After capturing the Southeastern Conference regular-season title, the Gators secured a No. 1 seed for the second straight year.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida men’s basketball team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament as a top seed. After capturing the Southeastern Conference regular-season title, the Gators secured a No. 1 seed for the second straight year and will open tournament play Friday in Tampa.
Florida will face the winner of the First Four matchup between Prairie View A&M and Lehigh at Benchmark International Arena. Game time and television information will be announced later.
The Gators are making their 24th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their third consecutive trip under fourth-year head coach Todd Golden. During Golden’s tenure, Florida has posted a 6-1 record in the tournament, highlighted by last season’s national championship run.
With a 26-7 record this season, Florida earned the fourth No. 1 seed in program history. It marks the first time the program has received a top seed in back-to-back tournaments. The Gators’ previous No. 1 seeds came in 2007, 2014 and 2025.
Florida has historically thrived when entering the tournament as a No. 1 seed. The Gators captured national championships in 2007 and 2025 and reached the Final Four in 2014.
In terms of potential opponents, Florida has never faced Lehigh in program history. The Gators’ only meeting with Prairie View A&M came in 2006, a game Florida won.
The winner of Florida’s opening-round game will advance to face the winner of the Clemson vs. Iowa matchup on Sunday in Tampa.
With momentum from an SEC title and championship experience from last season, Florida enters the tournament looking to make another deep March run.