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Which Non-Conference teams would you like Florida to schedule with in 2026?

Discussion in 'Nuttin but Net' started by RD_gator, May 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM.

  1. May 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM #1
    RD_gator

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    In the 2025 season, Florida had scheduled 4-ACC teams (FSU, Virginia, Wake Forrest & North Carolina) along with one ?B12 team (Arizona St) among others. Florida went undefeated with their non-conference schedule (13-0).

    Because of the uncertainty at point guard (i.e Walter Clayton,Jr replacing Pullin) and other players settling in their new roles, I though that it was smart of Todd Golden to not make the schedule too difficult so that the team could gain confidence as they competed.

    Despite Florida's success in the SEC (i.e, defeating two AP #1's: Tennessee & Auburn), that non-conference scheduled was often criticized as being too soft - mainly because of the ACC's decline that year.
    ========================================

    Last season, we have seen other SEC teams seem to be regarded more highly than Florida (i.e, in polls & NCAA seedings) largely because of their non-conference scheduling along with conference success: i.e, Tennessee, Alabama & Auburn.
    2024-25 Tennessee Volunteers Men's Schedule and Results | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
    2024-25 Alabama Crimson Tide Men's Schedule and Results | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
    2024-25 Auburn Tigers Men's Schedule and Results | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
    2024-25 Kentucky Wildcats Men's Schedule and Results | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

    As you can see below of what some of our SEC competitiors had scheduled last year,...

    Tenn: at Louisville (W), Virginia (W), Baylor (W), Syracuse (W), Miami (W), at Illinois (W)

    The Vols scheduled similarly to Florida's schedule such as four-ACC teams and one Big12 team except that it also included a Big-Ten game against the Illini.

    AL: at Purdue (L), Illinois (W), Houston (W), Rutgers (W), Oregon (L), at North Carolina (W), Creighton (W)

    The Tide had an epic schedule in playing four-Big-Ten teams, one B12 team (whom UF played in the NCAA Finals), one ACC team and one Big-East team. Talk about diversification of the schedule with teams from P5 conferences.

    Auburn: Houston (W), Iowa St (W), North Carolina (W), Memphis (W), at Duke (L), Ohio St (W), Purdue (W)

    Auburn played two-Big-Twelve teams, two ACC teams, one AAC team and two Big-Ten teams. Auburn would actually play two teams that had made the 2025 Final Four!

    Kentucky: Duke (W), Clemson (L), Gonzaga (W), Louisville (W), Ohio St (L).

    Kentucky played three ACC teams, a Big-Ten team and a perenial NCAA-toughy in Gonzaga.

    ========================================


    Who would you like to see Florida schedule in the non-conference season so that the Gators will again have a chance for a great seed for the NCAA Tournament?
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2025 at 10:12 AM
  2. May 3, 2025 at 12:42 AM #2
    RD_gator

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    I would like to see Florida schedule one or two Big Ten teams, one Big12 team, one Big East team and 2-3 ACC teams. Something like six or seven teams from the P5 basketball conferences. For instance,

    Indiana, Michigan and/or Illinois/Purdue, Maryland
    Villanova, St Johns, Creighton and/or UConn
    Arizona, Houston and/or BYU
    Florida St, Duke, and/or North Carolina St (remember Chandlar Parson's miracle shot for the win?)
     
  3. May 3, 2025 at 1:58 AM #3
    RD_gator

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    Last edited: May 3, 2025 at 2:14 AM
  4. May 3, 2025 at 6:25 AM #4
    GatorPlanet

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    I dunno. A lot depends on what our roster looks like.
    I'd like UF to still schedule 3 to 5 nonconference games in Florida but away from home, giving Gator fans and high school players a chance to see the defending national champs up close and personal. This past season, we had four; FSU in Tallahassee, USF in Jacksonville, plus Wichita State and Wake Forest in Orlando at Disney. On paper, all four of those games looked like really good SOS games, quality teams away or at neutral sites. In reality, all four opponents turned out to be much weaker than predicted. Oh well.
     
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  5. May 3, 2025 at 7:58 AM #5
    oneatatime

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  6. May 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM #6
    gatordavisl

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    Yep, my first thoughts are Illinois & Michigan St.
    Would also like KU and Duke
     
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  7. May 3, 2025 at 12:49 PM #7
    gogators73

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    I wish we weren’t starting with Arizona, but I do love the game. After that we’ll probably have one or two buy games before hosting FSU. Then we have our San Diego tournament with two big time games. Then we have the SEC-ACC away game. So now that I’ve talked this out by myself, I think adding one home-home game (starting at home) against a high brand team like Purdue would be good and then one more neutral game against a mid-tier team like Georgia Tech or something.
     
  8. May 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM #8
    GatorLurker

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    I think that the Big 10 team that we could get for a long term home-and-home is UCLA. Last season all of their decent OOC games were neutral site (New Mexico, Arizona, Gonzaga, UNC). UF versus UCLA would be a game of national interest.

    I'd like an Illinois vs Florida match-up but they have an annual border war with Mizzo and schedule other SEC teams that are closer to home.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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  9. May 3, 2025 at 1:06 PM #9
    missourigator

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    With 3 new guards we need a bunch of cupcakes to get the communication going. Our easily non-conference schedule didn't hurt us at all.
     
  10. May 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM #10
    GratefulGator

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    Duke in the O'dome.
     
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  11. May 3, 2025 at 1:57 PM #11
    paidinfull

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    Don’t care.

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. May 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM #12
    paidinfull

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    We scheduled a pretty stout non conference last year, some traditional powers just weren’t that good. The folks who are hyper focused on the metrics won’t like playing a bunch of cupcakes.
     
  13. May 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM #13
    GatorLurker

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    [​IMG]
     
  14. May 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM #14
    SJB612

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    Hats off to UNC playing Auburn, Florida, and Alabama in the non-conference. That's tough scheduling. Probably why they squeezed into the tournament despite the bad overall record.
     
  15. May 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM #15
    tegator80

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    I believe what is being asked is, what team do we want to play that would give us a good test, be a good ambassador to the program, and someone who we either play and like to play or haven't played recently and is intriguing.

    I am going to go with a Big 12 team. For no other reason than they are trying to get legitimacy in basketball in order to keep them relevant. Which one?

    Kansas would be a pain in the butt. But still...

    Baylor would be interesting.

    But IMO, we can do a two-fer. UCF. Yes it will be a pain to hear them scream for the entire off-season, but then...

    And then we can show a nice sportsmanship gesture for any and all elite Florida recruits. If that matters anymore.