Weekend Open Thread: Gators galore

This weekend you will again find an abundance of Florida Gator sports teams in action. Baseball hosts a home series with rival Miami, track and field competes at the SEC Indoor Championships, softball is on the road for another tournament, and there is some little basketball game you might have heard about going on in Kentucky.

Below you’ll find what is happening in Gator sports this weekend, as well as how to follow along.

Friday, February 24

Swimming and diving
Last Chance Meet, 10:00 a.m.: The Gators will host one of nine Last Chance Meets occurring across the country. These meets serve as a final opportunity for swimmers to earn NCAA-qualifying times. Florida will host swimmers from Florida State, Florida Gulf Coast, Miami, and Texas A&M. Points won’t be counted and there is no team winner. Events today include the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 free.

Softball
Florida vs. Syracuse, 1:15 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators are in Orlando for the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic, playing at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. These teams last met in 2013 in California, but also played in Gainesville in 2011. Florida won both previous meetings.

Florida vs. Fordham, 3:30 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators continue Citrus Classic action. Florida has met the Rams two times before, with both meetings resulting in Gator victories.

Track and field
SEC Indoor Championships, 5:25 p.m., (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Stats): The Gators’ men’s team, ranked No. 1 all season long, is one of the favorites this weekend. Florida and Arkansas have won every SEC Indoor title since 1991 and appear poised to compete for the title again. The Gator women are not favored to win their title but still have strong competitors in the competition.

Baseball
Miami, 6:30 p.m. (SECNetwork+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): No. 2 Florida hosts No. 17 Miami for the first game of a three-game series at McKethan this weekend. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series, 128-117-1, but the Gators lead in Gainesville, 71-47-1. Florida has won the past two regular-season series (2-1 both times) against the ‘Canes, and won two games against them in Omaha in 2015. Alex Faedo will get the start for the Gators.

Lacrosse
Florida vs. Southern California, 6:30 p.m., (Watch - YouTube, Listen, Stats): The Gators return to action after a nearly two-week hiatus following their first game of the season. No. 4 Florida hosts No. 3 USC for the first ever meeting between the Trojans and the Gators. Florida’s showdown with USC marks the second of seven games that the Gators will play against teams currently ranked in the top-20. This is also Florida’s only home night game of the season.

Gymnastics
Florida vs. Missouri, 6:45 p.m. (SECNetwork/WatchESPN, Stats): The No. 3 Gators host the No. 13 Tigers in Florida’s last home SEC meet of the season.

Saturday, February 25

Swimming and diving
Last Chance Meet, 10:00 a.m.: Florida continues hosting the Last Chance Meet. Events on Saturday include the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back.

Softball
Florida vs. Liberty, 11:00 a.m. (Listen): Florida continues Citrus Classic tournament play. The Gators have played Liberty once before, in the 2015 Aquafina Invitational in Gainesville, where Florida notched an 11-0 season-opening victory.

Florida vs. Elon, 1:15 p.m. (Listen): The Gators are back at it for the second part of their Saturday Citrus Classic double-header. These two teams have played once before, in last year’s Citrus Classic, in a game which Florida won, 3-1.

Men’s basketball
Florida vs. Kentucky, 2:00 p.m. (CBS/CBSSports, Listen): A huge one is on deck for the Gators. Florida and Kentucky have identical overall and conference records, so this game could decide the conference’s regular-season champion and No. 1 seed in the SEC tournament.

Track and field
SEC Indoor Championships, 2:55 p.m., (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Stats): Florida men and women continue competition in Nashville.

Baseball
Florida vs. Miami, 6:30 p.m., (SECNetwork+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators continue their series against the Hurricanes, with Brady Singer on the mound for Florida.

Sunday, February 26

Softball
Florida vs. Lehigh, 9:30 a.m. (Listen): The Gators end their Citrus Classic tournament against the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh and Florida played once before - the Gators won that game in Regional NCAA Tournament play in 2009.

Swimming and diving
Last Chance Meet, 10:00 a.m.: Florida hosts the final day of the meet with events including the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly.

Men’s tennis
Florida vs. Ohio State, 12:00 p.m. (Watch - FloridaGators.com, Stats): The Gators host the No. 2 Buckeyes, who are the seventh nationally ranked opponent that Florida has faced in February.

Women’s basketball
Florida vs. Georgia, 12:00 p.m. (ESPNU/WatchESPN Listen, Stats): The Gators host the Bulldogs for the regular-season finale for both teams. Florida will honor seniors Ronni Williams and Tyshara Fleming in a postgame ceremony.

Baseball
Florida vs. Miami, 1:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): Florida concludes their three-game home series with the Hurricanes, with Jackson Kowar getting the start.

Track and field
SEC Indoor Championships, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN): The competition ended on Saturday, but ESPN is airing a replay of the championships in prime-time.