- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 442,028
- Reaction score
- 44
After some timely shooting from Walter Clayton Jr. on Saturday night, the Florida Gators men's basketball team is still chomping and still marching.
Clayton scored 13 points over the final five minutes and change in Florida's 84-79 victory against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. His performance helped boost the Gators who'll compete in the Final Four for the sixth time in program history this weekend from San Antonio.
Florida erased a 10-point deficit and overcame 12 turnovers which yielded 22 points for the Red Raiders. Todd Golden and company will now face Auburn with a chance to compete for a national championship.
Yes, the Gators have made the Final Four six times in program history including this season. The other seasons were 1994, 2000, 2006, 2007 and 2014.
MARCH MADNESS HISTORY: Three players have reached Final Four with 2 schools? One is a Gator
They are 5-3 all-time in the Final Four, winning in 2006 and 2007 as repeat champions.
Florida made their first Final Four appearance in 1994, entering the tournament as a No. 3 seed and working their way to wins against James Madison, Penn, an overtime victory against Connecticut and Boston College.
They'd lose to 1994 runner-ups Duke in the Final Four before the Blue Devils lost to Arkansas in the championship game.
BEST BET: Florida favored in Final Four matchup with Auburn. Here's by how much
After surviving a Round of 64 overtime thriller with Butler, the No. 5 seeded Gators went on a tear to the National Championship game.
They averaged 78.8 points in the tournament as they picked up wins against the Bulldogs, Illinois, top-seeded Duke, Oklahoma State and North Carolina before losing to Michigan State in the national championship game.
The first national championship run for Florida was a memorable one. Ranked as a No. 3 seed in the tournament, the Gators caught fire and stormed their way to history.
They outscored opponents by an average of 16 points per game, picking up wins against South Alabama, Milwaukee, Villanova, George Mason and UCLA.
KEVIN BROCKWAY: How Florida is balancing transfer portal, Final Four run
The Gators scored 72.6 points per game in the tournament and defeated the Bruins 73-57 in the title game after leading by as much as 20.
The 2006 run was just the precursor for their championship in 2007. The Gators won 35 games and were ranked as a No. 1 seed.
They walked through their competition in the tournament, defeating Jackson State, Purdue, Butler, Oregon, UCLA and Ohio State in another lopsided title game.
Florida became the first team since Duke (1991,1992) to repeat as champions, a feat that's only been accomplished once (UConn 2023, 2024) since the Gators did it.
The 2014 run was cut short by UConn, the eventual champions and a team that defeated the Gators twice in the same season.
Florida was on a 30-game win streak that year and was a 1-seed in the tournament. They picked up wins against Albany, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Dayton, winning each game by at least 10 points.
But they couldn't top UConn, a feat they failed twice. UConn was responsible for two of Florida's three losses that season, bookending an impressive win streak with two losses to the same program.
2025: The Gators chomp their way to the 2025 Final Four with championship aspirations
Walter Clayton Jr. leads a deep Gators team in points, minutes and assists. After netting two big-shots to roar past Texas Tech, they're going to lean on him to deliver their first championship since 2007.
They'll face Auburn with a spot in the National Championship on the line.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball Final Four: How previous March Madness trips ended
Continue reading...
Clayton scored 13 points over the final five minutes and change in Florida's 84-79 victory against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. His performance helped boost the Gators who'll compete in the Final Four for the sixth time in program history this weekend from San Antonio.
Florida erased a 10-point deficit and overcame 12 turnovers which yielded 22 points for the Red Raiders. Todd Golden and company will now face Auburn with a chance to compete for a national championship.
Has Florida been to the Men's Final Four before?
Yes, the Gators have made the Final Four six times in program history including this season. The other seasons were 1994, 2000, 2006, 2007 and 2014.
MARCH MADNESS HISTORY: Three players have reached Final Four with 2 schools? One is a Gator
They are 5-3 all-time in the Final Four, winning in 2006 and 2007 as repeat champions.
1994: Gators make first Final Four appearance in program history
Florida made their first Final Four appearance in 1994, entering the tournament as a No. 3 seed and working their way to wins against James Madison, Penn, an overtime victory against Connecticut and Boston College.
They'd lose to 1994 runner-ups Duke in the Final Four before the Blue Devils lost to Arkansas in the championship game.
BEST BET: Florida favored in Final Four matchup with Auburn. Here's by how much
2000: Gators splash their way back to the Final Four
After surviving a Round of 64 overtime thriller with Butler, the No. 5 seeded Gators went on a tear to the National Championship game.
They averaged 78.8 points in the tournament as they picked up wins against the Bulldogs, Illinois, top-seeded Duke, Oklahoma State and North Carolina before losing to Michigan State in the national championship game.
2006: Billy Donovan delivers Florida basketball's first national championship
The first national championship run for Florida was a memorable one. Ranked as a No. 3 seed in the tournament, the Gators caught fire and stormed their way to history.
They outscored opponents by an average of 16 points per game, picking up wins against South Alabama, Milwaukee, Villanova, George Mason and UCLA.
KEVIN BROCKWAY: How Florida is balancing transfer portal, Final Four run
The Gators scored 72.6 points per game in the tournament and defeated the Bruins 73-57 in the title game after leading by as much as 20.
2007: Gators do it again, secure back-to-back NCAA national titles
You must be registered for see images attach
The 2006 run was just the precursor for their championship in 2007. The Gators won 35 games and were ranked as a No. 1 seed.
They walked through their competition in the tournament, defeating Jackson State, Purdue, Butler, Oregon, UCLA and Ohio State in another lopsided title game.
Florida became the first team since Duke (1991,1992) to repeat as champions, a feat that's only been accomplished once (UConn 2023, 2024) since the Gators did it.
2014: Florida's run cut short by eventual champions UConn
The 2014 run was cut short by UConn, the eventual champions and a team that defeated the Gators twice in the same season.
Florida was on a 30-game win streak that year and was a 1-seed in the tournament. They picked up wins against Albany, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Dayton, winning each game by at least 10 points.
But they couldn't top UConn, a feat they failed twice. UConn was responsible for two of Florida's three losses that season, bookending an impressive win streak with two losses to the same program.
You must be registered for see images
2025: The Gators chomp their way to the 2025 Final Four with championship aspirations
Walter Clayton Jr. leads a deep Gators team in points, minutes and assists. After netting two big-shots to roar past Texas Tech, they're going to lean on him to deliver their first championship since 2007.
They'll face Auburn with a spot in the National Championship on the line.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball Final Four: How previous March Madness trips ended
Continue reading...
