No. 1 Florida prepares for season opener in Tampa against No. 14 Miami
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 30, 2026, 5:07 PM
Last updated Oct 30, 2026
Florida opens its season on Monday night against No. 14 Miami at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. The Gators aim to move forward after their 73-72 loss to Iowa in the NCAA Tournament earlier this year. Florida coach Todd Golden noted the significance of returning to the site of that painful defeat. Players like Urban Klavzar and Thomas Haugh expressed their determination to avoid a repeat of last season's disappointment and emphasized the team's focus during training. The matchup against Miami has been discussed as an annual series moving to various neutral sites across the state.
- •Florida faces No. 14 Miami in Tampa for its season opener.
- •The Gators are motivated by last season's NCAA Tournament loss.
- •Florida retained nine of its top 11 scorers for this season.
- •The matchup aims to establish an annual series between the teams.
- •Florida State and Florida A&M will play in the double-header opener.
- 5:07 PMYahoo Sports — No. 1 Florida returns to Tampa with feelings that are 'still deep in our hearts' from NCAA stunner
"(AP) — Florida coach Todd Golden never really planned to open the season in Tampa, the site of one of the most painful NCAA Tournament losses in program history.It just sort of worked out that way.
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