Gators Climb in ESPN's Bracketology Projections Following First Q1 Win
Florida is moving up in the race for March.
Following a monumental Quad-I road victory over the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats a week ago, the Gators realized a jump in ESPN's updated bracketology projections, elevating from the First Four Out category and No. 72 team, per Joe Lunardi's Jan. 30 report, to the Last Four In at No. 65 on Tuesday.
Lunardi teased a potential jump in UF's standing prior to the midweek clash with Kentucky.
"The first four out Gators have a huge opportunity to post their first Q1 win in seven tries as well as leap into the field with right results elsewhere," he said at the time.
Accordingly, Florida climbed with the win but still sat on the outside looking in on Friday, slotted as the First Team Out.
Luckily for the Gators, favorable results elsewhere, paired with a narrow loss on the road to another team on the bubble, Texas A&M, proved enough for Florida to climb the ladder into the field to begin the crucial month of February.
The Gators had taken care of the opponents they're expected to — sitting at a perfect 14-0 against Quad II, III and IV opponents — but a coveted Quad I win eluded them prior to Wednesday's clash with the 'Cats.
Striving to avoid falling to 0-7 in those contests, Florida played with purpose to produce at an uber-effective rate while also displaying impressive resiliency inside arguably the SEC's most daunting environment for opposing teams in Rupp Arena.
Closing a double-digit deficit to five to put itself back within striking distance before the halftime break and several clutch shots late by Walter Clayton Jr. characterized the groups' resume-defining 94-91 overtime win.
It not only got the Gators on the board in the ever-important QI category, but it also announced their emergence as a legitimate competitor for the field of 68 in Todd Golden's second season at the helm in Gainesville.
The unit failed to compound the monumental win against the Aggies in College Station, but the ensuing one-point loss didn't erase its midweek statement in Lexington, thus enabling Florida to continue its recent ascension.
Florida will aim to continue on its track to March Madness when it returns to action on Saturday against the No. 12 Auburn Tigers following a brief bye.
Tip-off for the contest is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET in Gainesville.
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