Omar Payne
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)
Florida gets defensive while rebuilding via transfer portal

By Mark Long Oct. 21, 2021 11:31 AM EDT

Illinois' Kofi Cockburn addresses the media during the first day of the Big Ten NCAA college basketball media days, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Deep Illini build expectations around big man Kofi Cockburn

By Gavin Good Oct. 20, 2021 03:10 AM EDT

Florida's Johnson awaits medical clearance, hopes to play

By Mark Long Apr. 21, 2021 06:56 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's Keyontae Johnson is “patiently waiting” on medical clearance while hoping to play next season. Johnson,...

Tennessee forward John Fulkerson returning for 6th season

Apr. 16, 2021 12:19 PM EDT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Forward John Fulkerson announced Friday he is returning to Tennessee for his sixth season, using the extra year of eligibility granted...

Florida lands 4th transfer as CSU's Fleming formally commits

By Mark Long Apr. 12, 2021 04:39 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida landed its fourth transfer in two weeks on Monday when former Charleston Southern guard Phlandrous Fleming Jr. formally...

Nebraska's Trey McGowens (2) shoots against Penn State's Myreon Jones (0) and Trent Buttrick (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten men's tournament Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Penn State transfer Jones, team's top scorer, picks Florida

By Mark Long Apr. 07, 2021 05:18 PM EDT

FILE - Kansas City guard Brandon McKissic (3) looks to pass during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., in this Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, file photo. Florida coach Mike White took the first step in a significant rebuilding process Friday, April 2, 2021. White got a commitment from Kansas City guard Brandon McKissic. The senior led the Roos with 17.2 points a game this season.(AP Photo/Stephen Dunn, File)
Florida's rebuild begins with transfers McKissic, Felder

By Mark Long Apr. 02, 2021 02:49 PM EDT

Florida guard Scottie Lewis (23) shoots in front of Virginia Tech forward Keve Aluma (22) in the second half of a first round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Friday, March 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida loses another as Scottie Lewis opts for NBA draft

By Mark Long Apr. 01, 2021 09:21 PM EDT

Oral Roberts forward DeShang Weaver (14) shoots ahead of Florida forward Omar Payne (5) during the second half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Sunday, March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Omar Payne joins growing list of players to leave Florida

By Mark Long Mar. 30, 2021 12:30 PM EDT

Florida players walk off the court after a college basketball game against Oral Roberts in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Sunday, March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis. Oral Roberts won 81-78. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Sweet 16 bound: No. 15 seed Oral Roberts tops Florida 81-78

By Tim Booth Mar. 21, 2021 10:24 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 15, 2018, file photo, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, left, greets the Loyola Chicago basketball team as the Ramblers walk off the court after a win over Miami in a first-round game at the NCAA college basketball tournament in Dallas. Loyola Chicago is back in the tournament. And Sister Jean will be there, too. The 101-year-old team chaplain's lobbying paid off Tuesday, March 16, when the school reversed course and announced she will go. That means she gets to watch her beloved Ramblers in person for the first time this season when No. 17 Loyola meets Georgia Tech in Indianapolis on Friday. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
Police contacted after Ohio State's Liddell receives threats

By Charles Odum Mar. 20, 2021 03:42 PM EDT

Colorado forward Dallas Walton (13) draws the charge from Georgetown guard Donald Carey (13) in the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The Latest: Every seed except 16 has a team in second round

By The Associated Press Mar. 20, 2021 12:42 PM EDT

Illinois's Kofi Cockburn, right, scores past Drexel's Tim Perry Jr., during the first half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game Friday, March 19, 2021, at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis .(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Battle of Illinois highlights 2nd round in NCAA Midwest

By Hank Kurz Jr. Mar. 19, 2021 09:52 PM EDT

Florida head coach Mike White embraces Tre Mann after they defeated Virginia Tech in a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Friday, March 19, 2021. Florida defeated Virginia 75-70. (Brett Wilhelm/Pool Photo via AP)
Oral Roberts hoping to move past upset, focus on Gators

By Charles Odum Mar. 19, 2021 08:17 PM EDT

Florida plays against Virginia Tech in the second half of a first round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Friday, March 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Short-handed Florida outlasts Virginia Tech in NCAA opener

By Tim Booth Mar. 19, 2021 03:20 PM EDT

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo yells to players during the second half of a First Four game against UCLA in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Friday, March 19, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. UCLA won 86-80. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)
The Latest: 12th-seeded Oregon State upsets No. 5 Tennessee

By The Associated Press Mar. 19, 2021 12:48 PM EDT

Alabama's Jahvon Quinerly (13) drives against Tennessee's Yves Pons (35) and Santiago Vescovi (25) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Down 15, No. 6 Alabama rallies past Tennessee in SEC semis

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 13, 2021 09:47 PM EST

Tennessee's John Fulkerson lies on the court after being fouled by Florida's Omar Payne in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament Friday, March 12, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Payne was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee routs Gators 78-66 in SEC quarterfinals

By Teresa M. Walker Mar. 12, 2021 06:15 PM EST

Arkansas forward Justin Smith (0) drives to the hoop against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fayetteville, Ark. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Florida Gators at Arkansas Razorbacks 2/16/2021

Feb. 16, 2021 08:08 PM EST

Florida guard Tre Mann, right, steals the ball from South Carolina forward Keyshawn Bryant during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
South Carolina pounds No. 22 Florida in paint, wins 72-66

By Mark Long Feb. 03, 2021 09:30 PM EST