News - Florida Gators to Face Vanderbilt in SEC Semifinals Showdown

The Florida Gators, reigning champions of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), are set to face off against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament at 1 p.m. ET on March 14, 2026. The much-anticipated game will take place in the Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN or stream it via FuboTV or DIRECTV, both offering free trial options. The Gators, currently ranked No. 4 nationally, have shown formidable prowess throughout the season, boasting a 12-game winning streak. This places them in a strong position as they aim to secure their sixth overall SEC Tournament title on their journey to further glory. In their previous encounter on January 17, Florida edged out Vanderbilt with an intense 98-94 victory. This time around, the Commodores, holding a respectable No. 22 ranking, are eager to avenge their earlier loss. The stakes are high for both teams as they compete for a spot in the finals. Friday's quarterfinals saw Florida dominate Kentucky 71-63, a game highlighted by Alex Condon's outstanding 22-point performance coupled with 10 rebounds. Florida's forward, Thomas Haugh, contributed significantly with 13 points, while Xaivian Lee added a pivotal 11 points, including a critical late-game three-pointer that sealed their victory. Kentucky, despite being ninth-seeded and entering their third game in three days, challenged Florida with stellar plays from Denzel Aberdeen, who led the Wildcats with 17 points. Reserves Mouhamed Dioubate and Otega Oweh also made notable contributions, scoring 14 and 10 points respectively. The Gators began Friday's game aggressively, establishing a strong 16-6 lead early on, thanks to Condon's remarkable playmaking. While Kentucky fought back to briefly level the score at 20, Florida responded with a decisive 13-point surge initiated by Boogie Fland, extending their lead to 37-28 by halftime. As the second half commenced, the Gators expanded their lead to 17 points, but faced a scoring drought that saw Kentucky close the gap to 66-61, much to the tension of the game. However, Lee's late deep three-pointer and his swift steal from Aberdeen solidified Florida's advancement to the next round. As Kentucky bows out to regroup and await their fate in the NCAA Tournament, Florida sets its sights firmly on retaining its crown, with Vanderbilt standing between them and the finals. With both teams performing at peak level, fans are in for an electrifying clash in Nashville.