Florida blows out Alabama 100 to 77

February 1, 2026 – GAINESVILLE, FL – On Sunday the Alabama men's basketball team was run over by a freight train. The Florida Gators played their best basketball game sending a statement to the entire SEC.

The win improved Florida's record to 16 and 6 overall and 7 and 2 in the SEC), the victory reinforced the Gators' status as a legitimate SEC contender and a team capable of imposing its will on both ends of the floor. The Gators shot 51% from the field, committed just two turnovers, and showcased the depth and balance that have fueled their surge after a rocky start to the season.

Golden praised his team's mentality afterward, noting that the Gators "played with great mentality from start to finish," a sentiment that matched the energy inside Exactech Arena.

Alabama's Struggles Continue in Gainesville

For Alabama, the loss extended a frustrating trend: the Crimson Tide have now dropped five straight games to Florida under Golden. The Tide entered Gainesville hoping the return of Bediako and forward Amari Allen would stabilize their interior defense, but instead they were overwhelmed by Florida's size, speed, and efficiency.

Alabama committed 18 turnovers, which Florida converted into 25 points, while the Tide forced only two turnovers all game - a nearly unheard‑of disparity at the high‑major level. The giveaways repeatedly halted Alabama's attempts to build momentum and allowed Florida to dictate tempo.

Offensively, Alabama received strong moments from guards Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Labaron Philon Jr., who hit timely threes, but the Tide never strung together enough stops to mount a serious comeback. Their 14–7 record (4–4 SEC) now reflects a team searching for consistency as the conference schedule intensifies.

"We did a terrible job adjusting to [Florida's physicality]," Alabama Coach Nate Oats said. We've got to look in the mirror."

The Florida crowd was taunting Alabama Senior Center Charles Bediako throughout the game. Oats acknowledged the atmosphere but kept the focus on the game, noting that Alabama was "outplayed throughout" and needed to improve regardless of outside noise.

The next court hearing in Charles Bediako's NCAA eligibility case is scheduled for February 6, 2026. The court has rescheduled hearing for his request for a preliminary injunction. Bediako remains eligible to play until the February 6 hearing, thanks to a temporary restraining order (TRO) that was extended after weather delays prevented an NCAA attorney from traveling. The hearing falls one day before Alabama plays Auburn on Feb. 7, meaning the ruling could directly impact his availability for that rivalry game. He is still eligible for Alabama's game versus Texas A&M Wednesday at Coleman Coliseum.

(A.I. contributed to this report.)

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