Florida gets defensive while rebuilding via transfer portal
FILE - Florida head coach Mike White gestures in the first half of a first round game against Virginia Tech in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, in this Friday, March 19, 2021, file photo. Florida might have its best defensive team in nearly a decade, an experienced group that seems to fit perfectly with coach Mike White’s style. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - Florida head coach Mike White gestures in the first half of a first round game against Virginia Tech in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, in this Friday, March 19, 2021, file photo. Florida might have its best defensive team in nearly a decade, an experienced group that seems to fit perfectly with coach Mike White’s style. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Oct. 21, 2021 09:16 AM EDT
FILE - UMKC guard Brandon McKissic (3) makes a layup over Saint Louis guard Gibson Jimerson (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in St. Louis, in this Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, file photo. Florida added three defensive stalwarts via the NCAA transfer portal, led by two-time Big South defensive player of the year Phlandrous Fleming and Summit League defensive player of the year Brandon McKissic, to bolster a lineup the Gators believe will be able to compete in the stacked Southeastern Conference. (Colter Peterson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

FILE - UMKC guard Brandon McKissic (3) makes a layup over Saint Louis guard Gibson Jimerson (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in St. Louis, in this Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, file photo. Florida added three defensive stalwarts via the NCAA transfer portal, led by two-time Big South defensive player of the year Phlandrous Fleming and Summit League defensive player of the year Brandon McKissic, to bolster a lineup the Gators believe will be able to compete in the stacked Southeastern Conference. (Colter Peterson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Oct. 21, 2021 09:21 AM EDT
FILE - Florida forward Colin Castleton (12) blocks the shot of Virginia Tech guard Tyrece Radford (23) in the second half of a first round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, in this Friday, March 19, 2021, file photo. Florida added three defensive stalwarts via the NCAA transfer portal, led by two-time Big South defensive player of the year Phlandrous Fleming and Summit League defensive player of the year Brandon McKissic. Throw in returning shot-blocker Colin Castleton and Boston College transfer CJ Felder, and the Gators have – at least on paper – their best collection of defenders since Scottie Wilbekin, Casey Prather, Will Yeguete and Patric Young ran roughshod through the league in 2014 and advanced to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - Florida forward Colin Castleton (12) blocks the shot of Virginia Tech guard Tyrece Radford (23) in the second half of a first round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, in this Friday, March 19, 2021, file photo. Florida added three defensive stalwarts via the NCAA transfer portal, led by two-time Big South defensive player of the year Phlandrous Fleming and Summit League defensive player of the year Brandon McKissic. Throw in returning shot-blocker Colin Castleton and Boston College transfer CJ Felder, and the Gators have – at least on paper – their best collection of defenders since Scottie Wilbekin, Casey Prather, Will Yeguete and Patric Young ran roughshod through the league in 2014 and advanced to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Oct. 21, 2021 09:18 AM EDT
FILE - Charleston Southern's Phlandrous Fleming Jr. brings the ball up court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri in Columbia, Mo., in this Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, file photo. Florida added three defensive stalwarts via the NCAA transfer portal, led by two-time Big South defensive player of the year Phlandrous Fleming and Summit League defensive player of the year Brandon McKissic, to bolster a lineup the Gators believe will be able to compete in the stacked Southeastern Conference. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)

FILE - Charleston Southern's Phlandrous Fleming Jr. brings the ball up court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri in Columbia, Mo., in this Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, file photo. Florida added three defensive stalwarts via the NCAA transfer portal, led by two-time Big South defensive player of the year Phlandrous Fleming and Summit League defensive player of the year Brandon McKissic, to bolster a lineup the Gators believe will be able to compete in the stacked Southeastern Conference. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)

Oct. 21, 2021 09:26 AM EDT
FILE - Miami center Nysier Brooks, left, drives against Boston College forward CJ Felder during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Coral Gables, Fla. Florida added Boston College transfer CJ Felder, and the Gators have – at least on paper – their best collection of defenders since Scottie Wilbekin, Casey Prather, Will Yeguete and Patric Young ran roughshod through the league in 2014 and advanced to the Final Four.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

FILE - Miami center Nysier Brooks, left, drives against Boston College forward CJ Felder during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Coral Gables, Fla. Florida added Boston College transfer CJ Felder, and the Gators have – at least on paper – their best collection of defenders since Scottie Wilbekin, Casey Prather, Will Yeguete and Patric Young ran roughshod through the league in 2014 and advanced to the Final Four.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Oct. 21, 2021 09:28 AM EDT