{"id":159819,"date":"2026-02-18T14:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/159819\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:02:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:02:17","slug":"win-streak-pumps-florida-higher-in-the-athletics-title-contender-tier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/159819\/","title":{"rendered":"Win streak pumps Florida higher in The Athletic’s title contender tier"},"content":{"rendered":"

As 3s fall, Florida<\/a>‘s championship ceiling rises. That’s what The Athletic proclaims in its latest college hoops analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For weeks, Florida’s numbers told an incomplete story. The Gators<\/a> defended. They rebounded. They competed. What they did not do \u2014 at least consistently \u2014 was make enough shots to separate.<\/p>\n

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“We’ll get there,” coach Todd Golden<\/a> said in November, when missed 3-pointers shrank the floor and squeezed possessions. Now, that space looks different.<\/p>\n

Florida drilled 10 3-pointers in a 92-83 win<\/a> over Kentucky<\/a>, its second straight game reaching double figures from beyond the arc. Xaivian Lee scored 22 points and buried four 3s, playing with the lift that had been missing early. Urban Klavzar added 19 off the bench, continuing a surge that has him shooting better than 40 percent from distance in SEC play.<\/p>\n

The perimeter breakthrough does more than pad the box score. It unlocks what has quietly become one of the conference’s most balanced teams<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Florida also dominated the glass against Kentucky with 17 offensive rebounds. The Gators defended with control and physicality, extending their winning streak to five and tightening their grip on the SEC race.<\/p>\n

Ranked 14th nationally and trending toward a No. 2 seed<\/a>, the Orange and Blue suddenly resemble something sturdier than a streaking February team. They look to be constructed for a deep tournament run.<\/p>\n

The early shooting slump obscured this foundation. But now that spacing has returned and confidence has followed, Florida’s ceiling has shifted upward.<\/p>\n

Add in Florida’s no-doubt 76-62 win<\/a> over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night, and it is clear that the ceiling remains rising. March does not reward teams still searching for an identity \u2014 it rewards those who know exactly who they are.<\/p>\n

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The Gators are beginning to look like they do.<\/p>\n

Follow us@GatorsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well asBluesky<\/a>, and like our page onFacebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of\u00a0Florida Gators<\/a>\u00a0news, notes and opinions.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball’s fiery 3-point shooting unlocks title ceiling<\/a><\/p>\n