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Tag: Florida Sports

  • Samuel, Pullin carry No. 24 Florida to 83-74 victory over Missouri

    Samuel, Pullin carry No. 24 Florida to 83-74 victory over Missouri

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — With scoring leader Walter Clayton Jr. sitting on Florida’s bench, his teammates needed to step up.

    Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin took over.

    Samuel scored a career-high 28 points, Pullin added 21 and No. 24 Florida never trailed in an 83-74 victory over woeful Missouri on Wednesday night.

    Samuel and Pullin scored 23 of the team’s final 25 points, taking charge after Clayton fouled out with 14 minutes to play.

    “They were just awesome,” coach Todd Golden said. “In tight moments, you want your experienced guys to step up and shoulder a little more of the load. … They stepped up and made big shots.”

    The Gators (20-8, 10-5 Southeastern Conference) won for the ninth time in 11 games to reach 20 victories for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Tigers (8-20, 0-15) lost their 15th in a row and guaranteed a last-place finish in the league as well as the 14th seed in the conference tournament.

    Florida has been on the rise for weeks and is now 2-1 — with the lone loss coming at then-No. 13 Alabama in overtime last week — since getting ranked for the first time in Golden’s two seasons.

    This one was closer than many expected, though. The Gators were 13 1/2-point favorites but found themselves clinging to the lead after coming out flat to start the second half.

    Missouri whittled a double-digit deficit to 55-54 after Nick Honor made three free throws with Clayton on the bench.

    Florida’s Will Richard answered with his first 3-pointer of the night after missing six from long range. Pullin followed with another trey, and the Gators started to pull away. Samuel then converted a three-point play and made a layup on consecutive possessions. He finished with 10 rebounds.

    All of it came with Clayton cheering from the bench. Clayton picked up his fifth foul on a technical while arguing a defensive foul called against him. He finished with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds.

    “I think we played great the stretch,” Samuel said. “We didn’t panic. Poise was key. I had a lot of confidence that we were still going to win the game.”

    Micah Handlogten chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds for Florida, which won its seventh straight at home and improved to 13-1 in the O’Connell Center. Pullin rebounded from his worst offensive outing of the season — he scored two points against Vanderbilt on Saturday — and reached double figures for the 27th time in 28 games.

    “Having games like this, you can’t relax,” Samuel said. “It wakes us up and brings back a little urgency that we need going forward. Sometimes we need games like this, especially when you come out on top.

    Added Pullin: “It brings us back to reality a little bit. It shows us our weaknesses and what we got to keep getting better at.”

    Sean East II led the Tigers with 20 points. Honor added 18, and Tamar Bates, who torched the Gators for 36 points in their first meeting of the season, finished with 15.

    “Second half was a little bit different of a game, but (the Gators) still manufactured what they had to do in a different way,” Missouri coach Dennis Gates said.

    BIG PICTURE

    Missouri: The Tigers have endured several tough losses during their skid, but they weren’t all that competitive in this one. Florida led comfortably in the first half and pulled away down the stretch after Mizzou provided a brief scare.

    Florida: The Gators avoided a letdown and prevented what would have been a huge hit to their NCAA Tournament resume. They are one of just a handful of teams in the country to not have a loss outside Quad 1 games.

    UP NEXT

    Missouri: Hosts Mississippi on Saturday.

    Florida: At No. 18 South Carolina on Saturday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Orlando City moves on to Champions Cup round of 16

    Orlando City moves on to Champions Cup round of 16

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Midfielder Nico Lodeiro got the scoring started for Orlando City and added an assist as the Lions defeated Calgary FC 3-1 Tuesday night to advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16.

    The aggregate score in the round was 6-1.

    “We achieved a lot today with rotating different players,” Lions coach Oscar Pareja said. “Trying to time our week that is, as you know, difficult with the game coming, and we just played last Saturday here. So, I’m happy with the group. I think we all refreshed today with the group playing and those who have not played and the ones who have been resting. I’m happy now just thinking about the next game, and we’ll think about the next steps in CONCACAF next week.”

    Mexican soccer power Tigres UANL will travel to Orlando on March 5 for the first leg of the next series, and the second leg will be played March 12 in Monterrey, Mexico. The series will be a rematch from last year, when the Tigres advanced to the quarterfinals.

    Ramiro Enrique scored on Lodeiro’s assist in the 71st minute, and Kyle Smith finished the scoring on an assist by Facundo Torres in the 88th minute to complete the Lions’ scoring. Lodeiro, who signed with Orlando City in the offseason, got his goal on an assist by newly acquired designated player Luis Muriel in the 48th minute.

    Season-ticket members and recognized supporter groups can buy tickets to the March 5 match now. The general public can purchase tickets online starting Thursday.

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Nico Lodeiro brings veteran presence to Orlando City

    Nico Lodeiro brings veteran presence to Orlando City

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City had a productive offseason, keeping their core roster intact while bolstering it with a few additions.

    Nico Lodeiro joins Orlando City after a historic career with Seattle Sounders that spanned eight seasons.

    The Uruguayan midfielder helped Seattle to two MLS Cups and a CONCACAF Champions League title in 2022.

    Spectrum Sports 360’s Danielle Stein sat down with Lodeiro ahead of his Orlando City debut to learn more about his decision to join the club. 

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    Danielle Stein

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  • Play Ball! Grapefruit League games begin this weekend

    Play Ball! Grapefruit League games begin this weekend

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Major League Baseball Spring Training begins in Florida this weekend with teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, playing their first games of the season on Saturday.

    Florida is playing host to 13 MLB teams this year for Spring Training, including several that call the Tampa area their spring training homes.

    What You Need To Know

    • MLB Spring Training games start across Florida this weekend

    • The Tampa Bay Rays will play their first game Saturday against the Atlanta Braves

    • The New York Yankees will play their first game Saturday against the Detroit Tigers

    • Florida is playing hosts 13 MLB teams for spring training this year
    • Bay News 9 Spring Training guide 2024 

    The New York Yankess in Tampa are a big draw for fans traveling from New York. Some of those fans stay in Tampa for several weeks each year.

    In Tampa’s Midtown, Senior Sales Manager for Aloft Midtown Nancy Jennings says hotel bookings have been solid since January.

    In fact, she says, booking a room right now requires at least a month or two lead time.

    “Our February, we are looking at an occupancy for the month at around 90%, and our expected, possibly in March, to be more than 90%” said Jennings. “So that’s 90% of the month, which is a lot of sold out nights.”

    The influx of MLB Spring Training fans isn’t just good for local hotels. 

    Local bars, restaurants, and shops also benefit from spring training visitors.

    The Red Sox, Orioles, Pirates, Twins, Cardinals, Mets, Marlins, Phillies and Blue Jays will all play their first spring training games Saturday, along with the Rays and Braves and the Yankees and Tigers.

    Check the Bay News 9 Spring Training Guide for game times, ballpark maps and ticket information. 

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    Jason Lanning

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  • UCF Athletics receives $5.5 million pledge from alumnus

    UCF Athletics receives $5.5 million pledge from alumnus

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A UCF alumnus has pledged $5.5 million to UCF Athletics for construction of a football center and a sports facilities endowment fund, the university announced Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • UCF Athletics received a $5.5 million pledge from alumnus Taylor A. Gerring

    • The funds will go toward a new football center and an athletics facilities endowment

    • The commitment is the largest single cash pledge by an individual for UCF Athletics

    • The facility will be part of the Hagle Football Gateway project

    The commitment by 2005 graduate Taylor A. Gerring is the largest single cash pledge by an individual for UCF Athletics.

    The funds will help pay for construction of a new football administration and coaches building that will be part of the Hagle Football Gateway project.   

    “I’m happy to give back to the university to show my appreciation for everything that’s been provided to me,” said Gerring, who majored in business administration at UCF and is now a blockchain pioneer and co-founder of Ethereum Foundation. “My hope is that it inspires other students to achieve great things.”

    The new facility, which the UCF Board of Trustees voted to name the Taylor A. Gerring Football Center, will receive $5 million of the funds pledged, and $500,000 will be invested in the Taylor A. Gerring Athletics Facilities Endowment Fund, according to UCF.

    UCF is engaged in a fundraising campaign to have a successful transition into the Big 12 Conference, and the football campus is part of a larger plan to improve game and practice facilities for all the Knights’ teams throughout the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village. 

    “This is my way to do what I can in this moment of time as we enter the Big 12 Conference,” Gerring said. “There’s a lot of momentum and excitement behind that, and I hope to inspire other donors to jump in and help us reach the end goals we’re looking for.”

    The football center will be part of the Hagle Football Gateway project. The facility also will feature Nicholson Plaza; McNamara Cove, which will offer a recovery river and hydrotherapy area for student-athletes; a renovated Wayne Densch Sports Center that will include an expanded football team locker room known as the Thow Family Locker Room; enhancements to UCF’s football practice complex; a new VIP parking lot; and a pedestrian promenade. Construction will be completed in phases and is scheduled to start this spring.

    Gerring, who is from Stuart, said his excitement about UCF’s football program kept growing while he was a student and through his involvement in the Chicago UCF alumni community. It really picked up for the 2014 St. Petersburg Bitcoin Bowl.

    “I was living in Europe and traveled back, very excited to see the culmination of this whole Bitcoin/Ethereum world come together with my UCF Knights in St. Petersburg, and it’s literally the Bitcoin Bowl,” Gerring said. “…I was like, ‘is this event made for me?’”

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Daytona 500 race postponed due to weather concerns

    Daytona 500 race postponed due to weather concerns

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona 500 has been postponed due to inclement weather, NASCAR announced on their X account, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday morning.

    The race has been rescheduled to Monday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m., creating the first-ever doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race that will take place that day at 11 a.m.

    The original broadcast networks remain unchanged. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race will still broadcast on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The DAYTONA 500 will be live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

    Fans with Saturday grandstand tickets and admission to the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone may attend both the NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the DAYTONA 500, officials said. 

    One family that came all the way from Canada said they will be staying in the area until tomorrow.

    “The excitement, even though we never got into the track yet, is just starting to build,” said attendee Allen Whiteman. “Had trouble sleeping last night and it won’t be any different tonight.” 

    Whiteman’s family said despite the rain, they plan to make the best of their trip, as this is their first time at Daytona Beach.

    The last time the Daytona 500 was postponed a full day was in 2012. NASCAR completed 20 laps in 2020 before rain halted activity, and the race resumed the next day.

    In making the early call Sunday, NASCAR prevented fans from sitting in the rain awaiting a decision on whether the race would proceed. It continued a willingness NASCAR exhibited earlier this month when it moved the exhibition Clash at the Coliseum up a full day on little notice because of poor weather headed toward Los Angeles.

    Spire Motorsports driver Zane Smith offered on social media to mingle with fans Sunday.

    “Hate the rain won today but going to try to make the most of it and meet some of you guys,” Smith tweeted. “Let me know your camp spot and I will try to come find you! Might be able to drag a few other drivers along too.”

    Added Spire teammate Carson Hocevar: “Unfortunate cards we have been dealt as a sport, but probably the right call. Feel bad for the fans that saved up for this trip and now can’t stay.”

    Despite the postponement, NASCAR and Daytona continued many of the prerace activities, including celebrity visits from singer and Trackhouse Racing co-owner Pitbull and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

    Pitbull’s prerace concert was scrapped. He already agreed to return next year and perform then. Johnson is the race’s grand marshal, tasked with delivering the command for drivers to start their engines.

    “Everything happens for a reason,” said Madison Marsh, the reigning Miss America who was scheduled to drive the pace car and lead the field to the green flag. “Although I would have loved, obviously, to get to drive the pace car, there have been so many other parts of this weekend that have been fantastic.

    “Just getting to be a part of that, I’m never going to regret coming here. … Obviously would have liked to drive, but everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to.”

    Previous racing events this weekend

    The Arca Hard Rock Bet 200 was moved to Friday night and ran after the truck series race. Rain has been moving in on Central Florida, but luckily racers and fans got in as much action as they could.

    The inclement weather definitely isn’t what race fans what to see this weekend, but they say that they’re happy to be here and glad they’ve experienced what they’ve been able to see.

    Wayne Stevens said he’s lived in the Daytona area for decades and he’s staying optimistic.

    “I’ve lived in Florida for 52 years, moved here in 1972. It would rain across there and the sun would be out over here, so we don’t know,” he said.

    NASCAR does have a weather policy for fans, which can allow them to exchange tickets when races are postponed or rescheduled.

    Could delays boost local businesses?

    Delays could mean a boost for businesses already banking on the busy weekend. During rain delays, people still have to eat says a local server.

    “People are going to need something to do (…) and somewhere to eat, so hopefully we can get people to come out of their little shell and come check us out,” said Bella Robinson, who works at Adam’s Egg in Daytona Beach.

    Business always spikes this time of year at the restaurant, but this year has been a little different.

    Robinson says she hasn’t seen as many people as in years past. She believes more people are choosing to stay closer to the racetrack.

    “I think people are being very careful with what they’re spending money on and with these events costing so much already, I think they’re being really careful about what they spend on food and supplies and gas – anything extra is just kind of on the back burner this year, because it’s definitely not been as busy as normal,” she said.

    Even with the possible foot traffic from washed out race fans, the rain can be a bummer.

    “The 500, the Rolex, the Super Motocross: they all rain out every single year – but, oh well, we play in the rain here, so it doesn’t matter,” said Robinson. 

    If the rain does draw in more customers, Robinson says she’ll be willing to serve them a little longer until they can head back to the racetrack.

    Another restaurant said they still saw a boost in revenue with the weekend’s events.

    C’s Waffles has been around for 9½ years in Daytona Beach. With several other locations, including two in New Smyrna, the restaurant is family-owned and takes special pride in their delicious waffles. The restaurant gets its name from the family’s last name — “Cotelesse.”

    “This is one of the busiest weeks of the year,” said C’s Waffles General Manager Chris Cotelesse. “From about the beginning of February, ’til about the middle of April, this whole area is flooded with new faces.”

    The Associated Press has contributed to this story.

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    Jeff Allen

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  • Daytona 500 race postponed due to weather concerns

    Daytona 500 race postponed due to weather concerns

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona 500 has been postponed due to inclement weather, NASCAR announced on their X account, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday morning.

    The race has been rescheduled to Monday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m., creating the first-ever doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race that will take place that day at 11 a.m.

    The original broadcast networks remain unchanged. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race will still broadcast on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The DAYTONA 500 will be live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

    Fans with Saturday grandstand tickets and admission to the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone may attend both the NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the DAYTONA 500, officials said. 

    Previous racing events this weekend

    The Arca Hard Rock Bet 200 was moved to Friday night and ran after the truck series race. Rain has been moving in on Central Florida, but luckily racers and fans got in as much action as they could.

    The inclement weather definitely isn’t what race fans what to see this weekend, but they say that they’re happy to be here and glad they’ve experienced what they’ve been able to see.

    Wayne Stevens said he’s lived in the Daytona area for decades and he’s staying optimistic.

    “I’ve lived in Florida for 52 years, moved here in 1972. It would rain across there and the sun would be out over here, so we don’t know,” he said.

    NASCAR does have a weather policy for fans, which can allow them to exchange tickets when races are postponed or rescheduled.

    Could delays boost local businesses?

    Delays could mean a boost for businesses already banking on the busy weekend. During rain delays, people still have to eat says a local server.

    “People are going to need something to do (…) and somewhere to eat, so hopefully we can get people to come out of their little shell and come check us out,” said Bella Robinson, who works at Adam’s Egg in Daytona Beach.

    Business always spikes this time of year at the restaurant, but this year has been a little different.

    Robinson says she hasn’t seen as many people as in years past. She believes more people are choosing to stay closer to the racetrack.

    “I think people are being very careful with what they’re spending money on and with these events costing so much already, I think they’re being really careful about what they spend on food and supplies and gas – anything extra is just kind of on the back burner this year, because it’s definitely not been as busy as normal,” she said.

    Even with the possible foot traffic from washed out race fans, the rain can be a bummer.

    “The 500, the Rolex, the Super Motocross: they all rain out every single year – but, oh well, we play in the rain here, so it doesn’t matter,” said Robinson. 

    If the rain does draw in more customers, Robinson says she’ll be willing to serve them a little longer until they can head back to the racetrack.

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    Jeff Allen

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  • FACEBOOK HEADLINE

    FACEBOOK HEADLINE

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    LECANTO, Fla. — The 352 Legends are creating more than good football players: they’re creating memories to last a lifetime. 

    Corey Edwards is the founder of 352 Legends, a flag football league in Citrus County.

    “We always say it’s never too young. We start at three years old and go to 15 years old. These kids that you see out here today are all 5 and 6 years old,” Edwards said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Corey Edwards is the founder of 352 Legends, a flag football league in Citrus County

    •  Players range in age from three to 15 years old

    •  Their 6U team recently competed in the world championship at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports

    But don’t let their youth fool you — these kids are dedicated to the game. 

    “A lot of people will come out here and watch them practice and they’ll say, ‘I didn’t know it was possible for them to do something like that.’ Well, we’re here to show them that with hard work and practice, anything is possible,” Edwards said.

    It’s a lesson these young athletes are already learning. 

    This season, the team put their skills to the test.

    “They went undefeated for their regular season. Then, they went to Spring Hill and won a group B championship. And then after that they said, ‘Hey, do you think we could compete on a national level?’“ Edwards said. “So we put them to the test. We sent them off the Rumble at Raymond James Stadium. And they did an outstanding job.” 

    It led to a chance to compete in the world championship at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports. 

    “These kids have that opportunity to say, ‘We’re going to a World Championship.’ Playing against teams from China, Mexico, Canada — Teams from all over the nation,” Edwards said.

    It’s not just about learning football drills and perfecting plays.

    Edwards says they’re learning life lessons. “The skill of facing adversity. It’s so undervalued these days.”

    At just five and six years old, they’re already learning resilience and having fun in the process.

    “It warms my heart to see something like this. We don’t get many opportunities like this. When you see something like this happen, I don’t know if I’ll ever forget it,” Edwards said.

    Edwards is making an impact in these young lives. 

    Regardless of their future in football, the 352 Legends are creating memories that will last.

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    Olivia Stacey

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  • Former FSU baseball coach Mike Martin passes away at 79

    Former FSU baseball coach Mike Martin passes away at 79

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Mike Martin, a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame who won an NCAA Division I record 2,029 games in 40 seasons as Florida State’s baseball coach, died Thursday after a three-year battle with Lewy body dementia. He was 79.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former FSU baseball coach Mike Martin passed away after fighting Lewy body dementia

    • The Seminoles advanced to the College World Series a record-tying 17 times in his 40 seasons as coach

    • Martin’s teams won an NCAA Division record 2,029 games

    • Many of his players went on to long careers in Major League Baseball

    The school announced Martin’s death on social media.

    Martin, nicknamed “Eleven” for his jersey number, was the head coach at Florida State from 1980 through 2019, getting to the College World Series a record-tying 17 times in that span — including his first and last seasons in Tallahassee. The Seminoles finished second twice at the CWS and third on three other occasions under Martin, who never won a national title.

    He passed Texas’ Augie Garrido as the NCAA wins leader on May 5, 2018, when Florida State beat Clemson 3-2. That was win No. 1,976 for Martin; he would add 53 more to the total before retiring after the 2019 season.

    “I want to be remembered as a guy that did it right, that put education first, that made sure that guys understood what’s expected of them, that they’re coming to Florida State to get a degree first,” Martin said on June 19, 2019, when his career ended with a CWS loss to Texas Tech in Omaha, Nebraska. “We’re not a school that just wants baseball players. We’re a university that demands that you do what you’re supposed to do in the classroom, and that’s give it your best shot.

    “I want to be remembered as a guy that played the game hard but made others around him feel good when they whipped my fanny.”

    Martin won the Atlantic Coast Conference’s coach of the year award seven times and coached a slew of players who would become Major League Baseball standouts — among them Buster Posey, Deion Sanders, Stephen Drew, J.D. Drew and Doug Mientkiewicz.

    A native of North Carolina, Martin graduated from Florida State in 1966, spent three seasons as a minor-league player and got his first coaching job in 1970 — as the basketball coach at Tallahassee Community College.

    He returned to the Seminoles as an assistant for the baseball program in 1975 and never left. Martin became head coach for the 1980 season and was wildly successful, winning at least 40 games in all 40 of his FSU seasons, at least 50 games in 24 of those seasons and reached the 60-win mark twice in his tenure.

    Martin is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol; children Mike Jr., Melanie and Mary Beth; and grandchildren Hannah Elizabeth, Tyler, Thomas Joseph and Lexi.

    FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford posted a tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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    Associated Press

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  • Clayton Jr. makes 7 3-pointers to lift Florida past No. 10 Kentucky

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    LEXINGTON, Ky.  — Walter Clayton Jr. made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining in overtime and added two insurance free throws with 16.4 seconds left to finish with 23 points, and Florida outlasted No. 10 Kentucky 94-91 on Wednesday night for its fourth consecutive victory.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida Gators defeated the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats in overtime

    • Walter Clayton Jr., a former Bartow High star, led Florida with 23 points

    • Clayton Jr. hit the free throws that forced OT and the game-winning shot

    • Reed Sheppard led Kentucky with 24 points

    Clayton, who is from Lake Wales and a former star at Bartow High, made a career-best 7 of 13 overall from behind the arc, with the first of his two clutch makes coming with 3 seconds left in regulation to force the extra five minutes at 84-all.

    “I wasn’t surprised at all,” Clayton said of the tying shot. “ZP (Zyon Pullin) does a great job at attracting the defense. He is a threat obviously. So, with him driving to the middle, I was able to raise up to the left wing and Reed (Sheppard) was a little far off me. I came up, closed it out, jumped, and hit the shot.”

    Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham made one of two free throws with 13.5 seconds remaining in regulation to give Kentucky an 84-81 lead before Clayton drained the tying 3.

    Zyon Pullin finished with 21 points, including three free throws in the final minute of overtime, and Tyrese Samuel had 22 with 13 boards for the Gators (15-6, 5-3 Southeastern Conference), who avenged an earlier loss to the Wildcats. They also improved to 3-0 in overtime games this season, having beaten Michigan in double OT last month and Georgia 102-98 on Saturday.

    “We are definitely comfortable in those moments,” second-year Gators coach Todd Golden said of his team’s first Quad 1 victory in seven tries. “I don’t necessarily think it’s a great strategy to be successful all the time to go to overtime, but the balls bounced their way a couple of times in those games.”

    Reed Sheppard had 24 points in his second start, Dillingham 20 and Antonio Reeves 19 for short-handed Kentucky (15-5, 5-3), which played without starting guard D.J. Wagner (ankle) and regular forward Justin Edwards (leg).

    Seven-footer Ugonna Onyenso made his first collegiate start for Kentucky and contributed career highs of 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting, 16 rebounds and eight blocks.

    The tight game featured 29 lead changes and 15 ties, and the Gators even trailed by 10 late in the first half before closing to enter the second half down just 41-36.

    The teams traded initial baskets in OT before Tre Mitchell’s free throw gave the Wildcats their last lead. Then Clayton drained a 3 from the left corner. Dillingham missed a 3 and Pullin added the free throws before Clayton sealed the game from the line.

    Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves was recognized before player introductions for recently surpassing 2,000 career points in the win over Georgia. The fifth-year senior tallied 1,195 points in three seasons at Illinois State before transferring to Lexington last season and scoring 488 while being named SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year last season.

    Big picture

    Florida needed extra time for the second consecutive game and came up big again, no easy feat before 20,068 in loud, hostile Rupp Arena. Perimeter shooting was key as the Gators fared better from deep (12 of 28, 43%) than inside the arc (20 of 50, including 2 of 6 in OT). They also edged Kentucky 50-48 on the glass.

    Kentucky must wait another game in hopes of playing at full strength, and the Wildcats surely could have used Wagner’s offense. They got a lot from Sheppard, Dillingham and Reeves but also missed a bunch of close attempts that could have won the game. They made 10 of 26 3s (38%) and shot 45% overall, but were just 2 of 8 in OT. Onyenso missed a couple in the clutch, spoiling an otherwise impressive effort.

    “Just a couple of breakdowns,” Onyenso said. “If I had made the layups that I missed, I think it would have given us a chance to win. It was a tough loss.”

    Up next

    Florida visits Texas A&M on Saturday.

    Kentucky hosts No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday night.

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    Associated Press

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  • Rattlers names Colzie III as new football coach

    Rattlers names Colzie III as new football coach

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M has introduced James Colzie II as its 19th football coach.

    What You Need To Know

    • James Colzie III is the new football coach at Florida A&M

    • Former coach Willie Simmons took a job as running backs coach at Duke

    • Colzie was the assistant head coach at FAMU last season

    • The goal is to win the Florida Classic, SWAC championship and the Celebration Bowl

    Colzie replaces Willie Simmons, who took a job as an assistant coach for running backs at Duke earlier this month after leading the Rattlers to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities national championship.

    “Today begins a new era in FAMU football. Today, we will add a new name to the legacy of FAMU football coaching greats,” Vice President/Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said. “…At the end of this process, James Colzie III emerged as the right person at this time to lead FAMU football.

    “Our priority was identifying a coach who, first and foremost, had a commitment to academic excellence and has a comprehensive understanding of APR (Academic Progress Rate). Coach Colzie is currently a doctoral student at Capella University, studying leadership and higher education. It is clear he understands and appreciates the importance of higher education.”

    Colzie joined the FAMU coaching staff in 2022 as cornerbacks coach. At the end of that campaign, Simmons promoted him to assistant head coach. Before he came to FAMU, Colzie was head coach at Saint Mary’s University in Canada, where he had an overall record of 23-19.

    The former Florida State football and baseball player also held a variety of coaching jobs at the University of British Columbia, at Simon Fraser University, Southern Arkansas, West Georgia and Valdosta State.

    Colzie said he wants the team to win the Florida Classic, which has been played in Orlando against Bethune-Cookman University for many years, as well as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and the Celebration Bowl, the postseason college football game between the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the SWAC.

    “I want to make sure we do it with class,” Colzie said. “The FAMU standard is going to be about winning, but also about the right culture. We already have a contagious culture. I can’t wait to add to that.”

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • UCF’s 2024 football schedule features all 4 new Big 12 members

    UCF’s 2024 football schedule features all 4 new Big 12 members

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — UCF football will take on the four new teams joining the Big 12 for the 2024 season and will head to Gainesville to play the Gators, according to the schedule released by the program on Tuesday.

    Colorado, coached by Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, will pay a visit to Orlando on Sept. 28, and Arizona, which finished last season ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25 rankings, will be the Space Game opponent on Nov. 2.

    The Black Friday game is back, and the opponent this year will be Utah on Nov. 29. The Knights will travel to Arizona State on Nov. 9.

    The Knights’ matchup with the Gators will come Oct. 5 in Gainesville as five of their first six games will be played in the state of Florida. It will mark the first matchup of the teams since UCF defeated Florida for the first time, 29-17, on Dec. 23, 2021, at the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. The Gators lead the all-time series 2-1.

    The home schedule will feature seven games again this season. Most of those opponents will be making their first appearance at UCF, starting with New Hampshire on Thursday, Aug. 29 and followed by Sam Houston on Sept. 7. The two remaining games at FBC Mortgage Stadium will feature Cincinnati on Oct. 12 and BYU for Homecoming on Oct. 26, both teams that joined the Big 12 along with the Knights last season.

    The Knights will head to TCU on Sept. 14, to Iowa State on Oct. 19, to Arizona State on Nov. 9 and to West Virginia on Nov. 23 to wrap up their road schedule. Arizona State is the fourth new member of the Big 12.

    The schedule also includes bye weeks on Sept. 21 and Nov. 16.

    The Knights also announced that their Spring Game will be played at 7 p.m. April 12.

    UCF 2024 football schedule

    • Aug. 29 vs. New Hampshire
    • Sept. 7 vs. Sam Houston
    • Sept. 14 at TCU
    • Sept. 28 vs. Colorado
    • Oct. 5 at Florida
    • Oct. 12 vs. Cincinnati
    • Oct. 19 at Iowa State
    • Oct. 26 vs. BYU
    • Nov. 2 vs. Arizona 
    • Nov. 9 at Arizona State
    • Nov. 23 at West Virginia
    • Nov. 29 vs. BYU

    Kickoff times will be released at a later date.

    The past week has been a busy one for UCF. Coach Gus Malzahn announced major changes to his coaching staff.

    He brought back Tim Harris Jr. as offensive coordinator/running backs coach and shifted last year’s sole offensive coordinator, former UCF quarterback Darin Hinshaw, to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Harris had been on UCF’s 2021-22 football staffs and spent last season with the Miami Hurricanes.

    He also brought in Trevon Reed to coach cornerbacks and Morris Henry Jr. as associate director of athletic performance for football. Reed played cornerback on Auburn’s 2010 national championship team and in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers. Reed came to UCF from Auburn, where he spent the past three seasons as director of football and recruiting relations. Henry is a native of Orlando and previously was a strength and conditioning coach at Auburn.

    Malzahn previously had brought in former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who he worked with on Auburn’s national championship team, to the same role at UCF and moved last year’s DC, Addison Williams, to co-associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Florida State hands Syracuse its first home loss of season

    Florida State hands Syracuse its first home loss of season

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    SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Jamir Watkins scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Florida State pulled away midway through the second half and beat Syracuse 85-69 on Tuesday night.

    It was Syracuse’s first home loss of the season.

    Syracuse built a one-point halftime advantage and had a seven-point lead with 15:57 to play. De’Ante Green’s three-point play sparked a 9-2 surge to tie it at 48-all with about 14 minutes left. The Orange then were up 52-48 before a Primo Spears 3-pointer sparked a 24-10 run, and the Seminoles had a 72-62 lead with 5:29 left and cruised from there. Watkins made a pair of dunks and scored 10 points during the stretch.

    Watkins scored 15 second-half points and finished 8 of 15 from the floor and 9-of-12 shooting from free-throw line. Baba Miller added 12 points and Spears chipped in 13 points and six assists for Florida State (12-7, 6-2 ACC), which has won eight of its last 10 games.

    Syracuse, which entered 9-0 at home, was 1 for 14 from 3-point range, shot 23 of 52 (44%) overall and committed 16 turnovers.

    Judah Mintz scored 16 of his 28 points in the second half to lead Syracuse (13-6, 4-4). JJ Starling added 10 points. Maliq Brown grabbed 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

    Mintz scored 12 points and Starling added eight to help Syracuse take a 36-35 lead into the break. Watkins had 12 points and six rebounds in the first half for Florida State.

    Syracuse hosts North Carolina State on Saturday. Florida State returns home to face No. 3 North Carolina on Saturday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Rodney Terry calls UCF players ‘classless’ for ‘horns down’ gesture

    Rodney Terry calls UCF players ‘classless’ for ‘horns down’ gesture

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    AUSTIN, Texas — After the Longhorns blew a 15-point lead, losing to the UCF Knights 77-71 at the Moody Center on Wednesday night, seeing a “horns down” is just salt in the wound.

    That didn’t stop a few UCF players from performing the gesture in the handshake line after the game. But Texas coach Rodney Terry wasn’t letting it slide without having a few choice words for the visiting team.

    In a video shared by CBS Sports, Terry can be heard saying “You don’t do that!” and “That’s classless!” in response to the players’ actions. The “horns down” is seen as a gesture of disrespect toward the Longhorns.

    In the postgame interview, Terry doubled down on his stance.


    “You don’t go into the handshake line and have about six or seven guys putting the horns down. We don’t do that. Because when you do those kinds of things, it looks very classless,” Terry said in the interview. “So that’s what I was angry about, and I was letting those guys know you don’t do that.”

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    Christine Sanchez

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  • Sellers get hot, and UCF basketball pulls away from Texas late

    Sellers get hot, and UCF basketball pulls away from Texas late

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    AUSTIN, Texas  — Jaylin Sellers had 24 points, Shemarri Allen scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and UCF rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to beat Texas 77-71 on Wednesday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • UCF was down 15 points in the second half before coming back to beat Texas 77-71

    • The Knights went on a 24-9 run to wrap up the victory

    • UCF’s Jaylin Sellers scored 24 points and Shemarri Allen had 15 of his 17 points in the second half

    • Ithiel Horton, who played at UCF last season, scored 20 points to lead Texas

    UCF trailed 59-46 with 11 minutes, 59 seconds remaining before holding Texas to four made shots — all from 3-point range — the rest of the way. The Knights finished the game on a 24-9 run.

    Max Abmas’ 3-pointer gave Texas its last lead, 68-67, with 4:29 remaining. Sellers and Allen then scored four points apiece during a 10-3 surge to end it.

    Texas made just two of its last 10 shots in the final six minutes. The Longhorns shot 68% (17 of 25) in the first half but cooled to 34.5% (10 of 29) in the second.

    Sellers was 7 of 12 from the floor that included a pair of 3-pointers, and he made all eight of his free throws. Allen also had seven assists. Darius Johnson added 11 points for UCF (11-5, 2-2 Big 12). C.J. Walker and Omar Payne chipped in 10 points apiece.

    Ithiel Horton, who transferred to Texas from UCF, scored 20 points to lead Texas (12-5, 1-3). Abmas and Dillon Mitchell each added 15 points.

    Texas built a 44-32 halftime advantage, and Horton’s jumper stretched the lead to 55-40 with 14:30 remaining. Allen scored five straight points, and Sellers capped the 14-3 surge with consecutive jumpers that gave the Knights a 67-65 advantage before pulling away.

    UCF is on the road against fifth-ranked Houston on Saturday.

    Texas, which has lost three of its past four games, hosts No. 9 Baylor on Saturday in the first of six games in a row against teams ranked in the top 25. The Longhorns had been ranked in the AP poll for 36 consecutive weeks before falling out on Monday.

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    Associated Press

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  • UCF football hires Roof as new defensive coordinator

    UCF football hires Roof as new defensive coordinator

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof has been named to the same position at the University of Central Florida, Knights coach Gus Malzahn announced Wednesday.

    The Knights’ defensive coordinator last season was Addison Williams. His title has shifted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator, UCF said in an announcement.

    “I’m looking forward to working with Ted again after winning a national championship together at Auburn,” Malzahn said in a statement released by UCF. “He’s a three-time Broyles Award nominee and has had the No. 1 ranked rush defense in the conference at three different schools.”

    Malzahn was offensive coordinator and Roof was defensive coordinator at Auburn when the Tigers won the 2010 college football national championship.

    Oklahoma dismissed Roof as defensive coordinator earlier this month, and Sooners coach Brett Venables said in a statement released by the university that Roof declined to remain on the staff in another role. Roof also had coached the linebackers at Oklahoma. 

    This season, Roof’s second as the Sooners’ defensive coordinator, Oklahoma ranked second nationally with 20 interceptions and sixth in takeaways with 26. Oklahoma limited its first five opponents in 2023 to 20 or fewer points before it defeated Texas 34-30.

    After edging UCF 30-29 on Oct. 21, Oklahoma lost to Kansas and Oklahoma State, and the Sooners gave up 520 yards in a 69-45 win over TCU in the regular-season finale.

    Roof’s final game was a 38-24 loss to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, Roof’s defense at Oklahoma ranked sixth in the Big 12, giving up an average of 389.4 yards of total offense per game. It was third in rushing defense, giving up an average of 138.6 yards per game and 10th in passing offense at 250.8 yards per game.

    In contrast, UCF ranked eighth in total defense in the Big 12, giving up an average of 391 yards per game. The Knights were last in the conference, 14th, in rushing defense — allowing an average of 194.3 yards per game but first in pass defense with an average of 196.7 yards.

    Roof has more than 30 years of coaching experience in Power 5 programs. During his career, his teams have had the best conference record in rushing defense in three programs, were first in the NCAA in defensive touchdowns in 2019, led the NCAA in red-zone defense in 2012 and set an NCAA record for takeaways per possession (26.8%) in 2014.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Knecht scores 39 to lead Volunteers over Gators in men’s basketball

    Knecht scores 39 to lead Volunteers over Gators in men’s basketball

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    KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dalton Knecht scored a career-high 39 points and had eight rebounds to lead No. 6 Tennessee past Florida 85-66 on Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida men’s basketball shot 29% in a rout by Tennessee Tuesday that saw the Gators fall 85-66

    • Dalton Knecht led the Volunteers with 39 points and eight rebounds

    • Walter Clayton Jr. scored 16 points for the Gators

    • The game started two hours early because of dangerous weather

    Jonas Aidoo had 19 points and a team-high 10 rebounds to help the Volunteers (13-4, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) win their 12th consecutive home game.

    “Anytime Jonas is aggressive and locked in, he’s a major factor,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “The guys are starting to understand each other, where they need the ball.”

    Knecht averaged 32 points in two games last week as he captured SEC Co-Player of the Week honors.

    “I’m just playing with confidence,” Knecht said. “It’s a lot easier with my teammates. It’s a lot of hard work. My teammates make it super easy.”

    Knecht shot 13-of-23 overall, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers, and made all nine of his free throws.

    “He’s been doing that to everybody,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “He did a lot in transition and broken plays. We weren’t good enough to protect the rim.”

    The Gators (11-6, 1-3), who haven’t won in Knoxville since 2014, were led by Walter Clayton Jr. with 16 points and Riley Kugel with 12. Tyrese Samuel had 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Zyon Pullin scored 11.

    “I thought we got our opportunities at the rim,” Golden said. “We didn’t match their physicality. (The Vols) play with an edge at home.”

    Florida was limited to 29% shooting from the field (20 of 68).

    “They’re an outstanding offensive team,” Barnes said of the Gators. “They’re one of the fastest teams in the country. When you hold a team to 29%, you’re doing a good job.”

    Knecht hit 9 of 10 field goals — including three 3-pointers — and scored 22 points in the first half as Tennessee jumped to a 44-32 halftime lead. A 12-3 run midway through the half gave the Vols some breathing room. Kugel had 10 to lead the Gators in the half.

    “We’re just feeding off the crowd,” Knecht said. “It starts with our defense: Make a stop and score.”

    Florida could not make up the deficit.

    “You don’t want to fall behind against this team,” Golden said. “They’re very disciplined. They’re not going to make mistakes.”

    The game started two hours early because of dangerous weather conditions.

    The takeaway

    Florida: The loss to Tennessee started a stretch of tough games for the Gators. They will play what figures to be four more Quadrant 1 games, considered in the NCAA Evaluation Tool, over the next two weeks. Florida is 0-5 this season in Q1 games and 2-19 over the past two seasons.

    Tennessee: The Vols are giving up eight more points a game (66.0-57.9) compared to last season, but they are scoring eight more points a game (78.7-70.8). The focus for Barnes has been consistency. The Vols have struggled with that all season and it continues to haunt them at times.

    Up next

    Florida: The Gators have another road game Saturday night against Missouri.

    Tennessee: The Vols will remain at home Saturday for a battle with Alabama.

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    Associated Press

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  • Napier brings in Ron Roberts as Gators’ executive head coach

    Napier brings in Ron Roberts as Gators’ executive head coach

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida announced the hiring of veteran defensive assistant Ron Roberts on Tuesday, adding the former Auburn coordinator to coach Billy Napier’s staff in hopes he can help lead a woeful unit back to prominence.

    Roberts was named executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He reunites with Austin Armstrong, the team’s 30-year-old defensive coordinator who struggled at times last season. Armstrong considers Roberts a mentor.

    The 56-year-old Roberts fills an opening that was created when linebackers coach Jay Bateman left to become Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator in late December.

    Roberts spent last year at Auburn after three seasons at Baylor. The Bears led the Big 12 with 27 takeaways in 2021, including 19 interceptions, as they won the conference title and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl to finish 12-2.

    The Gators ended the 2023 season on a five-game losing streak, with the defense bearing the brunt of the criticism. The unit allowed 38.2 points a game during the skid. Florida ranked 122nd (of 133 teams) nationally in yards per play and were next to last with 20 pass plays of 40 yards or longer.

    After Florida ended the season with a loss to rival Florida State, Napier fired secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer. Napier also reassigned his strength coach and fired his nutritionist.

    Napier has since hired Will Harris to replace Raymond and Gerald Chatman to replace Spencer.

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    Associated Press

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  • Florida State, Norvell reach agreement on ‘enhanced contract’

    Florida State, Norvell reach agreement on ‘enhanced contract’

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State and football coach Mike Norvell have agreed to terms on what the university called an “enhanced contract,” the school announced Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • FSU and football coach Mike Norvell have reached terms on an “enhanced contract,” the program announced

    • Terms were not revealed, but AP and Yahoo reported the deal is worth over $10 million per year for eight years

    • Norvell’s name had come up in speculation as a replacement for recently retired Nick Saban at Alabama

    • The Seminoles have gone 31-17 in Norvell’s four seasons and 23-4 the past two seasons. 

    The Seminoles did not release the terms of the deal, but the Associated Press, citing a source with direct knowledge of the deal, confirmed initial reports by Yahoo that the deal is for eight years and more than $10 million per year.

    The agreement came as Norvell’s name had been mentioned in media reports as a possible replacement at Alabama for Nick Saban, who announced his retirement as the Crimson Tide’s coach on Thursday. The Associated Press and ESPN reported Friday night that Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, whose team was the runner-up to Michigan in the national championship game, has signed a deal to take Alabama’s job. AP cited a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither school had announced DeBoer’s decision. 

    “We came to Tallahassee four years ago, and it was a life-changing experience,” Norvell said in a statement on seminoles.com. “Knowing the great history, tradition and expectation has guided our staff on a daily basis. It has been an incredible journey these last four years, and I have fallen in love with this program, the university and the people who I get to represent. I am so excited to continue our climb to push Florida State back to the top of college football. We are committed to being our best on and off the field while helping develop our players to be their best in every area of their lives. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing commitment into our student-athletes and staff from President McCullough, AD Alford and the Board of Trustees.”

    Norvell led the Seminoles (13-1) to an unbeaten regular season in 2023 before they were the first undefeated Power Five conference champion left out of the College Football Playoff, following a season-ending injury to quarterback Jordan Travis.

    Since they were not selected for the College Football Playoffs, the Seminoles have faced some adversity. Norvell stood up for his program and expressed how angry he was that the program was left out after becoming the first undefeated team in CFP history to be left out. The program has filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging the league’s grant of rights that ties the program to the ACC.

    The Seminoles, who subsequently lost many of their key players to injuries or the NFL Draft before the bowl game, then got crushed by Georgia in the Orange Bowl 63-3. On Thursday, the NCAA announced that a Florida State assistant coach has been suspended for the first three games of the 2024 season for violating recruiting rules by connecting a potential transfer with a representative from a name, image and likeness collective during an official visit. FSU agreed to two years of probation, the loss of a total of five football scholarships over the next two seasons and other restrictions on recruiting, including a reduction of official visits. The school was also fined $5,000.

    In four seasons at Florida State, the 42-year-old Norvell has dramatically improved the program and is 31-17, including 23-4 the past two seasons. The Seminoles went 3-6 in his first season as coach, but Norvell worked patiently through the COVID-19 pandemic to steadily rebuild the program.

    Despite the lopsided Orange Bowl loss, the Seminoles place sixth in the final Top 25 rankings. Norvell was voted the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year. He was one of five finalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club and one of 12 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.

     

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    Associated Press

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  • Michigan is unanimous No. 1, FSU 6th in final AP Top 25 football poll

    Michigan is unanimous No. 1, FSU 6th in final AP Top 25 football poll

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    HOUSTON, TX — Michigan was voted a unanimous No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll of the season after the Wolverines beat Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday night to win their first national title in 26 years.

    The Wolverines (15-0) received all 61 first-place votes as the only unbeaten team in the country. Washington (14-1) was second, the Huskies’ best final ranking since finishing No. 2 in 1991. That year, Washington was No. 1 in the final coaches’ poll to claim its only national title.

    Texas (12-2) was third, its best ranking since finishing second in 2009. Georgia (13-1) was fourth and Alabama (12-2), which ended the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak in the Southeastern Conference title games to make the playoff, was fifth.

    Florida State (13-1) and Oregon (12-2) finished tied for sixth. The Seminoles’ only loss came in a lopsided Orange Bowl against Georgia after they became the first unbeaten Power Five conference champion to be left out of the playoff and many of their top players opted out of the bowl.

    Missouri was eighth and Mississippi was ninth to give the SEC four teams in the top 10. For the Tigers, it was their best finish since landing at No. 5 in 2013.

    Ohio State was 10th, the Buckeyes’ worst final ranking since they were 12th in 2013.

    Clemson moved back into the poll at No. 20 to extend its streak of being ranked to end the season to 13 years, the second-longest in the nation behind Alabama’s 16.

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    Associated Press

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