Florida Gators Stunned by Iowa in NCAA Tournament Upset

Heartbreaking loss ends Florida's title defense season

Mar. 23, 2026 at 3:06am

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The first-seeded Florida Gators fell to nine-seed Iowa, 73-72, in a shocking NCAA Tournament Round of 32 upset on Sunday. Florida's front court struggled early, and the team had multiple field goal droughts that proved costly in the one-point loss, despite a valiant second-half comeback effort.

Why it matters

Florida was the defending national champion and a top seed entering the tournament, so this early exit is a major disappointment for the program and its fans. The loss raises questions about the Gators' ability to win close games against tough opponents, an issue that has plagued them at times this season.

The details

In the first half, Florida's four-big rotation of Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, Thomas Haugh and Micah Handlogten combined to shoot just 2-for-13 from the field, while Iowa shot 70% from two-point range. Florida also went on a nearly 10-minute field goal drought in the first half, allowing Iowa to build a nine-point lead. While Florida fought back in the second half, the Gators had multiple other field goal droughts that proved costly. Haugh and Condon kept Florida in the game with strong second-half performances, but Isaiah Brown's missed free throw and Iowa's late 3-pointer sealed the Gators' fate.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 23, 2026 in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
  • Florida held a first-seed entering the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the defending national champions.

The players

Alex Condon

A key member of Florida's front court rotation.

Rueben Chinyelu

One of Florida's starting big men who struggled with foul trouble in the game.

Thomas Haugh

A Florida forward who had a strong second-half performance, scoring 15 points.

Micah Handlogten

Part of Florida's four-big rotation that struggled in the first half.

Isaiah Brown

The Florida player who missed a crucial free throw late in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must give Iowa credit, they played an excellent game and deserved the win. But we're disappointed that we couldn't finish the job and keep our title defense going.”

— Mike White, Florida Head Coach

What’s next

The loss ends Florida's 2026 season and its quest to defend its national championship. The Gators will now turn their attention to the offseason and preparing for the 2027 campaign.

The takeaway

This upset loss highlights the challenges of defending a national championship, even for a program as strong as Florida. It also shows that no team, no matter how talented, is immune to early tournament exits and heartbreaking defeats. The Gators will need to learn from this experience and come back stronger next season.