{"id":193728,"date":"2026-03-16T17:19:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/193728\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T17:19:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:19:09","slug":"charting-the-gators-sunshine-state-ncaa-fate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/193728\/","title":{"rendered":"Charting the Gators: Sunshine State NCAA Fate"},"content":{"rendered":"

GAINESVILLE, Fla.\u00a0\u2013 The state of Florida has been pretty good to the Florida basketball program over the years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Which is how it should be, right?\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the last few weeks, the Gators \u2013 on their way to the 2026 Southeastern Conference title \u2013 had been trending toward playing the NCAA Tournament close to home, so it was no surprise when the field of 68 was announced Sunday night and tossed UF, as the tournament’s fourth overall seed and No. 1 seed in the Southeast Region, into the Tampa pod scheduled for Friday and Sunday at Benchmark International Arena. That’s a two-hour bus ride down Interstate-75.<\/p>\n

The Gators (26-7) will play the winner of Wednesday night’s 16-seed play-in game between Lehigh (18-16) and Prairie View A&M (18-17) at Dayton, Ohio.<\/p>\n

When UF takes the floor Friday night, it’ll mark the program’s 14th\u00a0all-time NCAA game played in the home state \u2013 in four different cities \u2013 and the first since 2017. The Gators are 11-2 all-time when kept at home, though Tampa was the scene of one of those defeats. The first, back in 1994, was as joyous as it was historic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Below is a look at those Sunshine State house calls.\u00a0

\n\u00a0 \n<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nGators forward Devin Robinson with a nasty throw-down in a 2017 first-round NCAA defeat of East Tennessee at Orlando. <\/p>\n

CHARTING THE GATORS
\nFlorida will play its 14th (and hopes for a 15th) NCAA Tournament game in the state of Florida this weekend\u00a0during the Southeast Regional at Tampa. Here’s a look back at the previous 13.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t1994
\n\t\t\tMiami (Miami Arena)
\n\t\t\tEast Region semifinal

\n\t\t\tUF (3) vs UConn (4)
\n\t\t\tW 69-60 (OT)
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Huskies All-America forward\u00a0Donyell Marshall clangs 2 FTs with 3 seconds left in regular; Gators dominate in OT. Guard\u00a0Craig Brown outstanding with\u00a017 pt, 9 reb, 4 ast.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t1994
\n\t\t\tMiami (Miami Arena)
\n\t\t\tEast Region final

\n\t\t\tUF (3) vs Boston College (9)
\n\t\t\tW 74-66
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Florida shoots 51% vs Eagles team that ousted 1-seed Indiana. Brown with four second-half 3 on way to 21 points. Forward Andrew DeClercq 16 pt, 13 reb, epic block-shot hustle play. Gators advance to first Final Four.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t1995
\n\t\t\tTallahassee (Leon County Civic Center)
\n\t\t\tSoutheast Region\u00a01st round

\n\t\t\tUF (10) vs Iowa State (7)\u00a0
\n\t\t\tL 64-61
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Cyclones erase 8-point Gators lead with less than four\u00a0minutes to play behind backup forward Julius Michalik (17 pt, 3 3-pointers). ISU guard Fred Hoiberg with\u00a015 pt, 7 reb. Senior guard Dan Cross misses game-tying 3 at the buzzer.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tTampa (St. Pete Times Forum)
\n\t\t\tSoutheast Region 1st round

\n\t\t\tUF (2) vs Sam Houston St\u00a0(15)
\n\t\t\tW 85-55
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Florida builds 14-point halftime lead and cruises to rout. Center David Lee (23 pt, 6 reb) and guard Anthony Roberson (16 pt, 5-7 from 3) lead the way.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tTampa (St. Pete Times Forum)
\n\t\t\tSoutheast Region 2nd round

\n\t\t\tUF (2) vs Michigan State (7)
\n\t\t\tL 68-46
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Spartans pounce from start, give Gators a lesson in toughness. Game is never close. MSU shoots 58% to UF’s 37, wins 30-22 on glass and forces 14 turnovers.\u00a0Backup guard Maurice Ager 16 pt for Spartans. Forward\u00a0Matt Bonner 6 pt, 6 reb in final Gator game.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2006
\n\t\t\tJacksonville (Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
\n\t\t\tMidwest Region 1st round

\n\t\t\tUF (3) vs South Alabama (14)
\n\t\t\tW 76-50
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Gators toy with Jaguars for a half, then shoot 56% after intermission. Lee Humphrey\u00a0pours in 20 points on six 3s. USA\u00a0coached\u00a0by former Billy Donovan UF assistant John Pelphrey, who\u00a0got Arkansas job the next week.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2006
\n\t\t\tJacksonville (Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
\n\t\t\tMidwest Region 2nd round

\n\t\t\tUF (3) vs Wisconsin-Milwaukee (11)
\n\t\t\tW 82-60
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Another so-so first half (UF up by just 8) and strong second half (59% shooting), with forward Corey Brewer scoring 23 points and center Joakim Noah\u00a0tallying 17 pt, 7 reb, 6 ast, 4 blocks.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2011
\n\t\t\tTampa (St. Pete Times Forum)
\n\t\t\tSoutheast Region 1st round

\n\t\t\tUF (2) vs UC-Santa Barbara (15)\u00a0
\n\t\t\tW 79-51
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

SEC champion Gators shoot 58% in first half and roll to 24-point lead. Never threatened. SEC Player of Year Chandler Parson flirts with triple-double (10 pt, 7 reb, 19 ast), with PG Erving Walker adding 18 pt, 6 ast.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2011
\n\t\t\tTampa

\n\t\t\t(St. Pete Times Forum)
\n\t\t\tSoutheast Region 2nd round

\n\t\t\tUF (2) vs UCLA (7)
\n\t\t\tW 73-65
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Gators defeat Bruins for a third straight time in NCAA play. Walker throws in 21 pt, with forward Alex Tyus good for 8 pt, 13 reb. UF heads to “Sweet 16.”
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tOrlando (Amway Center)
\n\t\t\tSoutheast Region 1st round

\n\t\t\tUF (1) vs Albany (16)
\n\t\t\tW 67-55
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Stubborn Stags stick around for a half before No. 1 overall seed Gators make some distance in the second half. Center Patric Young with 10 pt, 10 reb.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tOrlando (Amway Center)
\n\t\t\tSoutheast Region 2nd round

\n\t\t\tUF (1) vs Pittsburgh (9)
\n\t\t\tW 61-45
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

SEC Player of the Year Scottie Wilbekin hits 40-foot shot at halftime buzzer on way to 21 points and guiding Gators to “Sweet 16.”
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tOrlando

\n\t\t\t(Amway Center)
\n\t\t\tEast Region 1st round

\n\t\t\tUF (4) vs East Tennessee St (13)
\n\t\t\tW 80-65
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

Up just a point at halftime, Gators awaken in second half to shoot 54% and defend Buccaneers at 33%. Forward Devin Robinson with career-high 24 pt, plus 7 reb and 2 blocks.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tYear
\n\t\t\tCity (venue)
\n\t\t\tMatch-up (seeds)
\n\t\t\tOutcome
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tOrlando\u00a0(Amway Center)
\n\t\t\tEast Region 2nd round

\n\t\t\tUF (4) vs Virginia (5)
\n\t\t\tW 65-39
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

UF holds UVA to 17 first-half points and just 29.6% shooting for the game (1-for-15 from 3-pt line). Robinson (14 pt, 11 reb) and forward Justin Leon (14 pt, 10 reb) both with double doubles to roll into “Sweet 16.”
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GAINESVILLE, Fla.\u00a0\u2013 The state of Florida has been pretty good to the Florida basketball program over the years.\u00a0…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":193729,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-193728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=193728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=193728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}