Gators Bow Up Late in Upset of No. 2 Vols

Wednesday, February 1

Gainesville, FL

7 PM

Florida Gators

13-9,6-3SEC

Tennessee

18-4,7-2SEC

Tennessee

Florida

Florida fifth-year senior forward Colin Castleton basks in the final moments of UF's 67-54 upset of No. 2 Tennessee Wednesday night at the O'Dome.

Gators Bow Up Late in Upset of No. 2 Vols

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After getting off to a fabulous start and jumping to a quick double-digit lead, the Florida Gators found themselves down a half-dozen to the No. 2-ranked team in the country midway through the second half. Not only did visiting Tennessee have that big number in front of its name, the Volunteers also had the nation's top-rated defense and had forced the home team to miss eight of its last nine shots.

"We had a little moment there when things didn't go our way," UF coach Todd Golden said. "That was a great moment for us."

Golden was speaking of his team's response. As in the startling eruption of offense that turned that deficit into another double-digit lead and jettisoned the Gators home to a stunning and inspiring 67-54 defeat of the Volunteers in their Southeastern Conference clash before a wild and raucous Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center crowd Wednesday night.

That in-game "great moment" turned into an even better postgame one, as Golden celebrated his first signature win as UF coach and the Gators (13-9, 6-3) notched a gold-star victory for their resume in putting the Vols (18-4, 7-2) alongside No. 2 Auburn last February as the highest-ranked opponent ever beaten in Gainesville.

First-year UF coach **Todd Golden** gets his post-game, signature win baptism in the Gators' locker room following just the second home win in Florida basketball history against an opponent ranked as high as No. 2. (Photo: **Maddie Washburn**/UAA Communications)

Fifth-year senior forward Colin Castleton scored a game-high 20 points, all but four in the second half, grabbed nine rebounds and had three assists to lead a balanced UF offense that did things to the Tennessee defense that have rarely been done this season. The Vols came into the game allowing just 34.5 percent-shooting from the floor, 22 from the 3-point line and only 54.5 points per game. The Gators shot nearly 44 percent on the night, made seven 3s at 35 percent and did a plus-12 on that points-allowed number. They also went 18-for-24 from the free-throw line.

Maybe this is a good time to remind people that Florida began the night as the No. 8 defense in the country, according to the same KenPom.com advance metrics. That may not have been No. 1, but it certainly was elite going in and played to its billing. The Vols shot just 27.9 percent for the game, despite whipping the Gators on the glass, 43-36, including an 18-5 advantage on the offensive end. Tennessee attempted 20 more field goals (68-48) and still lost by 13.

"We knew this was going to be a dogfight," UF senior guard Myreon Jones said. "I think this game showed growth. Usually when we get beat on the boards the game is ugly, This time we fought back. We didn't let that discourage us."

Added fifth-year point guard Kyle Lofton: "This just shows the potential of our team."

UF's three losses in SEC play to date have been by a combined eight points. The Gators, having played one of the most difficult schedules in the country, were in some other close ones against some very good teams. They felt they let a couple of those games slip away.

But not this one.

"This was a desperation game. We have a tough schedule with this little stretch we have here, and we've got to win some games. We all know that, everybody knows that," said Castleton, referring to the loss Saturday night at fifth-ranked Kansas State, this monster versus No. 2 sandwiched inside upcoming road games at Kentucky this Saturday and fourth-ranked Alabama next week. "Just having that grit, that toughness, coming down with rebounds, going for loose balls — which we didn't [earlier] in the second half when they were getting on their run — but we were able to just claw, and fight and we came out on top."

Lofton scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half to go with four assists. Fifth-year guard Myreon Jones had nine points, including a clutch second-half 3 during the comeback, and sophomore guard Will Richard added nine points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

Tennessee was led by point guard Zakai Zeigler's 15 points, but the the UF defense limited noted Gator-killing guard Santiago Vescovi to just two of 12 shooting for the game and 1-for-6 from the 3-point line.

"We're better than this," UT coach Rick Barnes said. "But not tonight, we weren't."

UF guard **Will Richard** challenges UT forward **Olivier Nkamhoua** on his way to scoring nine points and grabbing seven rebounds.

Coming in, Tennessee had held four of its eight SEC opponents scoreless through the first media timeout, but when the first stoppage came in this one Florida was on a run of eight straight points that eventually went to 15 and had the Gators up 17-4. The Vols, though, slowly chipped away, getting as close as one, 22-21, with four minutes to go before the Gators scored the final five points of the half and led 27-21 at the break.

UF led 34-28 four-plus minutes into the second half when an old-time 3-point play by freshman forward Julian Phillips coupled with a pair of 3s from Zeigler were the big-hitters that sparked a 16-4 run by the Vols. The last three points came when Kowacie Reeves fouled Vescovi's attempt at the arc. After a timeout, Vescovi returned and dropped all three free throws to push Tennessee in front 44-38 with 10:40 to play.

And that started the "great moment" Golden referenced.

The Vols were up four when Jones drilled a 3-pointer and after an ensuing UF stop freshman guard Riley Kugel (4 points, 6 rebounds) got out in transition and finished a break to restore the lead, 47-46. After another stop, Castleton got the ball in the high post and drove defender Jonas Aidoo down the right side of the lane, cuffing the ball with his right hand and beating Aidoo to the backboard to bank in a layup, draw the foul and, after a stoppage, sink his free throw to put the Gators up four. The play was merely the middle of 13 straight points, including a second-chance 3-pointer from Lofton.

UF point guard **Kyle Lofton** (11) squares up for one of his two big 3-pointers in the second half.

When Castleton converted a second 3-point play just under five minutes later, then followed it with a tip-in on the next possession, the UF lead was 11 inside three minutes and the O'Dome was a madhouse.

There would be no comeback, Florida finished a 29-10 run over the final 10-plus minutes. Tennessee missed its last five shots and nine of its final 10, touching off a celebration that this team, these coaches and their fans had been waiting for all season.

Yes, that was a "great moment," as well.

"I think it's affirmation that we can beat anybody when we play to our capabilities," Golden said. "Obviously, we played very well tonight and that'd be a high standard to hold us to on a nightly basis, but now we've shown the capacity to do it. The belief stems from that. It's not about potential anymore. We proved we can beat one of the top teams in the country."

And the possibilities for the season have suddenly become more interesting.