NFL Tickets
The Florida Gators were one of the most disappointing teams in college basketball last season, as they failed to make the 2015 NCAA Tournament despite being ranked in the preseason Top 25. However, they could be one of the favorites to win the SEC in the 2015-16 season due to their returning players and incoming recruiting class.
The moment Dorian Finney-Smith announced that Billy Donovan would return to the Gators, it was safe to assume that he was staying at Florida for at least another season. Finney-Smith had a down season, but he was still the SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year during the Gators run to the Final Four and No. 1 overall seed two seasons ago. If Donovan was leaving, then it was doubtful Finney-Smith would stay another season, because he has clear NBA potential, despite his down year.
On top of Finney-Smith, the Gators will return a young talented core of Kasey Hill, Brandone Francis, Chris Chiozza and Devin Robinson. Add those players to the incoming recruiting class of Noah Dickerson, KeVaughn Allen, Kevarrius Hayes and Keith Stone, and the Gators have arguably the most talented group of young basketball players in the country.
Several SEC teams will be much improved in the 2015-16 season; the LSU Tigers, Vanderbilt Commodores, Ole Miss Rebels, Auburn Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies all became significantly better in the offseason. However, Florida’s young squad will now have had time to adjust to the tough conference play and should thrive in the competitive SEC environment.
The Gators may have fallen short of expectations last season, but expect them to exceed them during the upcoming one. Florida is a legitimate threat in the SEC and, even more surprisingly, to the 2016 National Championship.
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
Share 
