February 25, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Florida Gators center Ruben Chinjeru (9) shoots a free throw in the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Image Straight-up seventh-ranked Florida will look to clinch at least a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season title when the Gators face No. 20 Arkansas on Saturday in Gainesville, Florida.
Arkansas coach John Calipari knows what the Razorbacks want.
“They’re the best team in our league right now and we’ve got to keep going,” Calipari said. “We can’t practice (Thursday), we can’t practice on Friday, we’re going to work on tape, we’ll take a look at some things.
“Let’s throw it in and see where we get.”
The defending national champion Gators (22-6, 13-2 SEC) have won eight straight games since losing 76-67 at home to Auburn on Jan. 24, beating the then-top-ranked Gators. 23 Alabama And at that time, no. 25 Kentucky on that run.
Florida is two games ahead of Arkansas and Alabama (both 21-7, 11-4) with three games remaining and has already clinched one of four double byes in the SEC Tournament. Arkansas can at least tie for fourth place with a win.
“We have a great opportunity in front of us,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “I know the presence of the ESPN Game Day team on Saturday can create even more excitement.”
“It’s a huge game. We’re really going to have to lock in mentally, stay calm and not get emotional.”
The Gators beat Texas 84-71 in Austin on Wednesday and have won seven of their last eight games by double digits. They fell behind by three points before closing on a 23-7 run to beat the Longhorns.
Former Razorback guard Boogie Fland scored 11 of his 22 points in the period and Alex Condon had 5 of his 23 points.
“This is what our team does,” Golden said. “We tire the team out.”
Fland averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in 21 games for the Razorbacks last season. He missed two months of the season with a torn ligament in his right thumb before returning for the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 11.5 points and 3.4 assists per game for Florida.
This matchup features the SEC’s best front line against a top perimeter group.
The 6-foot-11 Condon, 6-9 Thomas Huff and 6-10 Ruben Chinyeru are averaging 42.5 points and 25.3 rebounds. Florida leads Division I in rebounding margin at plus-14.1, and Chinyelu (11.5 per game) ranks third among players.
Freshman guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas and sophomore wing Billy Richmond III are the main threats for an Arkansas team that is averaging 90.3 points per game (fourth in Division I).
Acuff, a conference record for an SEC freshman, recovered from 1-for-10 shooting in the first half to score 17 of his 22 points in the final nine minutes of a 99-84 win over Texas A&M.
“At the end of the game, he would say, ‘I’m going to win,’” Calipari said.
“I’m not trying to give more to that kid, but why isn’t he in the Player of the Year equation? He’s doing gutsy things in the game.”
Acuff averaged 22.2 points and 6.2 assists, the only player in Division I to reach both levels. He’s also the only player to average more than 16 points and have an assist/turnover ratio better than 3:1.
Thomas (15.2 points) and Acuff are the highest-scoring freshman pair in the country, and Richmond has scored at least 20 points in four straight games after failing to score more than 16 points in its first 60 games.
–Field level media
