GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Dozens of Florida Gators fans gathered outside the Heavener Center on Wednesday evening to send off the men’s basketball team as it departed for Tampa and the NCAA Tournament. The team left a little after 7 p.m.
Fans lined up along the team’s travel bus, collecting autographs and fist bumps from players before they boarded.
The Gators are scheduled to play on Friday in Tampa against Prairie View A&M, which beat Lehigh earlier Wednesday. With the game close to home, the team is expected to draw strong fan support in the stands.
Florida won the national championship last year, defeating Houston 65-63. The Gators enter this year’s tournament with high expectations.
For fan Allie Chen, a college student, the sendoff was her first chance to see the players in person.
“I’m just pretty excited to see everyone,” Chen said. “Because I haven’t seen any of them in person before…so I’m just very excited to be here.”
Paul Myhre, who has followed the team for more than 35 years, said he believes the Gators can go all the way.
“I think they’re gonna win it all,” Myhre said. “I mean I think they have as good a chance as the top other four teams, and I’m hoping they do it. I think they can.”
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