Florida’s schedule took another turn on Sunday as it was announced that their game with Oklahoma was going to be cancelled. This is now the second major to change to Florida’s schedule after their initial first week of games against UMass-Lowell and Virginia were canceled due to COVID concerns in the Gator program. Florida had one positive test with a player and one with an assistant coach a mere week before the season, making their initial two games impossible to play. Since following protocol, no other cases have been found and the Gators should, emphasis on the word “should,” be good to go moving forward.
The cancellation with Oklahoma was due to at least one positive case in their program. The positive case came less than a week ago and the Sooners hoped they would be able to move along with their game with Florida but it wasn’t to be. The game was slated to be a home game for the Sooners in Norman but under the 14-day isolation protocols it was unsafe for the Gators to go and play that game.
Fortunately for the Gators, they were able to find a couple of opponents. On Wednesday (the day they were initially going to play Oklahoma) they’ll now play Army and then later in the week they’ll play Boston College. The games will take place at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut where the Gators were initially going to play UMass Lowell and Virginia.
Currently, the Mohegan Sun is being looked at like a bit of a college basketball mecca, a safe haven that has been renamed Bubbleville. They initially scheduled 40 games to be played there in a week and a half schedule but that number has continued to grow despite some cancellations. Teams that have been there have lauded the safety and the organization of the event and multiple programs have scheduled extra games there since arriving. What happened is that teams have been there, saw the situation, and realized this might be their best, safest opportunity to get games in. Florida is now joining the mix and gets a couple of nice games.
Army is a team that already has three games under their belts, two of which have been against D-I competition. They landed an upset win over heavily favored Buffalo which speaks to their gumption. They’re undersized but play an organized style of unselfish basketball and the fact they’re already three games is a serious advantage over the Gators who will be trying to get their feet wet for the first time.
Boston College has played two games already and has looked fantastic. In their opening game they took on Villanova, a trendy Final Four pick, and played them right down to the wire. The Eagles actually held a nine point lead in the second half and could have very easily won but ended up having the game slip away in the final minutes. In their second game the8y played a talented Rhode Island team that is one of the favorites in the Atlantic 10 and were able to come away with a 69-64 win. Boston College has struggled in recent history but this is a much more talented team than normal and will give the Gators a tough matchup, especially with the games they’ve already been able to log.
These are the first two added games to Florida’s schedule after Oklahoma was their third cancellation and don’t be surprised if they try to add another game or two while at Mohegan Sun. Bubbleville is currently planning on closing up shop on December 5 but with so many teams happy with the setup it could be extended and if Florida is happy with the arrangement they could attempt to add another game.
Florida’s first couple of weeks are a look at what college basketball will need to be this year–fluid and adaptable. There are almost certainly going to be more cancellations and rescheduled games and whichever team can roll with the punches and keep their composure is going to be at an advantage.
The “bubble” setup at the Mohegan Sun could also be valuable experience moving forward as there is a good chance that it’s not the only bubble the Gators play in. The NCAA Tournament is expected to take place in multiple bubbles and it wouldn’t be shocking at all if the SEC chose to get some conference games in that way or if the SEC Tournament had that feel as well.
Barring any more changes, the Gators still open their season Wednesday with the time of the tip-off yet to be announced.