Florida Gators won't travel far to start March Madness. Where, when they play
· Yahoo Sports
Fans of the Florida Gators won’t have to travel far for March Madness this year.
The No. 1 seed in the South Region will play its first-round game in Tampa, giving local supporters a chance to see the team that finished the season on a hot 11-game winning streak.
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Who do the Florida Gators play in March Madness?
In the first round, Florida will face the winner of (16) Lehigh vs. (16) Prairie View A&M, giving the Gators a matchup against one of the lowest-seeded teams in the tournament.
When do the Florida Gators play in March Madness?
The game is scheduled for Friday, March 20, at 8:25 p.m. ET in Tampa, Florida, putting the team close to home and giving fans a chance to pack the stands.
What seed is the Florida Gators?
Florida earned a No. 1 seed with a 26-7 record and is considered a legitimate national championship contender (+750). Coach Todd Golden’s team had to adjust after losing the entire starting backcourt from last year’s national championship team, which meant the roster needed time to gel early in the season. By season’s end, the Gators had found their rhythm and were firing on all cylinders.
Key players include Thomas Haugh, a former reserve on last year’s title team who is now averaging 17.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and is projected as a lottery pick; Rueben Chinyelu, who is averaging 11.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game and is in the conversation for national defensive player of the year honors; and scorers Alex Condon (14.8 PPG), Xaivian Lee (11.6 PPG, 4.2 APG), and Boogie Fland (11.6 PPG, 1.9 SPG). Over their winning streak, the Gators shot 59% from 2 and 38% from 3, ranking second in the nation behind Duke, according to BartTorvik.
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Who will the Florida Gators play in round 2?
If Florida advances, it will play the winner of (8) Clemson (24-10) vs. (9) Iowa (21-12) in the second round, which is also in Tampa. The matchup will be a key test for the Gators’ championship hopes as they look to advance deeper into the tournament.
When is the last time the Florida Gators won the NCAA basketball championship?
The last time the Florida Gators men’s basketball team won the NCAA Tournament was in 2025, when they defeated Houston 65-63 to claim their third national championship.
Previously, Florida won back-to-back titles in 2006 (73-57 over UCLA) and 2007 (84-75 over Ohio State), both under coach Billy Donovan. The 2025 championship came under Todd Golden, marking a new era for the program.
Notably, the Gators became the first school to win both a football and basketball national championship in the same academic year (2006–07). Under Donovan, Florida had a remarkable turnaround: before his tenure, the program had only five NCAA Tournament appearances, two regular-season SEC championships, and zero SEC tournament titles in 78 seasons. During his 19 seasons, Donovan’s teams won six SEC regular-season championships, four SEC tournament championships, appeared in 14 NCAA Tournaments, reached four Final Fours, and captured the 2006 and 2007 national titles.
Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at [email protected]. Find her on Facebook here.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida Gators fans can stay here, in Tampa, to start March Madness