With a win the Gators would face the winner between No. 8 seed UConn, the two-time defending national champion, and No. 9 seed Oklahoma (20-13) — 85-63 losers Feb. 18 in Gainesville. UConn (23-10) defeated UF 75-54 in December 2022 during Golden’s first season and en route to the Huskies’ national title, one of six by the school since 1999.

Florida is the No. 1 team in the West Region in its bid to erase last year's early NCAA Tournament exit.

The Norfolk State men’s basketball team was given a No. 16 seed and will play No. 1 seed Florida in an NCAA Tournament first-round game Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. The game is part of the West Region and will tip off at 6:50 p.m. on TNT.