{"id":117254,"date":"2026-01-14T03:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/117254\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T03:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:00:06","slug":"florida-basketball-is-biggest-upcoming-test-to-sec-leading-vanderbilt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/117254\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida basketball is biggest upcoming test to SEC-leading Vanderbilt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated Jan. 13, 2026, 7:13 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Florida basketball bounced back from its road loss to open the SEC schedule against the Missouri Tigers<\/a> with a pair of double-digit home victories over the Georgia Bulldogs<\/a> and Tennessee Volunteers<\/a> \u2014 both of whom were ranked among the top 25 in the major polls.<\/p>\n

Up until that win against UGA, the Gators had already accumulated as many losses this season as the last and had fallen out of the top 25 in both major polls. Not to mention, also steadily sliding down the major bracketologies.<\/p>\n

The two recent triumphs revealed what Todd Golden’s team can do when they reach their potential, which puts them among the best in the SEC. However, there is still one program that is perched above the rest with a perfect 16-0 record: the Vanderbilt Commodores.<\/p>\n

According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, the Orange and Blue’s upcoming matchup on Saturday in Nashville is the biggest upcoming test<\/a> for Vandy.<\/p>\n

“Vandy and Florida look like the best teams in the SEC, and this weekend will be the only time the two face off,” he begins. “The backcourt battle will be key, given the way Tanner and Miles have been playing. Boogie Fland had his best game as a Gator over the weekend, but he and Xaivian Lee haven’t quite found consistency. The key to this matchup is likely whether Vandy can match Florida’s size up front.”<\/p>\n

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Before Florida faces Vandy in Nashville, they first have to get past the Oklahoma Sooners<\/a> in Norman on Tuesday night. That game tips off at 9 p.m. ET inside the Lloyd Noble Center.<\/p>\n

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