The O'Dome will be rocking for Tuesday night's visit from No. 1 and undefeated Tennessee.
A No. 1 Opportunity
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Associated Press debuted its college basketball rankings in 1948, which was 12 years after the news service introduced its weekly college football poll.
It took two years before a team ranked No. 1 played the University of Florida on the hardwood. That team, of course, was Kentucky, kings of the Southeastern Conference for nearly a century. Of the 19 times the Gators have faced the nation's top-ranked team in program history, all but six of the instances have been against the Wildcats. UK, in fact, is the only No. 1 team from the SEC ever to come to UF's campus, be it old Alligator Alley, or the building once known as the O'Connell Center or the current Exactech Arena.
Until now.
Enter No. 1 Tennessee (14-0, 1-0), the lone unbeaten team still standing in Division I. The Volunteers will call on the eighth-ranked Gators (13-1, 0-1) Tuesday night for a sold-out conference clash expected to ignite a level of energy inside the O'Dome that the joint hasn't experienced in several seasons.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
UF, off to its best start in 19 years, was unbeaten until Saturday's 106-100 track-meet defeat in a thrilling league opener at Kentucky. The Gators had no time to feel sorry for themselves, nor wait too long for a chance at redemption. No sooner did they wake up Sunday were they preparing for another high-stakes, early SEC juggernaut match – this one on the home floor – in a matchup of one of the nation's No. 3 offense against the nation's No. 1 defense.
"I look at it like an incredible opportunity," Florida coach Todd Golden said.
A rare one, as well. This will mark UF's eighth date against a top-ranked team in the last 10 years, but their first in five years. The Gators are just 2-17 all-time against No. 1s, including 0-5 at home.
Tennessee, the defending SEC regular-season champion, is giving up just 55.9 points per game and defending the floor at 34.9 percent. In crunching those numbers further, the Vols are allowing opponents to make just 44.9 percent from the 2-point area (that ranks 37th in the country) and a nation-leading 24.3 from the arc.
"Just a very physical team," said UF senior guard Walter Clayton, who poured in 33 points in the loss at Lexington and tops the team in scoring at 18.3 per game. "We have to be physical."
And confident, which the Gators are. They just became the first UF team ever to score 100 points against Kentucky and did so in front of 24,000 at Rupp Arena, while staying in the game until the final minute against one of the best in the country.
Three days later, the Gators get a crack at No. 1. In their house.
"Yeah, Tennessee is a fantastic defensive team, but they have to guard us too, right? It's going to be a challenge for them to come in here and stop us, also," Golden said. "It's going to be an awesome game."
CHARTING THE GATORS: No. 1 house calls Florida will play the nation's top-ranked team for the first time in five years and for just the 20th time in program history.
The Gators are 2-17 in those previous games, including 0-5 at home. Details below.UF freshman Keyontae Johnson (11) drives into the teeth of top-ranked Tennessee's defense in the last time the Gators faced a No. 1 SEC team back in 2019
Date
No. 1 opponent
Outcome
The buzz
Dec. 14, 1950
at Kentucky
L 85-37
Wildcats went on to win the national championship, beating Kansas State in title game.
Feb. 8, 1954
Kentucky
L 97-55
UK finished 25-0 season, but did not compete in NCAA Tournament because Cliff Hagan and two others were ineligible.
Jan. 31, 1959
at Kentucky
L 94-51
Eventual NCAA Tournament loss to Louisville had to really sting.
Feb. 7, 1966
at Kentucky
L 85-75
UK ran into a team called Texas Western in the national champiosnhip game (See "Glory Road").
Jan. 7, 1978
Kentucky
L 86-67
Cats spanked Gators early in the SEC schedule.
Feb. 4, 1978
at Kentucky
L 88-61
Jack "Goose" Givens, Kyle Macy and friends won NCAA title 15 games later, beating Duke.
March 8, 1996
vs Kentucky
L 100-76
SEC Tournament loss was Lon Kruger's final game coaching Gators
March 24, 2000
vs Duke
W 87-78
Stunning outcome in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 at Syracuse Carrier Dome en route to program's first NCAA title-game appearance.
April 2, 2007
vs Ohio State
W 84-75
Gators were defending NCAA champs, but Buckeyes were No. 1 in 2007 title game at Georgia Dome.
Feb. 7, 2012
at Kentucky
L 78-58
Hello, Anthony Davis and eventual NCAA champs.
March 4, 2012
Kentucky
L 74-59
Erving Walker's Senior Day.
March 10, 2012
vs Kentucky
L 74-71
Brad Beal missed acorner 3-ball for the lead with 90 seconds left in SEC Tournament semifinal.
Feb. 7, 2015
Kentucky
L 68-61
Florida led in the second half (trailed by just three with three minutes to go), but faded after Michael Frazier II left game with ankle injury.
March 7, 2015
at Kentucky
L 67-50
Cats join 2014 Florida as only teams in SEC history to go 18-0 in regular season, plus sweep their three SEC Tournament games.
March 13, 2015
vs Kentucky
L 64-49
UK's moves to 32-0 in SEC quarterfinals in what turned out to be Billy Donovan's final UF game.
Dec. 12, 2015
at Michigan State
L 58-52
Gators had brief lead on the Spartans inside 10 minutes to go in Coach Mike White's first look at No. 1.
Nov. 26, 2017
vs Duke
L 87-84
Florida led by 18 early in second half, but Marvin Bagley's 30 points, 15 rebounds fueled comeback in PK80 Invitational championship game at Porland
Feb. 9, 2019
at Tennessee
L 73-61
UT forward Grant Williams, on his way to 2019 SEC Player of the Year honors, had 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Vols shot 59 percent in second half, led by as many as 19.
Jan. 25, 2020
Baylor
L 72-61
Bears mauled Gators at O'Dome, opening 19-point lead early in the second half. MaCio Teague and Devonte Bandoo with 16 each, as Baylor won its 16th straight.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
