Florida Men's Basketball Cracks AP Top-Five

Gators return to the top rankings after early season struggles

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Florida men's basketball has jumped to No. 5 in the newest AP Poll, marking its first appearance in the top five since opening week. The Gators (23-6, 14-2 SEC) clinched a share of the regular season SEC title on Saturday with a 111-77 win over No. 20 Arkansas. After starting the season ranked No. 3, Florida struggled to find a rhythm early on, dropping out of the poll completely by week nine. However, the Gators have been on a nine-game winning streak since their loss to Auburn in January and are now shooting 30.8% from the perimeter.

Why it matters

Florida's return to the AP Top-Five is a significant milestone for the program, showcasing their resilience and ability to bounce back from early season struggles. The Gators' strong finish to the regular season puts them in contention for a potential No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, which would be a major accomplishment.

The details

Florida (23-6, 14-2 SEC) jumped up two spots in the rankings after clinching a share of the regular season SEC title on Saturday with a dominant 111-77 win over No. 20 Arkansas. The Gators struggled at the beginning of the season to find a rhythm, losing three starting guards to the NBA and needing time for their new backcourt to gel. Florida was shooting only 28.2% from the arc early on and dropped out of the poll completely by week nine. However, since their loss to Auburn in January, the Gators have been on a nine-game winning streak and are now shooting 30.8% from the perimeter.

  • Florida was ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Poll.
  • Florida lost their season-opener 93-87 to Arizona.
  • By week nine, Florida dropped out of the AP Poll completely.
  • Since their loss to Auburn in January, Florida has won 9 straight games.
  • Florida clinched a share of the SEC regular season title on Saturday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Walter Clayton Jr.

One of three starting guards for Florida who left for the NBA.

Alijah Martin

One of three starting guards for Florida who left for the NBA.

Will Richard

One of three starting guards for Florida who left for the NBA.

Boogie Fland

A new guard Florida picked up in the transfer portal.

Xaivian Lee

A new guard Florida picked up in the transfer portal.

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What’s next

The Gators have two games left against Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11) and Kentucky (19-10, 10-6), before heading to Nashville, Tennessee for the SEC tournament. The question of if Florida will receive a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament now looms in the air.

The takeaway

Florida's return to the AP Top-Five is a testament to the team's resilience and ability to overcome early season struggles. After losing key players to the NBA and needing time for their new backcourt to develop chemistry, the Gators have surged in the second half of the season, cementing their status as a top contender for the NCAA Tournament.