Florida Gators men's basketball team competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and plays for the University of Florida in the NCAA Division I Basketball. The program was established in 1914, and the team plays its home games at the Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. Their court can accommodate 10,136 fans, and the student section supporting them is called the Rowdy Reptiles. The 2024-2025 season is being coached by Todd Golden, and it’s his third season. As of the 2024-2025 season, seven Florida Gators players have earned a selection in the All-American team, including Neal Walk, Udonis Haslem, Joakim Noah, Scottie Wilbekin, and Walter Clayton Jr.
Florida Gators March Madness Playoff History
The Florida Gators have won two NCAA national championships in 2006 and 2007. They were the runners-up in 2000 and finished in the final four five times, in 1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, and 2014.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | No. 6 | Round of 64 | No. 11 NC State | W 82–70 |
| Round of 32 | No. 3 Purdue | W 85–66 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 2 Syracuse | L 81–87 | ||
| 1988 | No. 6 | Round of 64 | No. 11 St. John's | W 62–59 |
| Round of 32 | No. 3 Michigan | L 85–108 | ||
| 1989 | No. 7 | Round of 64 | No. 10 Colorado State | L 46–68 |
| 1994 | No. 3 | Round of 64 | No. 14 James Madison | W 64–62 |
| Round of 32 | No. 11 Penn | W 70–58 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 2 Connecticut | W 69–60 OT | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 9 Boston College | W 74–66 | ||
| Final Four | No. 2 Duke | L 65–70 | ||
| 1995 | No. 10 | Round of 64 | No. 7 Iowa State | L 61–64 |
| 1999 | No. 6 | Round of 64 | No. 11 Penn | W 75–61 |
| Round of 32 | No. 14 Weber State | W 82–74 OT | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 10 Gonzaga | L 72–73 | ||
| 2000 | No. 5 | Round of 64 | No. 12 Butler | W 69–68 OT |
| Round of 32 | No. 4 Illinois | W 93–76 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 1 Duke | W 87–78 | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 3 Oklahoma State | W 77–65 | ||
| Final Four | No. 8 North Carolina | W 71–59 | ||
| National Championship | No. 1 Michigan State | L 76–89 | ||
| 2001 | No. 3 | Round of 64 | No. 14 WKU | W 69–56 |
| Round of 32 | No. 11 Temple | L 54–75 | ||
| 2002 | No. 5 | Round of 64 | No. 12 Creighton | L 82–83 |
| 2003 | No. 2 | Round of 64 | No. 15 Sam Houston State | W 85–55 |
| Round of 32 | No. 7 Michigan State | L 46–68 | ||
| 2004 | No. 5 | Round of 64 | No. 12 Manhattan | L 60–75 |
| 2005 | No. 4 | Round of 64 | No. 13 Ohio | W 67–62 |
| Round of 32 | No. 5 Villanova | L 65–76 | ||
| 2006 | No. 3 | Round of 64 | No. 14 South Alabama | W 76–50 |
| Round of 32 | No. 11 Milwaukee | W 82–60 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 7 Georgetown | W 57–53 | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 1 Villanova | W 75–62 | ||
| Final Four | No. 11 George Mason | W 73–58 | ||
| National Championship | No. 2 UCLA | W 73–57 | ||
| 2007 | No. 1 | Round of 64 | No. 16 Jackson State | W 112–69 |
| Round of 32 | No. 9 Purdue | W 74–67 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 5 Butler | W 65–57 | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 3 Oregon | W 85–77 | ||
| Final Four | No. 2 UCLA | W 76–66 | ||
| National Championship | No. 1 Ohio State | W 84–75 | ||
| 2010 | No. 10 | Round of 64 | No. 7 BYU | L 92–99 2OT |
| 2011 | No. 2 | Round of 64 | No. 15 UC Santa Barbara | W 79–51 |
| Round of 32 | No. 7 UCLA | W 73–65 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 3 BYU | W 83–74 OT | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 8 Butler | L 71–74 OT | ||
| 2012 | No. 7 | Round of 64 | No. 10 Virginia | W 71–45 |
| Round of 32 | No. 15 Norfolk State | W 84–50 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 3 Marquette | W 68–58 | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 4 Louisville | L 68–72 | ||
| 2013 | No. 3 | Round of 64 | No. 14 Northwestern St. | W 79–47 |
| Round of 32 | No. 11 Minnesota | W 78–64 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 15 FGCU | W 62–50 | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 4 Michigan | L 59–79 | ||
| 2014 | No. 1 | Round of 64 | No. 16 Albany | W 67–55 |
| Round of 32 | No. 9 Pittsburgh | W 61–45 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 4 UCLA | W 79–68 | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 11 Dayton | W 62–52 | ||
| Final Four | No. 7 Connecticut | L 53–63 | ||
| 2017 | No. 4 | Round of 64 | No. 13 ETSU | W 80–65 |
| Round of 32 | No. 5 Virginia | W 65–39 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 8 Wisconsin | W 84–83 OT | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 7 South Carolina | L 70–77 | ||
| 2018 | No. 6 | Round of 64 | No. 11 St. Bonaventure | W 77–62 |
| Round of 32 | No. 3 Texas Tech | L 66–69 | ||
| 2019 | No. 10 | Round of 64 | No. 7 Nevada | W 70–61 |
| Round of 32 | No. 2 Michigan | L 49–64 | ||
| 2021 | No. 7 | Round of 64 | No. 10 Virginia Tech | W 75–70 OT |
| Round of 32 | No. 15 Oral Roberts | L 78–81 | ||
| 2024 | No. 7 | Round of 64 | No. 10 Colorado | L 100–102 |
| 2025 | No. 1 | Round of 64 | No. 16 Norfolk State | W 95–69 |
| Round of 32 | No. 8 UConn | W 77–75 | ||
| Sweet Sixteen | No. 4 Maryland | W 87–71 | ||
| Elite Eight | No. 3 Texas Tech | TBD |
Florida Gators March Madness Championship Record
During the 2005-2006 season, the Florida Gators won against UCLA with a 73-57 scoreline, whereas during the 2006-2007 season, they won against Ohio State with a 84-75 scoreline. Both seasons were coached by Billy Donovan.
| Season | Coach | Site | Championship Game Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Billy Donovan | Indianapolis | Florida 73, UCLA 57 |
| 2006–07 | Billy Donovan | Atlanta | Florida 84, Ohio State 75 |
Florida Gators NCAA Tournament seeding history
| Year | Seed |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Florida Gators Final Four Appearances
The Florida Gators have been to Final Fours, five times, making them 17th all time among Division I programs.
| Season | Coach | Final Four Site | Semifinal Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | Lon Kruger | Charlotte, NC | Duke 70, Florida 65 |
| 1999–00 | Billy Donovan | Indianapolis, IN | Florida 71, North Carolina 59 |
| 2005–06 | Billy Donovan | Indianapolis, IN | Florida 73, George Mason 58 |
| 2006–07 | Billy Donovan | Atlanta, GA | Florida 76, UCLA 66 |
| 2013–14 | Billy Donovan | Arlington, TX | Connecticut 63, Florida 53 |
Read More: Florida college basketball championships
FAQs on Florida Gators
A. The Gators' official colors are orange and blue.
A. The passionate student section is known as the Rowdy Reptiles.
A. The Gators compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
A. Todd Golden is the head coach, currently in his third season.
A. The Gators play at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
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