Florida Gators Hoops Cracks AP Top 25

The Gators are officially an AP Top 25 squad in Week 16 after winning seven of their last eight contest, including two Quad I triumphs.

Photo: Gators head coach Todd Golden and Florida's bench; Credit: Zach Goodall

The Florida Gators have officially climbed into the AP Top 25 rankings heading into Week 16 of the 2023-24 College Basketball season. 

Performing as one of the hottest teams in the SEC, and country for that matter, Florida slots in at No. 24.

It's the first time UF has cracked the AP Top 25 under second-year head coach Todd Golden and the first time since the 2021-22 season, when the Gators ranked No. 20 in the Dec. 6, 2021, poll.

POLL ALERT: UConn is a unanimous No. 1 in AP Top 25; No. 21 Washington State ends its 302-week poll drought.

Full poll: https://t.co/ZJG5mgWrsa pic.twitter.com/YEroEBMd1x

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) February 19, 2024

Winners of seven of their last eight games, including victories over LSU and Georgia in Week 15, the Gators have found their stride at the perfect time to elevate from the bubble line to a full-blown tournament team since the end of January. 

Anchored by the excellence of backcourt duo Zyon Pullin and Walter Clayton Jr., the Gators have found vast success offensively throughout the campaign, averaging 84.8 points per game — good for ninth-best in college basketball.

They hold the same rank in adjusted offensive efficiency per KenPom through 25 games and sit No. 27 overall in adjusted efficiency margin.

Florida is 3-8 against Quad I opponents, recently picking up crucial wins over No. 17 Kentucky and No. 14 Auburn in a 10-day span to firmly elevate the group into the tournament field. The third win comes from an early season triumph over Pitt, who recently moved into the Top 50 of the NET rankings, to further bolster Florida's March resume.

The Gators have also not lost to an opponent outside of the Quad I category this season.

"I mean, we're a lock, the biggest lock in the world after today," Todd Golden said jokingly following a commanding win over Auburn on Feb. 10. "I think the only thing we might have to decide is if we're wearing white home jerseys in the first round or putting those road unis on. 

"But in all seriousness, we're in a great spot right now." 

Florida compounded the momentum it garnered in that bout to claim two more victories in the ensuing contests to sit at 18-7 (8-4 SEC) with six games remaining.

Gators in 'Great Spot' for March Madness Bid

Moving forward, Florida has three more games in the top quadrant, meeting Alabama twice in a home-and-home series and traveling to Columbia to take on a 20-5 South Carolina squad that has lost two games straight.

The Gators begin the regular-season closing stretch on Wednesday against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.

---

Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.