Florida basketball is on a tear, riding a seven-game winning streak that started at the end of January. The Gators are firing on all cylinders, with a backcourt finding its groove and a frontcourt that keeps elevating its game. This balance has made Florida one of the most formidable teams in the nation right now.
With the victories piling up, Todd Golden's squad is climbing the ranks in the major polls. In the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, Florida has jumped four spots to land at No.
- They're sandwiched between the No.
6 UConn Huskies, who bested them earlier this season, and the No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers, who kicked off the year at the top of the poll.
The Gators have also secured a spot among the NCAA Tournament selection committee's top 16 seeds, sitting pretty at No. 9.
In the SEC, Florida leads the pack at No. 7.
The Alabama Crimson Tide made a significant leap from the de facto No. 26 to No. 18, while the Tennessee Volunteers shot up from 27 votes to claim the No. 22 spot. Meanwhile, the Arkansas Razorbacks hold steady at No. 17, and the Vanderbilt Commodores slipped three places to No.
- The Georgia Bulldogs are just outside the top 25, effectively ranked No. 28 with 18 votes.
Here’s a look at the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll top 25 after Week 16:
- Duke (25-2)
- Arizona (25-2)
- Michigan (25-2)
- Houston (23-4)
- Iowa State (23-4)
- UConn (25-3)
- Florida (21-6)
- Purdue (22-5)
- Gonzaga (27-2)
- Nebraska (23-4)
- Illinois (22-6)
- Virginia (24-3)
- Michigan State (22-5)
- Kansas (20-7)
- St.
John's (22-5) 16.
Texas Tech (20-7) 17.
Arkansas (20-7) 18.
Alabama (20-7) 19.
North Carolina (21-6) 20.
Louisville (20-7) 21.
Vanderbilt (21-6) 22.
Tennessee (20-7) 23.
BYU (20-7) 24.
Saint Louis (25-2) 25.
Miami (OH) (27-0)
Teams that dropped out include Clemson and Wisconsin, while others like Wisconsin, Villanova, and Georgia are receiving votes. Florida's momentum and strategic play are setting them up for an exciting stretch run as they aim to keep climbing the ranks.