Kentucky, extending their winning streak to 11 consecutive games. The victory gives Florida strong momentum heading into the SEC Tournament, while Kentucky's Senior Day loss could hurt their tournament seeding.
This recent stretch of dominance has seen the Gators win by an average of 21.7 points per game. The run includes six victories over ranked opponents, with Florida scoring at least 90 points in each of those contests. The victory over Kentucky cemented a 16-2 conference record for the Gators, the second-best in the program's history, trailing only the undefeated 18-0 team from 2014. This late-season surge secured Florida the SEC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Florida's win completed its first regular-season sweep of Kentucky since 2018. In the 80 total minutes of play between the two rivals this season, the Gators never once trailed. In the win at Rupp Arena, forward Thomas Haugh led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds, while guard Boogie Fland contributed 16 points and six assists. Throughout the streak, players like center Rueben Chinyelu have been crucial, with his interior presence and rebounding helping the Gators control the paint. This 11-game winning streak marks a significant turnaround for a team that started the season with a 5-4 record, including losses to Duke and UConn in December. Coach Todd Golden's squad finished February undefeated to build momentum for their postseason push. The impressive finish to the regular season, combined with a loss by UConn, has vaulted the Gators into the conversation for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. As the top seed in the SEC Tournament, Florida has a double-bye and will begin play in the quarterfinals.
