Florida Gators men's basketball facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Florida Gators
2025–26 Florida Gators men's basketball team
University	University of Florida
First season	1914
All-time record	1,529–1,178 (.565)
Athletic director	Scott Stricklin
Head coach	Todd Golden (3rd season)
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Location	Gainesville, Florida
Arena	Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center (Capacity: 10,136)
Nickname	Gators
Student section	Rowdy Reptiles
Colors	Blue and Orange
Uniforms
Home Away Alternate
NCAA Tournament Champions
2006, 2007, 2025
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
2000
NCAA Tournament Final Four
1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2025
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2025
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
1987*, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2025
NCAA Tournament Second round
1987*, 1988*, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2025
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1987*, 1988*, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025
Conference Tournament Champions
2005, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2025
Conference Regular Season Champions
1989, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014
Conference Division Season Champions
1994, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011
* - vacated by NCAA

The Florida Gators men's basketball team plays for the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. They are part of NCAA Division I and compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their home games are played at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida.

The University of Florida's basketball team started in 1915. For many years, the program did not have much support. They finally got a proper home court, the Florida Gymnasium, in 1949. A full-time basketball coach, Norm Sloan, was hired in 1960. The team moved into a modern arena, the O'Connell Center, in 1980. Early highlights included their first postseason game in 1969 with All-American player Neal Walk. They also reached the Sweet Sixteen in 1987 and the Final Four in 1994. However, consistent success was hard to find.

Everything changed when coach Billy Donovan joined in 1996. Before him, the Gators had only made five NCAA Tournament appearances and won two SEC regular season titles. Under Donovan, they won six SEC regular season championships and four SEC tournament championships. They also played in 14 NCAA Tournaments and reached four Final Fours. Most famously, they won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan left to coach in the NBA in 2015. The Gators are the only school to win national championships in both basketball and football in the same year (2007).

Todd Golden became the Gators' head coach in March 2022. After a tough first season, Golden brought stability to the team. They returned to the NCAA tournament in 2024. In 2025, Todd Golden led the Gators to an amazing 36–4 record. They won the SEC Tournament championship and the program's third national championship.

How the Season Works

The college basketball season starts in early November. Non-conference games usually run until the end of the year. The Gators often play in a special tournament against other top teams. They also play a few games at home or away against strong opponents. Their yearly game against their rival Florida State happens before conference play begins.

The 18-game Southeastern Conference (SEC) schedule usually starts around January. This schedule includes playing five SEC teams twice (home and away). They play the other eight SEC teams once. After these games, the conference tournament takes place. Florida has rivalries with Kentucky and Tennessee. These rivalries grew stronger as the Gators started winning more titles in the 1990s.

Gators Basketball History

Early Days of the Team

The University of Florida (UF) started its modern form in 1906. The school's first official basketball team played in the 1915–16 school year. Coach C. J. McCoy led them to a 5–1 record. The program paused during World War I. It started again in 1919–20. In 1920–21, the team moved into their new home at University Gymnasium.

The 1920–21 Florida Gators basketball team outside of University Gym

New Gyms and the SEC

By the mid-1920s, the University Gymnasium was too small. A larger wooden building, called the "New Gym," was built in 1928. This was meant to be a temporary home. However, money became tight during the Great Depression. The university focused on building Florida Field, a new football stadium. Plans for a bigger brick gym were delayed by World War II. The Gators finally moved to the Florida Gymnasium (also known as Alligator Alley) in the 1949–50 season.

In December 1932, the University of Florida joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For many years, Florida's basketball team was often in the bottom half of the SEC standings. Until 1960, the university often assigned coaches from other sports to lead the basketball team. These coaches could not build the Gators into a consistent winning team.

The 1960s and 1970s: Norm Sloan's First Run

In 1960, Norm Sloan became Florida's first full-time head basketball coach. His first team had a winning conference record. Sloan's teams had an 85–63 record in six seasons. They even beat Kentucky for the first time in SEC play. Sloan helped make the Gators basketball program much better. He left Florida after the 1965–66 season.

Neal Walk

Tommy Bartlett took over as head coach. His first season in 1966–67 was very successful. The Gators finished with a 21–4 record and were ranked in the top 10 nationally. They won their last eight games by a large margin. However, only the league champion could play in the postseason back then. Since they finished second, they did not get an invitation. In 1968–69, led by Neal Walk, the Gators played in their first postseason tournament, the 1969 National Invitation Tournament. After Walk left, the team's performance declined. John Lotz became coach in 1973–74. His best team had a 17–9 record in 1976–77. But the team struggled again, leading to his departure.

The 1980s: Sloan Returns and Challenges

The modern era for Florida basketball began in 1980. The team moved into the O'Connell Center, also known as "The O'Dome." This new facility greatly helped the basketball program. It even convinced Norm Sloan to return as head coach. Sloan had won an NCAA championship at North Carolina State.

Sloan's second time at Florida was very successful. He convinced top Florida high school players like Vernon Maxwell and Dwayne Schintzius to play for the Gators. After four years, Sloan led the Gators to the 1984 NIT, their second postseason appearance ever. They reached the NIT semi-finals in 1986. In 1987, Maxwell led the team to their first NCAA Tournament appearance, reaching the Sweet 16. Sloan's teams made the NCAA tournament again in 1988 and 1989. They won the school's first SEC regular season title in 1989.

However, Sloan and his coaching staff had to resign in October 1989 due to various issues. The NCAA later placed the program on probation. Their 1987 and 1988 NCAA Tournament appearances were removed from the record books. The team also faced scholarship reductions, which affected them for several years.

Lon Kruger's Time

Lon Kruger became the head coach before the 1990–91 season. Despite the challenges he inherited, Kruger slowly improved the team. They reached the NIT semifinals in his second year. In 1993–94, the Gators had their best season yet. Led by Andrew DeClercq and Dametri Hill, they reached their first Final Four. They had a dramatic overtime win against UConn. They lost to Duke in the national semifinal. The next year, they returned to the NCAA tournament. Kruger left to coach at Illinois after the 1995–96 season.

Billy Donovan's Amazing Era

Florida's Athletic Director, Jeremy Foley, hired 30-year-old Billy Donovan as the new coach. Donovan was great at recruiting players. He brought future NBA stars like Jason Williams, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and Matt Bonner. The Gators made the NCAA tournament every year from 1999 to 2007. This was a nine-year streak, a school record.

Building to a Final Four

Donovan's first two seasons were tough. The Gators had a 27–32 record and missed postseason play. But in his third season, 1999, the Gators finished 22–9. They reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament.

In his fourth season, 2000, Donovan's Gators had a memorable run. They finished 29–8 and won a share of the SEC championship. In the NCAA tournament, they barely beat Butler in overtime with a last-second shot by Mike Miller. They then defeated Illinois, Duke, and Oklahoma State to reach the Final Four. Florida beat North Carolina to reach their first national championship game. They lost to Michigan State.

For the next five years, the Gators went to the NCAA Tournament every year. But they were upset in the first or second round each time. This included losses to Temple (2001), Creighton (2002), Michigan State (2003), and Manhattan (2004). In 2005, they won the SEC tournament championship for the first time. They then beat Ohio in the NCAA tournament but lost to Villanova.

2006: First National Championship

The 2005–06 Gator's basketball team with President George W. Bush at the White House following their national championship.

The 2005–06 team started the season unranked. They went on a 17–0 winning streak, the best start in school history. This young team surprised many. They won their second straight SEC tournament championship.

The Gators entered the 2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as a No. 3 seed. They beat South Alabama and Milwaukee. In the regional games, they defeated Georgetown and upset Villanova. This win got them to their second Final Four under Donovan.

Florida defeated George Mason in the national semifinals. On April 3, 2006, the Gators beat the UCLA Bruins 73–57 to win the school's first men's basketball NCAA Championship. The university even bought the court used in Indianapolis and put it in the O'Connell Center.

2007: Second National Championship

Championship banners in the O'Connell Center

All five starters from the 2006 championship team returned for the 2006–07 season. The Gators were ranked No. 1 in preseason polls. They won the SEC Championship early in the season. They also won their third straight SEC tournament championship.

Florida entered the 2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. They advanced to the Final Four after beating Butler and Oregon. In a rematch of the 2006 title game, the Gators again defeated the UCLA Bruins in the national semifinal. Florida then beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 84–75. They became the first team since 1991–92 to win back-to-back national championships with the same starting lineup. The University of Florida is also the only school to win both the basketball and football national championships in the same season (2007). Coach Donovan also became the winningest coach in school history during this season.

The starting five players from these championship teams called themselves "the 04s" because they started at Florida in 2004. They were known for being great friends. After the 2006–07 season, three of them were drafted among the top ten picks in the 2007 NBA draft: Al Horford (third), Corey Brewer (seventh), and Joakim Noah (ninth). All five starters and Chris Richard later played professionally. Horford became a five-time NBA All-Star. Noah also became an NBA All-Star and was named the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

2008–2010: Rebuilding the Team

After the second championship, Donovan briefly accepted an NBA coaching job. But he quickly returned to coach the Gators. The Gators did not make the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2009. They were eliminated in the NIT semifinals in 2008 and quarterfinals in 2009. In 2010, they received an NCAA Tournament invitation but lost in the first round in double overtime.

2011–2013: Three Elite Eight Appearances

In the 2011 NCAA Tournament, the Gators were the No. 2 seed. They won the SEC Championship. They beat UC Santa Barbara Gauchos and UCLA. They then got revenge on BYU, who had knocked them out the year before. This sent them to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2007. Their run ended there with an overtime loss to Butler.

In the 2012 NCAA Tournament, the Gators were the No. 7 seed. They defeated Virginia and Norfolk State. They upset Marquette to reach the Elite Eight. But they lost to Louisville after losing a big lead.

The 2012–13 Gators won the SEC Championship. Coach Billy Donovan earned his 400th career win that season. They entered the 2013 NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed. They easily beat Northwestern State and Minnesota. They then defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the Sweet Sixteen. But their run ended again in the Elite Eight, losing to Michigan. The Gators became the first team to lose in the Elite Eight three years in a row.

Florida was the only team to reach the Elite Eight in each of those seasons from 2011 to 2013.

2014: Back to the Final Four

Casey Prather

The 2013–14 Gators made history. They finished the SEC regular season with a perfect 18–0 record. This was the first time an SEC team had done that. They won their seventh SEC championship. The Gators then beat Kentucky for the third time that season to win their fourth SEC Tournament championship.

By winning the SEC tournament, the Gators earned a spot in the NCAA tournament. They were chosen as the No.1 overall seed. Their school record winning streak reached 30 games. They beat their first four tournament opponents by double digits. They finally broke through in the Elite Eight with a win over Dayton. This sent them to the Final Four as the only remaining No.1 seed. In the national semifinals, Florida faced Connecticut. Connecticut had been the last team to beat them earlier in the season. The Gators struggled to score and lost 63–53.

The team's 36–3 record was their best ever. Many players received awards. Billy Donovan was named SEC Coach of the Year. Senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin was named SEC Player of the Year. He also won the SEC Tournament MVP and NCAA South region's Most Outstanding Player.

2015: A Tough Season

John Egbunu

The 2014–15 Gators finished the season with a losing record of 16–17. This was their first losing record in 17 years. They did not play in a postseason tournament. Their scoring was the lowest in Billy Donovan's 19 years as coach. After the season, Donovan left to coach the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. He left Florida as the winningest coach in program history. He led the Gators to 14 NCAA tournament appearances, six SEC regular season titles, and four SEC Tournament championships.

Mike White's Time

On May 7, 2015, Mike White became the new head coach. He had played point guard at Ole Miss and coached at Louisiana Tech.

In his first season, he led Florida to a 21–15 record and a spot in the NIT Tournament. His second Gator team was his best. Florida went 24–7 and finished 2nd in the SEC. They earned a #4 seed in the 2017 NCAA tournament. They reached the Elite Eight with a last-second shot by Chris Chiozza to beat Wisconsin. But they were upset by SEC rival South Carolina, missing the Final Four.

Florida made it to four straight NCAA tournaments under White. They won at least one game in each appearance. However, after 2017, their number of wins decreased each season. They were not serious contenders for SEC championships. After a disappointing 2021-22 season, White left to coach at Georgia.

Todd Golden's Era

Rebuilding and a Tournament Return

On March 18, 2022, Todd Golden became Florida's new head basketball coach. Golden's first season ended with a 16–17 record. They received an invitation to the NIT but lost in the first round.

Golden worked hard for the 2023–24 season. He brought in new players like Zyon Pullin, Walter Clayton Jr., and Tyrese Samuel. The team greatly improved. They had a 21–10 regular season record. They earned the 6-seed in the SEC tournament. They defeated Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M to reach the SEC championship game. They lost to Auburn. This earned the Gators the No. 7 seed in the 2024 NCAA tournament. They played Colorado and lost a very close game, 102–100. Even with a first-round exit, the 2023–24 season was a big step for Florida's return to national importance.

2025: Third National Championship Season

With Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard returning, Florida aimed for national prominence. They added transfers Rueben Chinyelu and Alijah Martin. Martin had been part of a Final Four team two years earlier.

The Gators started the season ranked No. 21. They had a 13–0 start and reached No. 6 in the rankings. Their first loss was to Kentucky in their SEC opener. But they responded by beating No. 1 Tennessee by 30 points. They also defeated No. 1 Auburn by 9 points. This made them the fifth team in NCAA history to beat two No. 1 teams in the same season. Florida finished the regular season 27–4. They won their first SEC tournament championship since 2014 by beating Tennessee 86–77.

The Alamodome after Florida's 79–73 win over Auburn in the 2025 Final Four

As the No. 1 seed in their regional, Florida defeated Norfolk State 95–69. This set up a game with two-time defending champions UConn. Clayton Jr.'s 23 points led the Gators to a thrilling 77–75 comeback win over UConn. This comeback trend continued. They had three more comeback wins later in the tournament. Their 87–71 win over Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen led to a game with Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. Down by 9 points with only 3:14 left, four straight 3-pointers from Clayton Jr. and Thomas Haugh helped the Gators win 84–79. This secured Florida's first Final Four appearance since 2014. In the Final Four, the Gators defeated Auburn, coming back from a 9-point deficit. Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 points. On April 7, 2025, Golden led Florida to its first National Championship since 2007. They won 65–63 against the Houston Cougars. Clayton Jr. was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

Championships and Big Wins

NCAA National Championships

The Florida Gators have won three NCAA national championships. This ties them for 8th all-time among Division I schools. They won two championships in a row in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan. This was the first time any team had won back-to-back national championships since Duke in 1991–92. Also, the Gators became the first school to win a national championship in both football and basketball in the same year (2007).

SEC Tournament Championships

The Gators have won five SEC Tournament championships. Four of these were under Billy Donovan, including three in a row from 2005 to 2007.

SEC Regular Season Championships

The SEC names the team with the best regular season record as the "official" conference champion. The Gators have won seven official SEC championships. Norm Sloan won the first one in 1988–89. Billy Donovan won the other six. This includes the 2006–07 season when they also won the SEC Tournament and the NCAA national championship. They also won three in a four-year span from 2011 to 2014.

The 2013–14 team was the first in SEC history to have a perfect 18–0 regular season conference record.

NCAA Tournament Results

Florida has played in the NCAA tournament 24 times. Their official record is 46–18, as some early appearances were later vacated. They won national championships in 2006, 2007, and 2025.

* Vacated by the NCAA

NCAA Tournament Seed History

The NCAA started seeding the tournament in 1979.

NIT Results

The Gators have played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 12 times.

Final Four Appearances

The Florida Gators have been to six Final Fours.

Lon Kruger led the Gators to their first Final Four in 1994. Florida was the No.3 seed. They won against James Madison, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Boston College. They then lost to Duke in the national semifinals.

Billy Donovan took them back six years later in 2000. Florida was the No.5 seed. They had a tough first-round game against Butler, winning with a last-second shot. They then easily defeated Illinois, Duke, and Oklahoma State. They beat North Carolina in the semifinals but lost to Michigan State in the championship game.

Donovan brought Florida back to the Final Four in 2006. They won their regional games against South Alabama, UW-Milwaukee, Georgetown, and Villanova. The Gators then beat George Mason in the semifinals. They easily defeated UCLA in the championship game to win their first national title.

The next year, Donovan's Gators made it to back-to-back Final Fours and won back-to-back national championships. They were the top seed in their regional. They defeated Jackson State, Purdue, Butler, and Oregon. In the Final Four, they beat UCLA in the semifinals and then Ohio State in the title game.

For the next decade, Florida often reached the Elite Eight but couldn't get to the Final Four. From 2011 to 2014, they made four straight Elite Eight appearances. They lost close games to Butler and Louisville. In 2013, they lost badly to Michigan. Florida finally broke through in 2014, beating Dayton to reach the Final Four. They lost to the eventual champions, Connecticut. After a two-year break from the NCAA Tournament, Mike White led them back to the Elite Eight in 2017. They lost to SEC rival South Carolina.

Under White, the team's success slowed down. They never reached the Sweet Sixteen again. After a tough 2021-22 season, White left. Todd Golden took over and quickly rebuilt the program. In his third season, Golden's Gators rode their SEC Tournament Championship momentum to reach the program’s sixth Final Four. They defeated Norfolk State, then got revenge on UConn with a thrilling 77–75 win. They blew out Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen. They earned their Final Four spot with an amazing comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. Playing in San Francisco, Golden's former coaching city, the Gators came back from a 75–66 deficit to win 84–79.

Home Courts Through the Years

Florida Gator men's basketball home courts
University Gymnasium	1920–1927	University Gymnasium
Building R / New Gym	1928–1949	New Gym
Florida Gym / Alligator Alley	1950–1980	Florida Gym
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (Exactech Arena since 2017)	1980–present	Stephen C. O'Connell Center

Famous Gators Players

All-Americans

Walter Clayton Jr. (pictured in 2023) was a consensus first team All-American in 2025

These Florida Gators basketball players have been named All-Americans:

• Neal Walk, center (1968, 1969)
• Udonis Haslem, center (2001)
• Al Horford, forward-center (2007)
• Joakim Noah, forward-center (2007)
• Scottie Wilbekin, point guard (2014)
• Walter Clayton Jr., point guard (2025)

SEC Player of the Year

Scottie Wilbekin was named the SEC Player of the Year in 2014

Two Florida Gators have been named the SEC Player of the Year:

• Chandler Parsons, small forward (2011)
• Scottie Wilbekin, point guard (2014)

Retired Jersey Numbers

Florida has retired one jersey number to honor a special player.

Gators in Professional Basketball

In the NBA

Many former Gators players have gone on to play in the NBA:

• Bradley Beal (2011–12 at UF), Phoenix Suns
• Dorian Finney-Smith (2013–16 at UF), Los Angeles Lakers
• Al Horford (2004–07 at UF), Boston Celtics
• Tre Mann (2019–21 at UF), Charlotte Hornets
• Andrew Nembhard (2018–20 at UF), Indiana Pacers
• Zyon Pullin (2023–24 at UF), Memphis Grizzlies

Overseas Players

Kerry Blackshear Jr.

Some Gators players also play professionally in other countries:

• Kerry Blackshear Jr. (2019–2020 at UF), plays in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Nick Calathes (2007–2009 at UF), plays for AS Monaco Basket in the EuroLeague
• Chris Chiozza (2014–2018 at UF), plays in Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi
• Anthony Duruji (2020–2022 at UF), plays for Saint-Chamond Basket in France
• John Egbunu (2015–2017 at UF), plays for Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Michael Frazier II (2012–2015 at UF), plays in Jordanian Premier Basketball League
• Kevarrius Hayes (2015–2019 at UF), plays for Paris Basketball in France and the EuroLeague
• Egor Koulechov (2017–2018 at UF), plays for Israeli team Ironi Nahariya
• Kyle Lofton (2022–2023 at UF), plays for Bamberg Baskets in Germany
• Casey Prather (2010–2014 at UF), plays in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Devin Robinson (2014–2017 at UF), plays for Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia
• Alex Tyus (2007–2011 at UF), also plays for the Israeli national basketball team
• Scottie Wilbekin (2010–2014 at UF), plays in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Will Yeguete (2010–2014 at UF), plays for Le Mans Sarthe Basket in France

More About the Gators

• Florida Gators
• Florida Gators Dazzlers
• Florida Gators women's basketball
• Florida–Kentucky men's basketball rivalry
• List of Florida Gators in the NBA
• University Athletic Association
• Florida-Florida State men's basketball rivalry