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Florida Gators' No. 1 Seed Chances Boosted by UConn Upset
An unexpected loss by UConn has improved the Gators' prospects for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Published on Mar. 8, 2026
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The Florida Gators entered Saturday with an opportunity to improve their seeding in the upcoming NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Even before their game against the Kentucky Wildcats, developments elsewhere shifted the landscape in their favor. An upset victory by unranked Marquette over No. 4 UConn on Saturday altered the bracketology projections, potentially moving the Gators up to a No. 1 seed.
Why it matters
Seven of the last eight national champions were a No. 1 seed, including the Florida Gators last season. Earning a top seed can significantly impact a team's path to the championship, making this development crucial for the Gators' title aspirations.
The details
According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, UConn was seeded ahead of Florida heading into Saturday's games, and this loss is expected to impact their seeding. As of Friday, Lunardi had Florida as a No. 2 seed alongside Michigan State, Houston, and Illinois. The Gators, currently ranked No. 4 in the NET rankings with a 24-6 record and a 15-2 SEC record, appeared well-positioned to potentially move up.
- On Saturday, unranked Marquette upset No. 4 UConn with a final score of 68-62.
- As of Friday, Florida was projected as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The players
Florida Gators
The men's basketball team from the University of Florida, a perennial NCAA Tournament contender.
UConn
The University of Connecticut men's basketball team, previously projected to be seeded ahead of Florida.
Marquette
The men's basketball team from Marquette University, which pulled off an upset victory over UConn on Saturday.
Joe Lunardi
ESPN's bracketology expert, who provides projections for the NCAA Tournament field.
What’s next
The teams seeded ahead of Florida, according to Lunardi, were Duke, Michigan, UConn, and Arizona. While Duke and Arizona were favored in their regular-season finales, Michigan faced a challenging game against No. 8 Michigan State. A Michigan State victory, even a close one, was not expected to be enough to displace Michigan, but a decisive win could potentially move the Spartans ahead of Florida.
The takeaway
This case highlights the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where a single upset can have a significant impact on the tournament landscape. The Gators' chances of earning a No. 1 seed have been boosted by UConn's unexpected loss, underscoring the importance of maintaining focus and seizing opportunities as they arise.
