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Auburn Today
By the People, for the People
Florida Gators Strengthen Case for National Title Repeat
Gators' win over Kentucky adds to mounting evidence that a second straight championship is possible
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
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The Florida Gators are rounding into form and looking like contenders to repeat as the national champions after a 92-83 win over No. 25 Kentucky. Since starting SEC play 0-1, the No. 14 Gators have gone 10-1 and are now in the driver's seat of the league standings with six games left. Florida has been the second-most efficient team in college basketball behind only Houston during that stretch, showcasing their potential to make a run at back-to-back titles.
Why it matters
Florida's impressive performance against Kentucky demonstrates that the Gators have the talent and momentum to potentially repeat as national champions. Their ability to dominate on the offensive glass, coupled with timely perimeter shooting, has made them a formidable opponent in the SEC and a serious contender for the NCAA title.
The details
Florida employed its typical crushing offensive rebounding to establish the tone against Kentucky, and then used some perimeter marksmanship to keep the resilient Wildcats at arm's length. Urban Klavzar hit 5-of-11 attempts from beyond the arc, tying a season-high for makes, while Xaivian Lee led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 4-of-7 from deep. The Gators' 3-point shooting has been a concern this season, but they showed against Kentucky that they have the potential to get hot from the perimeter and overwhelm opponents.
- Florida started SEC play 0-1 with a loss at Missouri on January 3.
- Since then, the Gators have gone 10-1 in conference play.
The players
Urban Klavzar
A key guard off the bench for the Gators, Klavzar hit 5-of-11 3-pointers against Kentucky, tying a season-high for made 3-pointers in a game.
Xaivian Lee
The Princeton transfer led all scorers with 22 points against Kentucky, shooting an impressive 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Thomas Haugh
The versatile forward has been a key part of Florida's success, with his move to small forward helping to bolster the Gators' defense and rebounding.
What’s next
Florida's next two games are against lower-tier SEC foes South Carolina and Ole Miss before a manageable trip to Texas on February 25. The Gators will then host Arkansas on February 28 in a game that could have major SEC title ramifications.
The takeaway
Florida's impressive win over Kentucky, coupled with their strong conference play since an early loss, demonstrates that the Gators have the talent and momentum to potentially repeat as national champions. Their ability to dominate the glass and hit timely perimeter shots makes them a formidable opponent, and they are now in the driver's seat in the SEC race.
