Weekend Open Thread: Great deal of Gator action

With regards to this weekend’s happenings, there is one particular Florida sporting event that is likely looming large in everyone’s minds - that’d be the Gators’ impeding NCAA Tournament second round showdown with the Virginia Cavaliers.

But there are other Florida teams competing this weekend, including the gymnastics team seeking a second consecutive SEC Championship title, and baseball opening SEC play.

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

Friday, March 17

Women’s swimming and diving
NCAA Championships, 10:00 a.m. (Stats): Florida swimmers will compete in the 400 IM, 100 fly, and 100 back preliminaries today, as well as the three-meter diving trials.

Men’s golf
Schenkel Invitational, 11:00 a.m.: The Gators travel to Statesboro, Georgia, to compete in the Schenkel Invitational for the 22nd time.

Track and field
Black and Gold Challenge, 12:00 p.m.: Florida’s distance corps opens their outdoor season at this weekend’s Black and Gold Challenge in Orlando.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Georgia, 5:00 p.m. (Watch, Stats): The top-ranked Gators host the No. 6 Bulldogs this afternoon, with the winner gaining the upper hand in the regular season SEC champion race. Florida will look to extend its 163 game home win streak. Georgia is the only SEC opponent to ever have defeated the Gators in Gainesville. That 4-3 decision occurred on April 7, 2002. Florida is 205-1 all-time at home against the SEC.

Baseball
Florida vs. Auburn, 7:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): It’s Faedo Friday time! Junior Alex Faedo currently has a 21.2 inning scoreless streak. He pitched six shutout innings last Friday against Seton Hall.

Softball
Florida vs. South Carolina, 7:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators return to SEC action this week, this time taking their show on the road to Columbia to face the Gamecocks. Florida has won 32 of the last 33 match-ups between these two teams.

Saturday, March 18

Women’s swimming and diving
NCAA Championships, All Day (ESPN3/WatchESPN, Stats): Final events for the NCAA Championships will be held. Saturday’s events include platform, 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, and 400 free relay.

Men’s golf
Schnekel Invitational, All Day: Florida continues competition in the three-day, 54-hole tournament event.

Track and field
Black and Gold Challenge, All Day: The Gators’ distance corps continues opening their outdoor season at the UCF event.

Lacrosse
Florida vs. UConn, 12:00 p.m. (Watch, Stats): The Gators open Big East conference play against the Huskies in Connecticut. Florida is on a six-game win streak, having notched four wins over ranked opponents during that span.

Softball
Florida vs. South Carolina, 2:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators continue their weekend series with the Gamecocks.

Baseball
Florida vs. Auburn, 3:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators continue their series at Auburn with Brady Singer on the mound. Coming into this weekend, Florida was 12-5 against the Tigers under Kevin O’Sullivan.

Gymnastics
SEC Championships, 6:00 p.m. (SEC Network/WatchESPN): Florida is in Jacksonville looking for their second consecutive, and 11th all-time, SEC Championship title. Four of the nation’s top-ten ranked teams (including the No. 4 Gators) are among the eight-team SEC field. Either Florida or Alabama has taken the last eight SEC meet titles.

Men’s tennis
Florida vs. Arkansas, 7:00 p.m. (Stats): The Gators bested Ole Miss in Oxford on Thursday, and hope to pick up another SEC win against the Razorbacks in Fayetteville.

Men’s basketball
Florida vs. Virginia, 8:40 p.m. (TNT/March Madness Live, Listen): The Gators face the Cavaliers in round two of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Florida enters the second round after their 80-65 victory over East Tennessee State, while Virginia advances by virtue of a come from behind 76-71 win over UNC-Wilmington.

Sunday, March 19

Men’s golf
Schenkel Invitational, All Day: Florida wraps up their appearance in the 2017 Schenkel Invitational.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Tennessee, 1:00 p.m. (Watch, Stats): The Gators continue their big home weekend with a match against the No. 19 Volunteers.

Softball
Florida vs. South Carolina, 1:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators wrap up their series with the Gamecocks. Florida next hosts USF on Wednesday.

Baseball
Florida vs. Auburn, 2:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators conclude their weekend series with the Tigers. Jackson Kowar will get the start for Florida.

And here are your schedule tables for this weekend’s events: