ESPN’s resident college basketball analyst published his latest ranking of the 68 best teams in the nation on Tuesday, with the Florida Gators making an appearance right about where one would expect given the recent Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll and AP Poll results.
In both of those recent rankings, UF tumbled out of the top 25 but still remained just outside of the threshold according to the vote tallies. Considering that the Gators also currently sit at a No. 27 NET ratings, the following results should not come as a surprise.
Florida comes in at No. 28 in this edition of the top 68 rankings, just behind the Drake Bulldogs and ahead of the Maryland Terrapins. Here is what Bilas had to say about the Gators.
28. Florida Gators
The Gators are a puzzle. With Keyontae Johnson, this is a top 15 team. Without him, Florida has performed very well and surprised with how tough and together it has been. Yet, after winning four in a row and looking like a corner had been turned, the Gators dropped a game to South Carolina at home. Tough ones against Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri remain before the SEC tournament. Florida wins with defense and toughness. When playing pretty is in the picture, losses follow.
Three Southeastern Conference teams are ranked ahead of the Gators: No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide; No. 18 Missouri Tigers; No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers. If you are wondering how these ratings are derived, here are Bilas’ own words.
Remember, the results and analytics tell us what a team has done. It does not tell us what a team is capable of doing in the future. Melding those two very important things together is the job of The Bilastrator and The Bilas Index, the best and most reliable compilation of basketball knowledge and accomplishment in the known universe. You’re welcome.
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