Florida Gators Seek Repeat Blowout Over South Carolina

The Gators look to continue their dominance over the struggling Gamecocks in SEC men's basketball action.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 10:47am

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The No. 12 Florida Gators will host the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night, looking to repeat their 47-point blowout victory over the Gamecocks from earlier this season. Florida, the top team in the SEC, is coming off an emotional home win over rival Kentucky and will look to stay focused against a struggling South Carolina squad that is tied for last place in the conference standings.

Why it matters

This game provides Florida an opportunity to maintain its position atop the SEC standings and continue its recent dominance over South Carolina. A convincing win could also help the Gators build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season as they pursue their goals.

The details

In the teams' first matchup on Jan. 28, Florida routed South Carolina 95-48 in Columbia, marking the start of the Gators' current five-game winning streak. While the Gamecocks have struggled this season, head coach Todd Golden expects a tough challenge, noting their "tricky" players and "hard to guard" offensive style. Florida will look to come out with the same high level of energy and effort that led to the blowout win earlier this season.

  • The teams first met on Jan. 28, when Florida won 95-48 in Columbia.
  • Tuesday's rematch will tip off at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17, 2026.

The players

Todd Golden

The head coach of the Florida Gators men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Every game provides different challenges is the best way I can say it. Getting ready for Alabama or Kentucky is going to provide different challenges, and South Carolina is no different.”

— Todd Golden, Head Coach, Florida Gators

“We are playing for a lot right now, for the rest of the season. Our team has some clear goals of what we're trying to achieve over these next couple weeks, and anything less than our best effort tomorrow night could prevent us from achieving some of those things. I will be really disappointed if we don't come out and play really, really hard tomorrow night.”

— Todd Golden, Head Coach, Florida Gators

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game highlights Florida's dominance over South Carolina and the Gators' focus on maintaining their position atop the SEC standings as they pursue their goals for the remainder of the season.