Latest news with #OrangeBowlClassic
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida basketball returns to Orange Bowl Classic with matchup vs. George Washington
Florida basketball has officially locked in a matchup with George Washington for the 2025 Orange Bowl Classic on Saturday, Dec. 13. The non-conference game will be played at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, marking the Gators' return to the annual South Florida showcase for the first time since 2023. Florida holds a 19-4 all-time record in the Orange Bowl Classic, including a win over Richmond in its last appearance two seasons ago when Todd Golden was in his second year with the Gators. The Orange Bowl Classic–the only Division I basketball showcase held in Broward County–will return as a doubleheader this season, highlighted by Florida taking on George Washington and Florida State facing off against UMass. The Gators and the Revolutionaries have met four times historically, with the series tied 2-2. Their last clash came in the 2016 NIT quarterfinals, where Florida fell on the road. Now, nearly a decade later, the Gators get a chance at payback in their home state. Along with this game on their non-conference schedule, the Gators will face off against the Miami Hurricanes in Jacksonville on Sunday, Nov. 16, which completes their early-season slate. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida's sprawling non-conference schedule features 8 Sunshine State dates
GAINESVILLE — Florida's non-conference basketball schedule will showcase the team in high-profile settings, send the Gators to both coasts and feature them eight times in the Sunshine State, including six games at home in the O'Connell Center. The school announced the balance of the games the reigning national champion Gators will play outside the SEC. Advertisement Many, including the Nov. 3 season-opener against Arizona in Las Vegas and Dec. 6 date at Duke, have been previously announced. UF updated the schedule with six home games, highlighted by a Nov. 11 visit from Florida State. The Gators' other non-conference games features the home opener against North Florida Nov. 6, along with a matchup with Merrimack (Nov. 21). Florida then will have a nearly four-week stretch away from home before a Dec. 17 visit from Saint Francis to the O'Connell Center. Colgate will visit Gainesville on Dec. 21 and UF will host Dartmouth on Dec. 29. Todd Golden's squad also will play Miami Nov. 16 in Jacksonville and George Washington Dec. 13 in Sunrise during the annual Orange Bowl Classic. UF did not announce either game, but each has been widely reported. Advertisement All told, the Gators will play 17 times in the state of Florida, including nine SEC games in Gainesville. While opponents have been announced, dates, times and television assignments have not. Expected to be one of the nation's top teams, UF also could open NCAA Tournament play close to home. On March 20 and 22, Tampa's Amalie Arena will serves as one of eight first- and second-round host sites for the Big Dance. Golden's team currently is participating in summer workouts with key transfer guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, along with one of the nation's top returning front courts, led by 6-foot-11 junior Alex Condon and 6-foot-9 forward Thomas Haugh, who is projected as the No. 15 selection in the 2026 NBA Draft by The Athletic. Condon, who withdrew from the NBA draft in late May to return for a third college season, was slotted No. 29 in the publication's mock draft. Florida Men's Basketball 2025-26 Nonconference Schedule Date, Opponent, Site Nov. 3: Arizona, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Advertisement Nov. 6: North Florida, O'Connell Center Nov. 11: Florida State, O'Connell Center Nov. 16: Miami, Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville Nov. 21: Merrimack, O'Connell Center Nov. 27-28: TCU/Providence/Wisconsin, Jenny Craig Pavilion, San Diego Dec. 2: Duke, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, N.C. Dec. 9: UConn, Madison Square Garden, New York City Dec. 13: George Washington, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise Dec. 17: Saint Francis, O'Connell Center Dec. 21: Colgate, O'Connell Center Dec. 29: Dartmouth, O'Connell Center Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@
Miami Herald
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Darius Rice among UM Sports Hall of Fame inductees. Here's who else will be honored
Longtime University of Miami basketball fans surely remember Jan. 20, 2003, the night Darius Rice scored a career-high 43 points, including the winning three-pointer at the buzzer, and almost single-handedly beat then-No. 11 UConn 77-76. Rice, now a high school coach in Texas, remembers every detail of that game. All the memories flooded back to him when the Hurricanes faced the Huskies in the Final Four two years ago, and again this week, as he prepares his speech for his induction into the UM Sports Hall of Fame. Rice won that game after stealing an inbounds pass and launching the three. 'When [Shamon Tooles] let the ball go, it was in my reach, so I stuck my hand out, and when it touched my hand, I said, 'This is mine,'' Rice said. 'I saw the rim and I knew it was going in. The basket looked as big as the ocean all night. 'They went bigger on me, smaller, I think their whole team, including coach [Jim] Calhoun tried to cover me, but it was one of those nights.' Thursday will be another special night for Rice and the other inductees. He said he has written and torn up his speech five times. 'It is exciting to be back on campus, 25 years after I got here, knowing that all the things I did and set out to do were appreciated,' said Rice, whose mother and sister flew in for the ceremony. 'Everyone always talks about the UConn game, but I have so many other great memories, too. The week before that game against UNC I hit a shot from the corner to force OT. I also remember scoring 33 against the Gators in the Orange Bowl Classic. This will be a happy moment for me.' He played for Perry Clark but also singled out Leonard Hamilton (who recruited him), Stan Jones, Dwight Freeman and Brock Kantrow as coaches who had a big influence on him. The induction banquet will take place at the Watsco Center, where Rice played. The eight-member Class of 2025 is comprised of Rice, Vikki Alonzo (soccer), Mark Cooper (football), Kevin Howard (baseball), Cindy Kessler Miller (golf), Jerome McDougle (football), Brian Ramos (diving), and Krista Simkins (track & field). UM Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Biographies ▪ Vikki Alonzo, Soccer (2008-2011): Holds nearly every school record for goalkeepers including wins (36), shutouts (25), saves (358) and minutes in goal (7,256). Also holds three single-season records for saves, shutouts and minutes in goal. ▪ Mark Cooper, Football (1978-1982): Recruited to the Hurricanes as a tight end out of Miami's Killian High, but Coach Howard Schnellenberger moved him to left tackle to protect quarterback Jim Kelly due to many injuries on the offensive line… Named second-team Independent South All-American and selected to the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl following his final season…Drafted in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft by Denver…'Coop' spent seven seasons in the league and played in Super Bowl XXI for the Broncos. ▪ Kevin Howard, Baseball (2000-2002): One of the program's best all-around hitters… Named the 2000 Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger, a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American and Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American… Hit .413 with 90 hits and 52 in his first season… As a junior put together another outstanding season with a .363 batting average, 86 hits, 23 doubles, 12 home runs, 52 RBI and a .602 slugging percentage… Ranks fourth all-time in career hits with 260 and his career .368 batting average is eighth all-time for batters with 300-plus at bats. ▪ Cindy Kessler Miller, Golf (1975-1978): Began her career as a walk-on in 1975 and earned her way to a scholarship spot in 1976…Helped the Canes to back-to-back national championships in 1977 and 1978 and was named an All-American in her senior campaign in 1978, serving as team captain… After a brief career on the LPGA Tour, established herself as one of the game's finest golf teachers and will be inducted into the LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame as a member of their Class of 2024. ▪ Jerome McDougle, Football (2000-2002): Named a 2002 first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and a two-time first-team All-Big East selection by the league's coaches in 2001 and 2002… Key member on the defensive line of the 2001 national championship team… First-round draft pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and spent six seasons in the league. ▪ Brian Ramos, Diving (1990-1995): One of legendary head coach Randy Ableman's first top recruits and helped turned the UM diving team into a dynasty… Seven-time All-American who finished second at the 1992 NCAA Championships in the 1-meter springboard…Named 1995 Big East Diver of the Year. ▪ Darius Rice, Basketball (2000-04): Electrifying scorer from all areas of the court… Three-time All-Big East selection (twice second team, once third team)… Left Miami as the school's fourth-leading scorer all-time with 1,865 points for a career average of 16.1 points per game… Ranks in UM's career top 10 for field goals made and attempted, 3-point field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted and games started. ▪ Krista Simkins, Track & Field (2006-2008): 2008 NCAA indoor 400-meter champion with a time of 52.16 seconds… Also named 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Track Performer of the Year, claiming ACC titles in the 400 and 200 meters…won the 2007 ACC title in the 100 meters…four-time All American, receiving honors twice each in indoor and outdoor events in her career.
Miami Herald
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Florida A&M returning to Orange Blossom Classic in 2025. What to know about the game
After a one-year hiatus, the Florida A&M Rattlers are set to return to the Orange Blossom Classic this season. FAMU will face Howard in the 2025 edition of the Orange Bowl Classic in what will be a matchup that honors the game's long history. FAMU and Howard played in the first Orange Bowl Classic in 1933 in Jacksonville before the game eventually moved to Miami in 1947 (with stops in Orlando, back in Jacksonville and Tampa along the way). The game is scheduled for Aug. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff time has not yet been announced. The teams have faced each other twice in the Orange Blossom Classic (1933 and 1974). They last met on the field in the 2023 Celebration Bowl, which FAMU won 30-26. 'This year's matchup is not only a rematch of their 2023 Celebration Bowl showdown, but it also takes us back to the very beginning,' Kendra Bulluck-Major, the Orange Blossom Classic's executive director, said in a press release announcing the matchup. 'The inaugural Orange Blossom Classic in 1933 featured these two historic programs — Florida A&M and Howard — facing off at the Black Only's Ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, in front of 2,000 fans. To see this rivalry come full circle, while celebrating the rich history and legacy of HBCUs, is truly special. We are excited to bring this experience to fans during Labor Day Weekend 2025.' Prior to last season, Florida A&M had played in every Orange Blossom Classic, a game featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities which first ran from 1933-1978 and then resumed as an annual game starting in 2021. The Rattlers are 27-21-1 all-time in the Orange Blossom Classic. The 2024 game saw North Carolina Central beat Alabama State 31-24. 'The Orange Blossom Classic represents much more than football—it's a celebration of community, culture, and the incredible legacy of HBCUs,' said Oliver Gilbert III, Commissioner of Miami-Dade County's District 1. 'Bringing FAMU and Howard together again continues the tradition of excellence that this game has always embodied. Labor Day Weekend 2025 will be one to remember, and Miami Gardens is ready to welcome fans and alumni to this historic event.'
