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  • MBB: Gators stymie West Virginia in Jimmy V Classic

    MBB: Gators stymie West Virginia in Jimmy V Classic

    Photo via Getty Images

    The Florida Gators improved to 5-3 with a victory over West Virginia (5-3) Tuesday night. The matchup was the second in a double-header at Madsion Square Garden in New York as part of the Jimmy V Classic.

    First Half

    The starters for Mike White‘s squad were Andrew Nembhard, KeVaughn Allen, Noah Locke, Keith Stone, and Kevarrius Hayes. Florida jumped out the gates with a quick start, getting a corner three pointer from Locke off the feed from fellow freshman Nembhard. The Gators came out with fire, but had trouble pulling away early, although WVU turned the ball over a bunch early, Florida missed numerous scoring opportunities – the majority of them being three pointers.

    After multiple missed three point attempts in the first half, senior guard KeVaughn Allen was able to get one to go down on the fast break. Twenty-five seconds later Keith Stone was able to get one of his own to fall from the top of the key. Florida pushed it to a 24-13 lead, forcing a ferocious Bob Huggins to call a time out.

    Whatever Huggins said in that interview set the Mountaineers up for a late 1st half run making what was a 30-18 Gator lead with just over 2:30 left turned into a 30-27 lead due to a 9-0 run from WVU. West Virginia is taking a lot of momentum into the second half.

    Second Half

    As expected, the Mountaineer momentum continued into the second half, the 9-0 run stretched into a 13-0 run giving West Virginia their first lead of the game with 16:33 left in regulation. In the process of taking the lead, WVU held the Gators scoreless for 8:55 of game clock. It took a Mountaineer lead to wake UF up, but when they did, they did not look back. The Gators went on a 14-2 run off a Nembhard NBA range three pointer before a WVU time out. Immediately following the time out, KeVaughn Allen made his third 3-pointer of the game to give Florida a 47-33 midway through the second half.

    After going back and forth for a few minutes, at 4:31 mark remaining in regulation, West Virginia star center Sagaba Konate fouled out by picking up his fifth foul and finishing his night with 4 points and five turnovers. A pair of Chase Harler threes then made it a ten point Florida lead, 53-43.

    For the final time remaining in the game, West Virginia played the foul game sending Florida to the line to continue to extend the game time. The Mountaineers star players inability to contribute left them out of this game since Florida went on their second half run. Mike White’s defense was able to force 21 turnovers and scored 20 points off of those turnovers, leading to a 66-56 Win for the Gators.

    Notable Stats

    FLORIDA: 66

    Stone – 9 points, 8 rebounds

    Hayes – 6 points, 7 rebounds

    Nembhard – 7 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists

    Locke – 8 points

    Allen – 19 points, 5 rebounds

    K. Johnson – 9 points, 4 rebounds

    WEST VIRGINIA: 56

    Ahmed – 7 points, 9 rebounds

    Konate – 4 points, 6 rebounds

    Harris – 9 points, 5 rebounds

    Harler – 11 points

    Gordon – 6 points, 5 rebounds

    Knapper – 7 points

  • FB: Gators flip 4-star OL Michael Tarquin from Miami

    FB: Gators flip 4-star OL Michael Tarquin from Miami

    Photo by Cory Fravel / 247Sports

    For the second time in as many days, the Gators have flipped a former Miami (Fla.) commit. Four star lineman, Michael Tarquin has been trending upward for the Gators over the last month and on Monday evening, he made it official.

    Tarquin becomes the 18th Florida commitment for the 2019 recruiting cycle and will add some depth to the offensive line. The Citra (Fla.) North Marion native holds a 247Sports composite score of .9042 and is the No. 23 OT in the country.

    With a 6’5″ 290-pound frame, Tarquin will provide another large body for line coach John Hevesy to use in his arsenal. Strength and conditioning coach, Nick Savage will chisel his already imposing form into brute strength and intimidation for anyone who has the misfortune of lining up opposite him.

    Hevesy has been a key factor in Tarquin’s recruitment and his efforts have finally paid off. With the commitment, Florida moves up to 19th in the recruiting rankings. As the early signing period fast approaches, expect that ranking to continue to rise.

  • MBB: Gators PG Andrew Nembhard named SEC Freshman of the Week

    MBB: Gators PG Andrew Nembhard named SEC Freshman of the Week

    Florida Gators point guard Andrew Nembhard was named the SEC Freshman of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.

    Nembhard played catalyst in Florida’s 98-66 win over North Florida on November 27. Nembhard recorded 11 assists and no turnovers becoming only the second frosh in the SEC to do so since 1996-97.

    The 6’5 guard from Ontario, Canada has started all seven games for the Gators and has averaged 7.3 points and 6.6 assists per game.

    Nembhard makes up one-half of the all freshman backcourt that Florida has started with over their last three contests, with Noah Locke having started at the shooting guard position.

    Florida will travel to New York and play in Madison Square Garden against West Virginia on Tuesday. The game is slated for a 9:00 PM tip and will be aired live on ESPN.

  • FB: 2019 3-star OL commits to Florida, formerly committed to Miami

    FB: 2019 3-star OL commits to Florida, formerly committed to Miami

    Photo via Keith Neibuhr /247Sports

    On the heels of his official visit, three star offensive lineman, Kingsley Eguakun has decommited from Miami (Fla.) and committed to Florida. Eguakun made the announcement on Sunday evening, adding that he is “1000% committed.”

    The newest addition to the class of 2019, Eguakun holds an .8615 composite ranking from 247Sports. The Jacksonville native played for Sandalwood High School and is considered the 46th ranked OG in this recruiting cycle.

    Charlton Warren and John Hevesy have been in regular contact with Eguakun and were integral in getting him to flip his commitment. Eguakun had been committed to the Hurricanes since January.

    With this latest addition, Florida now has 17 commitments for the 2019 class and ranks No. 21 in the recruiting rankings. At 6’1″ 293 lbs, Eguakun is just the latest in a flurry of recruiting wins for the Gators.

  • WBB: Gators top Texas Tech in SEC/Big 12 Challenge

    WBB: Gators top Texas Tech in SEC/Big 12 Challenge

    Photo by Benjamin Fox / Chomp Talk

    Florida 72, Texas Tech 67

    The Gators women’s basketball team finally earned their first win of the season on Sunday, defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 72-67.

    The Gators were led by four players that finished in double-figures in scoring. Funda Nakkasoglu led all scorers with 21 points while freshman guard Ariel Johnson added a career high 14, making four shots from beyond the three-point arc.

    Florida entered halftime tied with the Red Raiders thanks to a solid defensive effort. At the intermission, Florida had only made nine of their 41 attempts from the field, and only three of their 27 attempts from inside the three-point line.

    The third quarter saw a back and forth affair continue. Late in the period, Texas Tech took a 45-43 lead, but Nakkasoglu was found in the corner and sank a three as the buzzer sounded to send Florida into the fourth with the lead and with the momentum.

    The Gators utilized that momentum and carried it to their first victory of the season. Florida has had a few chances this year with a late lead only to watch it evaporate. The team showed it’s progression by closing out this game against a very good team.

    • In addition to her 21 points, Nakkasoglu made all four free-throws she attempted late in the game to seal the victory.
    • Kiki Smith added 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
    • Emanuely de Oliveira chipped in ten points while knocking down 2-5 from deep.
    • Zada Williams grabbed twelve boards and Delicia Washington added 10.
    • Florida outrebounded the Red Raiders 47-44. Texas Tech entered the game averaging 50 rebounds and a +15 margin each game. Florida recorded 11 second chance points.
    • Paige Robinson added 8 points and 9 rebounds.

    Next up:

    Florida will continue a four game home stand and will face Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. The Wildcats are 4-2 on the season.

  • FB: Gators get Michigan in Peach Bowl

    FB: Gators get Michigan in Peach Bowl

    With the regular season and the conference championship games in the books, the CFP and Bowl Selection Committee have made their decisions. In his first season as Florida’s head coach, Dan Mullen has taken the Gators from a 4-7 a season ago to a 9-3 team with a berth in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan.

    Since defeating Florida State in their regular season finale, the Gators coaching staff have been hot on the recruiting trail, making several in home visits and hosting a handful of official visits on campus. Those efforts will continue until the early signing period and then they will amp up bowl preparations.

    There will be an interesting storyline to this bowl game as former Florida coach, Jim McElwain is the current wide receivers coach for the Wolverines. Florida will want to prove they’re better off now that he’s gone by getting their first win against Michigan.

    The Gators trail the all time series with an 0-4 record against Michigan.

    Florida enters the bowl season as a Top-10 team in all three polls after beginning the season unranked. With a win over the Wolverines, they can secure a solid preseason ranking next season as they attempt to improve upon this year’s success.

    The Peach Bowl is set for a noon kickoff on December 29th. It . The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.

    Note: Multiple reports indicate that Jim McElwain will be named the head coach of Central Michigan this week, leaving his status for the Peach Bowl uncertain.

  • Report: Elite pass rusher Jonathan Greenard intends to transfer to Florida

    Report: Elite pass rusher Jonathan Greenard intends to transfer to Florida

    Photo via USA Today Sports

    Defensive End Jonathan Greenard is set to transfer to the University of Florida after graduating from Louisville in December. Dave Lackford of rivals.com was the first to report on the transfer.

    Greenard missed his redshirt junior season with a wrist injury that he suffered in the first game of the season.

    He was primed for a breakout season after leading the team in both, tackles for loss and sacks in his sophomore campaign. In just five starts, Greenard tallied 15.5 TFL and 7 sacks.

    Greenard had the faith and confidence of his team and the coaching staff, as evidenced by being elected team captain and comments made by Brian VanGorder during a press conference earlier this season.

    “I don’t know what it would have looked like,” said, VanGorder. “but I was counting on him getting … 15, 16 sacks this year.” This was a sentiment that was shared by Greenard as he softly added, “Me too.”

    Though his playing time was limited, it was always impactful for the Cardinals. Playing in 22 games (5 starts), Greenard amassed 70 total tackles, 37 of them were solo. He also tallied 9.5 sacks on 22.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble.

    Defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham already has a relationship with Greenard as he was Louisville’s DC from 2014-2016. Grantham was also a key recruiter in bringing the young defender’s talents to the program.

    With Jachai Polite and Jabari Zuniga potentially opting to enter the NFL draft, Greenard will provide immediate experience to the defensive end position and has the versatility to fill in at linebacker as well. While this addition won’t factor into Florida’s class ranking, picking up Greenard is a big get for the Gators.

    Update (January 9, 2019):

    Greenard officially announced via Twitter that he will attend the University of Florida.

  • VB: Gators headed to Sweet Sixteen after sweeping FGCU

    VB: Gators headed to Sweet Sixteen after sweeping FGCU

    Photo by Brian Fox / Chomp Talk

    The Florida volleyball team managed two sweeps in as many days after downing the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in round two of the NCAA Tournament. The win comes just one day after the Gators shut out FSU in the first round. Now, Mary Wise‘s squad is onto the Sweet 16.

    Set 1

    Florida did not jump out to the fastest start, trailing the Eagles 7-4 early on in the match. But, they quickly battled back to 7-7. Freshman Paula Cerame‘s service run put the team up 22-14 late in the game and the Gators capitalized on the momentum to clinch the set, winning 25-17.

    The squad hit .455, while only allowing the other team to hit .067 of its attempts. Rachael Kramer and Paige Hammons pitched in four kills and Thayer Hall made three.

    Set 2

    The momentum carried on into the second set, where Florida led 16-7. The team then went on a 9-6 run to quickly move the match to the third frame, winning this one 25-13.

    Thanks to 12 errors by FGCU, the Gators hit .500, while holding the Eagles to .074. Hammons led the set with four kills and Holly Carlton added three.

    Set 3

    Once again, the ball was in Florida’s court early on, with a score of 10-6. The Gators kept the pace steady, but FGCU pulled within two to make it 19-17. A service run by Allie Monserez gave the team its final six points and a spot in the next round.

    Gator Notables

    Once again, Paige Hammons paced the offense, with fourteen kills. The FGCU win marked the ninth time that Hammons led the category this season.

    For the 30th time this season, Allie Monserez led the team in assists (20). Her sister Marlie followed behind with 16.

    Allie Gregory‘s 16 digs led the Gators for the 29th time on the season.

    Up Next

    The team will find out whether it will play Utah or #4 BYU in the Sweet 16. The Utes and the Cougars take the court Saturday at 9 PM.

    The Gators are also now 26-6 on the season and 2-0 all-time against Florida Gulf Coast.

  • VB: Road to the Championship- Regionals preview, Part 2

    VB: Road to the Championship- Regionals preview, Part 2

    Photo by Brian Fox / Chomp Talk

    The board is set and the Florida volleyball team is now in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After downing heated rival FSU in three sets, the Gators will take the court tonight to play the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.

    FGCU pulled an upset last night, beating regional host UCF in five sets on the Knights’ home court. The Eagles are 26-6 overall, but the Knights were 27-3 before last night’s final score. In the ASUN conference, Florida Gulf Coast went 15-1.

    However, the Gators are still the favorites to win tonight. Florida ended the regular season ranked third in the loaded SEC, with a conference record of 15-3. The squad is now 25-6 overall.

    The Gators will look to rely on their All-SEC picks, who made a huge impact against Florida State. Paige Hammons paced the offense, tying her career-high of 16 kills. On the other side of the ball, Rachael Kramer made nine blocks. Thayer Hall did a little of everything, posting nine kills, five digs, and three blocks. Taelor Kellum added seven kills.

    First serve is set for 7 PM tonight, with updates streaming live from @GatorsVB on Twitter.

  • VB: Gators end Florida State’s season with first round sweep

    VB: Gators end Florida State’s season with first round sweep

    Photo by Brian Fox / Chomp Talk

    The Gators are officially out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament after taking care of business against Florida State. Florida volleyball put on a convincing performance, sweeping the Seminoles in three sets. The program is now 22-0 in first round matches all-time.

    Set 1

    The Gators jumped out to an 11-5 start. The gap began to close in the last few points of the match, but Florida maintained a 20-18 lead. The rivals went back and forth until a service ace from Rachael Kramer ended the set, 25-21.

    The squad hit .214 and managed 14 kills in the process. Paige Hammons led the way with five kills (hitting .500 in the frame), while Taelor Kellum and Thayer Hall made three apiece.

    Set 2

    FSU led Florida 6-2, but the Gators fought back for a 7-7 tie. After that, Mary Wise‘s team caught fire. The squad went on a 14-5 run, making the score 21-12. However, the Noles were able to scale it back to a more manageable 23-19. Kramer then secured two kills to move on to set three. Gators win 25-20.

    Florida hit even better this time around with a clip of .286, racking up 16 kills. Hammons matched her five kills from the first frame, but this time Kramer and Hall each pitched in four.

    Set 3

    The rivals were tied at 10-10, but an 8-point service run from Allie Gregory became too much to handle for the Seminoles. The Gators won set three 25-13, with a Hammons kill to end the night.

    Florida hit .333 as a team while holding FSU to just .107. Hammons nabbed six kills, with Kramer and Kellum combining to contribute six more.

    Gator Notables

    Each of Florida’s All-SEC selections made their presences known against FSU. Paige Hammons went on a kill-streak, tying her career-high of a whopping 16 in a match. Rachael Kramer and Thayer Hall registered nine apiece and Taelor Kellum followed with seven.

    Allie Monserez once again led the team in assists, dishing out 20. There have been only two matches where Monserez did not top the category. Her sister Marlie looks to be following in her footsteps, notching 16 assists of her own.

    Allie Gregory matched her career-high in digs, making 22 saves on the night. Paula Cerame tied her career-best in the same category with 8.

    Nine of Florida’s 11 blocks were courtesy of Rachael Kramer.

    Up Next

    Florida will face the FGCU Eagles for the rights to move on in the NCAA Tournament. FGCU upset 13-seeded (and host) UCF in a five-set thriller immediately after the Gators victory. The match is set to begin at 7:00 PM on Friday.