Basketball
No more results on this page
Official Ticket Marketplace of the Florida Gators
Florida Gators Men's Basketball History
The first tip-off for the Gators was in 1905, when C.J. McCoy was head coach of both the men's basketball and football programs at the school. The University of Florida was a founding member of the Southeastern Conference in 1932. It wasn't until Florida built their current indoor sports facility, the O'Connell Center, in 1980, that the Gators played in their first NCAA tournament, in 1987.
Norm Sloan became the Gators' first full-time basketball coach in 1960 and made the team competitive for the first time since its founding. After six years, Sloan left the school but he returned in 1980 when the O'Connell Center opened. They made a run to the Sweet Sixteen during the school’s first NCAA tournament appearance in 1987.
The current head coach of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, Billy Donovan, coached the Gators from 1996 to 2015, and brought the program to new heights. He guided them to four Final Four appearances and two NCAA championships, in 2006 and 2007. Under Donovan, the Gators made seven straight NCAA tournaments starting in 1999.
More than two dozen Florida Gators — seven of whom are currently in the NBA — have gone on to become professional basketball players, including several NBA champions. These include three-time champion Udonis Haslem, Matt Bonner, Corey Brewer, David Lee, Marreese Speights and five-time All-Star Al Horford. The Gators have a long-running in-state rivalry with the Florida State Seminoles, and their annual contest is the only out-of-conference game for both of the two oldest college teams in the state.
University of Florida Gators Team Info
Conference: Southeastern
Team Colors: Orange and blue
Team Rivals: Miami Hurricanes, Florida State Seminoles, South Carolina Gamecocks, Kentucky Wildcats
University of Florida Gators Men's Basketball at the O'Dome
Florida plays in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center (nicknamed the "O'Dome" by students), which opened in 1980 and was most recently renovated in 2016. The arena currently seats 10,000 and hosts Florida's other sports, including women's basketball, gymnastics and volleyball, as well as being the largest concert venue in North Central Florida.
The Florida Gators 2023–24 regular season kicks off in November at home as the Gators face off against Loyola Maryland. The Gators play their final game of the regular season in Nashville against SEC competitors Vanderbilt. Here’s a list of key games to keep an eye on:
Tickets for the 2023–24 regular season can be purchased on Ticketmaster, the Official Ticket Marketplace of the Florida Gators.
The Florida Gators play their basketball games in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center (or the "O'Dome") in Gainesville, Florida. The seating map for the Exactech Arena can be viewed here.
We had seats for the area behind one of the baskets - arrived early and watched the women's basketball game before the men's game. Sat on the 8th row courtside, and never had to move - game was not heavily attended due to classes being on break for the Christmas holidays. For Texans who don't get to attend games in person very often, it was an awesome event!
when i bought tickets i thought was getting pretty good seat numbered 1 & 2, 11 rows up behind end of court. warning should be posted "directly behind goal" and high up enough that you could not see any thing that happened at other end of court and only action at the sides and hardly anything under the goal. NOT GOOD SEATS If i had known i would have opted for any other seats but these.
Well last season I was so ready for basketball to start. I began to worry about the Florida vs. Kentucky game. My home is Kentucky. Most of my family are wildcat fans. But I am the odd one that is a die hard Florida fan. The first game against Kentucky was absolutely amazing! Nick Calathes made the most unbelievable shots! I had such a great time watching that game though my family was totally against me!! :)
It's always good when the Gators are playing. Any Sport.
My wife and I carried our three boys to the Florida/Florida State basketball game and had a blast! This was the first college basketball game my kids have ever been to. I was worried they would be too young to enjoy it since they are seven, six, and three. They had a blast! They cheered the whole game and loved eating the nachos and cheese from the concessions. They also got their picture taken with the gator cheerleaders. We can't wait to go back. It was a great family outing. My wife and I loved seeing them waive their foam fingers and cheering. The tickets were also great and so easy to pick up at the Will Call desk. We got inside in a snap. I will definitely use ticketmaster again for tickets.
We took our two daughters to see there first Gator basketball game and they absolutely loved it. They're were able to see Albert up close and have their picture taken with him. The game was awesome as well. Go Gators!!!
