Florida Gators Aim for No. 1 Seed in SEC Tournament

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators, ranked No. 4 in the nation, are focused on securing a top seed in the NCAA Tournament by winning the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament. Coach Todd Golden emphasized the importance of this objective during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“We’re going to go try to win this thing,” Golden stated resolutely. Florida, boasting a record of 27-4 and 14-4 in the SEC, is set to face Missouri, LSU, or Mississippi State in the tournament quarterfinals on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Gators enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams, having won nine of their last ten games. However, their grip on the coveted No. 1 seed is precarious, with Duke, Auburn, and Houston currently ahead in the rankings. A loss in the SEC tournament could jeopardize their top seed positioning, particularly if Alabama or Tennessee succeed.

Golden expressed the team’s desire for the No. 1 seed, but tempered expectations by noting, “I’m not sure how big of a difference our path would truly be whether we’re the third or fourth 1 seed, or the first or second 2 seed.” He added, “We definitely want the 1 seed, don’t get me wrong.”

Historically, a strong connection exists between No. 1 seeds and NCAA Tournament success; 16 of the last 23 national champions were top seeds. Golden pointed out that six of the last seven champions claimed No. 1 seeds, alongside 13 of the past 17.

Senior guard Clayton echoed Golden’s remarks regarding the team’s mentality and confidence. “Whatever path, I like my guys,” he said. “Me and my guys against whoever.”

Golden is keen on utilizing analytics to bolster their strategy. He previously commissioned research to study the effects of winning the conference tournament versus simply advancing in the NCAA Tournament, revealing mixed results. “It doesn’t matter enough,” he concluded after reviewing the data.

Citing Auburn as a case study, Golden noted that while the Tigers won the SEC Tournament last year only to exit in the NCAA’s first round, they also won the league tourney in 2019 and advanced to the Final Four that year.

Despite the uncertainty, the Gators remain resolute in their aspirations. Golden remarked, “That would be a nice little cherry on top of our regular season if we’re able to get the 1 seed for sure.”

Selecting a path to the national championship has its significance. With the NCAA Tournament selection set for Sunday, March 16, excitement builds as the Gators prepare for the SEC Tournament.