Gators Enter 2020 Season Ranked No. 1 in Oracle/ITA Rankings
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 | Men's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida men's tennis team will open the 2020 campaign as the top nationally ranked team in the country, slotted at No. 1 in the Oracle/ITA Preseason Rankings announced on Wednesday.
The Gators open the season ranked No. 1 for the first time since notching their highest preseason ranking to open the 2006 season (No. 2).
Additionally, Florida has pushed its streak of being ranked in the Top 25 of the Oracle/ITA Preseason Rankings to 18 consecutive years.
During the 2019 season, Florida reached the Final Four prior to falling to reigning national champions, Texas. The Gators went 25-4 during the year, including 22 wins over ranked opponents, while claiming the SEC regular-season crown with an undefeated conference record of 12-0. The Gators were ranked No. 4 in the year end Oracle/ITA rankings from 2018-19.
During the 2020 season, Florida faces seven teams ranked inside the Top 25, including a Final Four rematch with No. 2 Texas next Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Alfred A. Ring Complex.
No. 1 Florida opens the season this Saturday, Jan. 11, as the Gators will welcome Furman and FAU to the Alfred A. Ring Complex for a pair of doubleheaders slated for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
To view Florida's 2020 schedule in its entirety, follow this link.
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH BRYAN SHELTON:
ORACLE/ITA PRESEASON RANKINGS
RANK TEAM 2018-19 YEAR END RANK
1 Florida (5) 4
2 Texas (4) 1
3 USC (3) 8
4 North Carolina 7
5 Baylor 6
6 Ohio State 3
7 Wake Forest 2
8 TCU 10
9 Texas A&M 14
10 Virginia 5
11 UCLA 11
12 Stanford 12
13 Illinois 15
14 California 18
15 Oklahoma State 22
16 South Carolina 19
17 Michigan 20
18 Tennessee 13
19T Columbia 16
19T Georgia 21
21 Mississippi State 9
22 Oklahoma 17
23 NC State 23
24 San Diego 25
25 Arizona State 24
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The Gators open the season ranked No. 1 for the first time since notching their highest preseason ranking to open the 2006 season (No. 2).
Additionally, Florida has pushed its streak of being ranked in the Top 25 of the Oracle/ITA Preseason Rankings to 18 consecutive years.
#⃣1⃣.
— Gators Men's Tennis (@GatorsMTN) January 8, 2020
3⃣ days til' your #1 team is back in action at 🏠
📰: https://t.co/dJU4OEFMH6#GatorWayBestWay | #WeChomp 🔶🔷🎾 pic.twitter.com/9LZWENiGIi
During the 2019 season, Florida reached the Final Four prior to falling to reigning national champions, Texas. The Gators went 25-4 during the year, including 22 wins over ranked opponents, while claiming the SEC regular-season crown with an undefeated conference record of 12-0. The Gators were ranked No. 4 in the year end Oracle/ITA rankings from 2018-19.
During the 2020 season, Florida faces seven teams ranked inside the Top 25, including a Final Four rematch with No. 2 Texas next Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Alfred A. Ring Complex.
No. 1 Florida opens the season this Saturday, Jan. 11, as the Gators will welcome Furman and FAU to the Alfred A. Ring Complex for a pair of doubleheaders slated for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
To view Florida's 2020 schedule in its entirety, follow this link.
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH BRYAN SHELTON:
- "Preseason rankings signify people's expectations. We are locked into improving every single day and staying humble. We've got a high character group of young men that are motivated and willing to do the things necessary to get better throughout the season. We know we will face a lot of adversity and challenges, which will make us better, because we know we'll need the losses as well as the wins during the season to reach our goals. It's certainly going to be fun to go to battle with the coaches, players and staff in this program."
ORACLE/ITA PRESEASON RANKINGS
RANK TEAM 2018-19 YEAR END RANK
1 Florida (5) 4
2 Texas (4) 1
3 USC (3) 8
4 North Carolina 7
5 Baylor 6
6 Ohio State 3
7 Wake Forest 2
8 TCU 10
9 Texas A&M 14
10 Virginia 5
11 UCLA 11
12 Stanford 12
13 Illinois 15
14 California 18
15 Oklahoma State 22
16 South Carolina 19
17 Michigan 20
18 Tennessee 13
19T Columbia 16
19T Georgia 21
21 Mississippi State 9
22 Oklahoma 17
23 NC State 23
24 San Diego 25
25 Arizona State 24
Follow the Gators
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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