GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden was last to climb the ladder. He made the final few cuts, pulled down the net, waved it around and then tossed it into the air.
It could have been smoother. Maybe it was to be expected since it’s been nearly 11 months since Golden and his Gators cut down nets while celebrating a national championship in San Antonio.
Golden should get more chances to perfect his form in the coming weeks.
Seventh-ranked Florida closed out an unbeaten February with its ninth consecutive victory, a 111-77 drubbing of 20th-ranked Arkansas on Saturday night that the Gators hope will improve their chances of landing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament when the 68-team bracket is revealed on March 15.
The Gators pounded the Razorbacks in the paint, outscored them from long range and clinched at least a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship while improving to 23-6 overall and 14-2 in league play this season. They partied on Billy Donovan Court with hats and T-shirts, then unveiled a banner commemorating their eighth SEC regular-season crown.