Weekend Open Thread: Gators spring into action

This week marked the official beginning of the season of spring, and this weekend several Gators are in action. You’ll find Florida teams taking on conference foes and competing on the national stage.

Florida’s baseball and softball teams each host a home series with an SEC opponent, men’s swimming and diving participates in NCAA Championships, and Florida men’s basketball makes their Sweet Sixteen appearance in Madison Square Garden against Wisconsin.

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

Friday, March 24

Men’s swimming and diving
NCAA Championships, All Day (ESPN3/WatchESPN, Stats): Florida’s men hope for another high finish at this week’s event. The Gators have finished in the top-ten every year since 2000. Florida qualified 13 swimmers and one diver for this week’s championships, which began on Wednesday and run through Saturday.

Baseball
Florida vs. LSU, 7:00 p.m. (SEC Network/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators return home after securing their first road win of the season this week. On Faedo Friday, No. 12 Florida hosts No. 4 LSU for a three-game weekend series, with all games airing on television.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Arkansas, 7:00 p.m.: The Gators travel to Fayetteville to face No. 15 Arkansas. Florida dropped their first match of the season last Friday at home, but rebounded from that loss on Sunday against Tennessee.

Men’s basketball
Florida vs. Wisconsin, 9:59 p.m. (TBS/March Madness Live, Listen, Stats): The Gators continue their run in the NCAA Tournament by taking on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison Square Garden in the Sweet Sixteen.

Saturday, March 25

Men’s swimming and diving
NCAA Championships, All Day (ESPN3/WatchESPN, Stats): Florida continues competition at the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, in the last day of the event.

Track and field
Hurricane Collegiate Invitational, All Day (ACC Network Extra/WatchESPN): Florida embarks on their 2017 outdoor season at this Miami-hosted event. The Gators’ men team is ranked preseason No. 1, while the women check in at preseason No. 6.

Lacrosse
Florida vs. Denver, 12:00 p.m. (Watch, Listen, Stats): The Gators host their second Big East opponent of the season. Florida defeated UConn last week in Connecticut. The Pioneers will be the fifth ranked team in a row that the Gators have hosted at home.

Baseball
Florida vs. LSU, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN2/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators continue their weekend series with the Tigers. Sophomore Brady Singer will be on the mound, participating in a pitching duel with LSU’s Jared Poche, one of the nation’s top pitchers.

Softball
Florida vs. Auburn, 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators begin a three-game series hosting the Tigers. The series between these two top-five teams will run from Saturday to Monday.

Sunday, March 26

Men’s tennis
Florida vs. Vanderbilt, 12:00 p.m. (Watch, Stats): The Gators return home to host Vandy, after being on the road against Ole Miss and Arkansas last week. Florida holds a 41-9-1 all-time record over the ‘Dores.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Missouri, 12:00 p.m.: The Gators continue their weekend of road play, this time traveling to Columbia to take on the Tigers.

Baseball
Florida vs. LSU, 1:00 p.m. (SEC Network/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators and the Tigers take the field again in the final game of their weekend series. Sophomore Jackson Kowar gets the start for Florida.

Softball
Florida vs. Auburn, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators continue their series with the Tigers. Florida’s final game against Auburn will be held on Monday, at 7:00 p.m.

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