# 2017–18 Florida Gators men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Florida Gators men's basketball team represented the University of Florida in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gators were led by third year head coach Mike White and played their home games in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus as members of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 21–13, 11–7 in SEC play to finish in third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament to Arkansas. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated St. Bonaventure in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Texas Tech.

## Previous season

The Gators finished the 2016–17 season 27–9, 14–4 in SEC play to finish in second place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament in overtime to 7-seed Vanderbilt. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the East Region's No. 4 seed. They defeated 13-seed East Tennessee State and 5-seed Virginia to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. In the Sweet Sixteen, they defeated 8-seed Wisconsin with a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime to earn a trip to the Elite Eight. In the Elite Eight, they lost to fellow SEC member 7-seed South Carolina.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Kasey Hill | 0 | G | 6'1" | 175 | Senior | Umatilla, FL | Graduated |
| Devin Robinson | 1 | F | 6'8" | 200 | Junior | Chesterfield, VA | Declare for 2017 NBA draft |
| Eric Hester | 2 | G | 6'3" | 167 | Freshman | Clearwater, FL | Transferred to Akron |
| Justin Leon | 23 | F | 6'8" | 206 | Senior | Conway, AR | Graduated |
| Canyon Barry | 24 | G | 6'6" | 215 | RS Senior | Colorado Springs, CO | Completed athletic eligibility; graduated from Charleston in 2016 |
| Schuyler Rimmer | 32 | C | 6'10" | 249 | RS Senior | Orlando, FL | Graduated |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Egor Koulechov | 4 | G/F | 6'5" | 210 | RS Senior | Volgograd, Russia | Graduate transferred from Rice |

### 2017 recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| DeAundre Ballard SF | Atlanta, GA | Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Apr 18, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 85 ||||||
| Chase Johnson PF | Ripley, WV | Huntington Prep | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Oct 3, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Isaiah Stokes C | Memphis, TN | IMG Academy | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | Nov 30, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 85 ||||||
| Mike Okauru PG | Raleigh, NC | Brewster Academy | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Dec 22, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2017 Florida Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved July 15, 2016. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 15, 2016. "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 15, 2016. ||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| November 2, 2017* 7:00 pm | No. 8 | at Jacksonville Fundraiser for Florida's First Coast Relief Fund | W 88–47 | | 21 – Hudson | 9 – Bassett | 6 – Allen | Swisher Gym (1,542) Jacksonville, FL |
| November 5, 2017* 2:00 pm, SECN+ | No. 8 | Tampa | W 94–57 | | 18 – Hudson | 7 – Tied | 4 – Allen | O'Connell Center (8,023) Gainesville, FL |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 13, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 8 | Gardner–Webb | W 116–74 | 1–0 | 34 – Koulechov | 7 – Gak | 6 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (8,604) Gainesville, FL |
| November 16, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN | No. 8 | North Florida | W 108–68 | 2–0 | 18 – Allen | 10 – Koulechov | 7 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (9,151) Gainesville, FL |
| November 19, 2017* 6:00 pm, SECN | No. 8 | New Hampshire Phil Knight Invitational Campus Game | W 70–63 | 3–0 | 26 – Hudson | 10 – Koulechov | 1 – 3 tied | O'Connell Center (9,501) Gainesville, FL |
| November 23, 2017* 10:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 7 | vs. Stanford Phil Knight Invitational Motion Bracket Quarterfinals | W 108–87 | 4–0 | 26 – Koulechov | 4 – Allen | 11 – Chiozza | Veterans Memorial Coliseum (7,878) Portland, OR |
| November 24, 2017* 11:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 7 | vs. No. 17 Gonzaga Phil Knight Invitational Motion Bracket Semifinals | W 111–105 $^{2OT}$ | 5–0 | 35 – Hudson | 9 – Koulechov | 10 – Chiozza | Moda Center (14,274) Portland, OR |
| November 26, 2017* 10:30 pm, ESPN | No. 7 | vs. No. 1 Duke Phil Knight Invitational Motion Bracket Championship | L 84–87 | 5–1 | 24 – Hudson | 10 – Hudson | 7 – Chiozza | Moda Center (15,365) Portland, OR |
| December 4, 2017* 9:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 5 | Florida State Rivalry | L 66–83 | 5–2 | 16 – Hudson | 9 – Ballard | 4 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (10,425) Gainesville, FL |
| December 6, 2017* 8:00 pm, SECN | No. 5 | Loyola–Chicago | L 59–65 | 5–3 | 9 – Chiozza | 9 – Koulechov | 4 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (9,012) Gainesville, FL |
| December 9, 2017* 6:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 5 | vs. No. 17 Cincinnati Never Forget Tribute Classic | W 66–60 | 6–3 | 21 – Koulechov | 7 – Koulechov | 6 – Chiozza | Prudential Center (9,112) Newark, NJ |
| December 16, 2017* 4:30 pm, FS2/FSFL | No. 22 | vs. Clemson Orange Bowl Classic | L 69–71 | 6–4 | 23 – Hudson | 9 – Koulechov | 3 – Tied | BB&T Center (9,152) Sunrise, FL |
| December 20, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN | | James Madison | W 72–63 | 7–4 | 19 – Chiozza | 7 – Hayes | 7 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (8,203) Gainesville, FL |
| December 22, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN | | Incarnate Word | W 75–60 | 8–4 | 16 – Chozza | 8 – Hayes | 6 – Hudson | O'Connell Center (8,021) Gainesville, FL |
| December 30, 2017 4:00 pm, ESPN2 | | Vanderbilt | W 81–74 | 9–4 (1–0) | 22 – Koulechov | 8 – Koulechov | 3 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (10,274) Gainesville, FL |
| January 2, 2018 9:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at No. 11 Texas A&M | W 83–66 | 10–4 (2–0) | 19 – Koulechov | 7 – Hayes | 9 – Chiozza | Reed Arena (12,524) College Station, TX |
| January 6, 2018 1:00 pm, CBS | | at Missouri | W 77–75 | 11–4 (3–0) | 16 – Hudson | 8 – Koulechov | 6 – Chiozza | Mizzou Arena (15,061) Columbia, MO |
| January 10, 2018 7:00 pm, SECN | | Mississippi State | W 71–54 | 12–4 (4–0) | 23 – Koulechov | 8 – Tied | 7 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (9,917) Gainesville, FL |
| January 13, 2018 1:00 pm, CBS | | at Ole Miss | L 72–78 | 12–5 (4–1) | 23 – Stone | 11 – Koulechov | 4 – Chiozza | The Pavilion at Ole Miss (6,457) Oxford, MS |
| January 17, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | | Arkansas | W 88–73 | 13–5 (5–1) | 28 – Allen | 9 – Hudson | 9 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (9,929) Gainesville, FL |
| January 20, 2018 8:15 pm, ESPN | | at No. 18 Kentucky Rivalry/College Gameday | W 66–64 | 14–5 (6–1) | 17 – Hudson | 9 – Tied | 8 – Chiozza | Rupp Arena (24,394) Lexington, KY |
| January 24, 2018 7:00 pm, SECN | No. 20 | South Carolina | L 72–77 | 14–6 (6–2) | 16 – Tied | 8 – Koulechov | 8 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (10,151) Gainesville, FL |
| January 27, 2018* 12:00 pm, ESPN | No. 20 | Baylor Big 12/SEC Challenge | W 81–60 | 15–6 | 20 – Chiozza | 8 – Koulechov | 6 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (10,623) Gainesville, FL |
| January 30, 2018 7:00 pm, SECN | No. 23 | at Georgia | L 60–72 | 15–7 (6–3) | 15 – Chiozza | 7 – Koulechov | 6 – Chiozza | Stegeman Coliseum (8,779) Athens, GA |
| February 3, 2018 4:00 pm, ESPN | No. 23 | Alabama | L 50–68 | 15–8 (6–4) | 16 – Allen | 5 – Tied | 4 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (10,845) Gainesville, FL |
| February 7, 2018 6:30 pm, SECN | | LSU | W 73–64 | 16–8 (7–4) | 18 – Hudson | 9 – Hudson | 6 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (9,833) Gainesville, FL |
| February 10, 2018 12:00 pm, CBS | | at South Carolina | W 65–41 | 17–8 (8–4) | 12 – Tied | 7 – 3 tied | 3 – Tied | Colonial Life Arena (14,629) Columbia, SC |
| February 14, 2018 9:00 pm, SECN | | Georgia | L 69–72 $^{OT}$ | 17–9 (8–5) | 19 – Tied | 7 – Hayes | 5 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (9,497) Gainesville, FL |
| February 17, 2018 4:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at Vanderbilt | L 68–71 | 17–10 (8–6) | 20 – Stone | 7 – Koulechov | 6 – Chiozza | Memorial Gymnasium (10,346) Nashville, TN |
| February 21, 2018 9:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at No. 19 Tennessee | L 57–62 | 17–11 (8–7) | 13 – Hudson | 8 – Hayes | 9 – Chiozza | Thompson–Boling Arena (16,016) Knoxville, FL |
| February 24, 2018 8:30 pm, SECN | | No. 12 Auburn | W 72–66 | 18–11 (9–7) | 24 – Allen | 6 – Tied | 12 – Chiozza | O'Connell Center (10,503) Gainesville, FL |
| February 27, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN | | at Alabama | W 73–52 | 19–11 (10–7) | 27 – Hudson | 9 – Chiozza | 4 – Chiozza | Coleman Coliseum (12,282) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| March 3, 2018 12:00 pm, CBS | | No. 23 Kentucky Rivalry | W 80–67 | 20–11 (11–7) | 22 – Hudson | 7 – Allen | 7 – Allen | O'Connell Center (10,558) Gainesville, FL |
| SEC Tournament |||||||||
| March 9, 2018 9:30 pm, SECN | (3) No. 23 | vs. (6) Arkansas Quarterfinals | L 72–80 | 20–12 | 22 – Stone | 6 – Koulechov | 6 – Chiozza | Scottrade Center (14,596) St. Louis, MO |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| March 15, 2018* 9:57 pm, truTV | (6 E) No. 23 | vs. (11 E) St. Bonaventure First Round | W 77–62 | 21–12 | 20 – Koulechov | 8 – Stone | 11 – Chiozza | American Airlines Center (18,703) Dallas, Texas |
| March 17, 2018* 8:40 pm, TNT | (6 E) No. 23 | vs. (3 E) No. 14 Texas Tech Second Round | L 66–69 | 21–13 | 23 – Hudson | 10 – Stone | 4 – Allen | American Airlines Center (18,642) Dallas, Texas |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East Region. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Final |
| AP | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 22 | RV | RV | — | RV | RV | 20 | 23 | RV | RV | — | RV | 23 | 23 | Not released |
| Coaches | 7 (1) | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 22 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 22 | 24 | RV | RV | — | RV | 23 | 24 | RV |
*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings