No. 3 Florida Aims for No. 1 Seed as Struggling Oklahoma Seeks a Lifeline

The trajectory of No. 3 Florida (22-3, 9-3 SEC) and Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9 SEC) couldn’t be more different since both started the season 13-0.

The Gators have surged into the top tier of the SEC, winning nine of their last 12 games, including two victories over No. 1-ranked teams. Oklahoma, meanwhile, has spiraled, losing nine of its last 12 and desperately clinging to NCAA Tournament hopes.

When the Sooners visit Gainesville on Tuesday night, their postseason future hangs in the balance, while Florida looks to strengthen its case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Florida’s Mission: Locking Down a Top Seed

Head coach Todd Golden has been open about his team’s goal: securing a No. 1 seed to set up the best possible March Madness path.

“If you’re able to lock down a 1 seed, you give yourself a much better chance,” Golden said.

The Gators have won four straight, including an 88-67 blowout of South Carolina on Saturday. That game marked the return of two key players:

• Micah Handlogten (7’1” C) – Made his season debut after a devastating leg injury last year. In 20 minutes, he tallied two points, five assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
• Alijah Martin (15.1 PPG) – Florida’s second-leading scorer returned after missing two games with a hip injury and chipped in 11 points off the bench.

With starter Alex Condon (ankle) and reserve Sam Alexis (ankle) sidelined, Handlogten’s return comes at the perfect time for Florida’s depleted frontcourt.

Another breakout performer for Florida has been Denzel Aberdeen. Stepping into the lineup due to injuries, Aberdeen has scored 42 points over the last two games, hitting 62.5% of his shots and draining 5-of-7 from deep in his career-high 22-point outing vs. South Carolina.

With a deep and balanced roster, Florida is looking to extend its dominance and avoid a resume-blemishing loss to a struggling Oklahoma squad.

Oklahoma: Desperate to Stay Alive

The Sooners desperately need a win to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation. Their latest collapse against LSU—blowing a five-point lead in the final 35 seconds—was a brutal gut punch.

That 82-79 loss extended Oklahoma’s losing streak to four games, with the first three losses coming by an average of 23.3 points—all against ranked opponents.

And it doesn’t get any easier. The Sooners’ next five games are all against ranked teams, making this stretch do-or-die for their tournament chances.

To pull off the upset, Oklahoma will need big performances from its top two scorers:

• Jalon Moore (17.2 PPG) – The Sooners’ go-to scorer, but he was held to just 10 points vs. LSU. He must bounce back.
• Jeremiah Fears (15.2 PPG) – A dynamic playmaker who needs to step up under pressure.

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What’s at Stake?

• Florida: A win keeps them in the hunt for a No. 1 seed and strengthens their March Madness positioning. A loss would be a bad look against a struggling opponent.
• Oklahoma: A win would be huge for their tournament resume, while a loss would push them further off the bubble and toward missing the Big Dance entirely.

With drastically different stakes, expect Florida to bring its A-game while Oklahoma fights for its NCAA Tournament life. Can the Sooners pull off an upset, or will the Gators continue their dominant run?