Weekend Open Thread: Full Florida schedule

The Florida Gators are in action across the nation this weekend, with the women’s tennis team traveling to California, the baseball team heading south to Miami, the track and field teams in Texas, and women’s basketball in Georgia. Not all of Florida’s teams are on the road however. Several groups of Gators will be competing at home, including the softball team, lacrosse team, swimming and diving competitors, men’s basketball, and gymnastics.

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

Friday, February 23

Swimming and diving
Florida Invitational Last Chance Meet, All Day: This weekend the Gators are hosting a last chance meet - which is a meet event to allow swimmers the final opportunity for qualify for the NCAAs. There are no team winners in this meet, it’s all about individual qualifying times. Swimmers from South Carolina, Florida Gulf Coast, and Miami will be in attendance.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Saint Mary’s, 4:00 p.m. (Stats): The Gators will be on the west coast this weekend, starting with the Saint Mary Gaels in Moraga, California. Florida has only met Saint Mary’s once before, in a 2014 match.

Softball
Florida vs. Maryland, 4:30 p.m. (Audio, Stats): The Gators host the Aquafina Invitational, hosting a total of 13 games this weekend in Gainesville. Florida begins their weekend games with a double-header on Friday, starting with the Terrapins. The Gators have played Maryland just once, in a February loss last season.

Gymnastics
Florida vs. Arkansas, 6:45 p.m. (ESPNU/Watch, Stats): The No. 5 Gators host No. 11 Arkansas for Friday’s Gators Link to Pink meet. The Link to Pink event aims to raise breast cancer awareness and prevention. This is the third consecutive time that the two have met in a “pink” dual meet competition.

Baseball
Florida vs. Miami, 7:00 p.m. (ACCN/Watch, Listen, Stats): The Gators hit the road for the first time this season, traveling south for a three-game weekend series with the Hurricanes. 5-0 Florida plays 2-2 Miami in their once-a-year cross-state rivalry.

Softball
Florida vs. Illinois State, 7:00 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators face a familiar face, having just played the Redbirds in this season’s opener. Florida shut Illinois State out then, 9-0, and has won their last nine with the Redbirds.

Saturday, February 24

Swimming and diving
Florida Invitational Last Chance Meet, All Day: The Gators continue hosting the last chance qualification meet. Saturday’s events include the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back.

Softball
Florida vs. Maryland, 2:00 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators face Maryland again, in their first game of Saturday’s double-header. Coming into this weekend, Florida had pitched eight shutouts through the 11 games they had played.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Stanford, 3:00 p.m. (Watch): The Gators continue their California weekend by visiting the Cardinal. Stanford holds a 21-16 series advantage over Florida. Six of the last eight NCAA championships have been won by either the Cardinal or the Gators.

Track and field
SEC Indoor Championships, 3:55 p.m. (SECN+/Watch, Stats): The league championships will be held this weekend in College Station. The No. 2 ranked Florida men’s team will look to have a strong showing. Some of the events on Saturday include hurdles, mile, and various meter races, as well as weight throw, long jump, and pole vault.

Softball
Florida vs. Iowa State, 4:30 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators’ second game of the day is against the Cyclones. Florida has never lost to Iowa State, having won the four meetings between the two programs. Their last meeting came all the way back in 2006.

Baseball
Florida vs. Miami, 7:00 p.m. (ACCN+/Watch, Listen, Stats): The Gators continue their run in Coral Gables, bringing their thus-far potent offense and stellar pitching to the in-state rival Hurricanes.

Men’s basketball
Florida vs. Auburn, 8:30 p.m. (SECN/Watch, Listen, Stats): The Gators have a tough road to hoe at the end of the regular season, which starts with them hosting the SEC leading and 12th ranked Auburn Tigers. After Saturday’s contest, Florida finishes at Alabama and hosting Kentucky.

Sunday, February 25

Swimming and diving
Florida Invitational Last Chance Meet, All Day: The last chance qualification meet continues with the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly.

Softball
Florida vs. Iowa State, 11:00 a.m. (Listen, Stats): Another day, another doubleheader for the Gators at the Aquafina Invitational. Florida starts with their final opponent from the day before, the Iowa State Cyclones.

Baseball
Florida vs. Miami, 12:00 p.m. (ACCN+/Watch, Listen, Stats): The top-ranked Gators conclude their weekend series at Miami.

Lacrosse
Florida vs. Loyola, 12:00 p.m. (Watch, Stats): The No. 3 Gators are hosting No. 23 Loyola this weekend. Two games into the season, Florida moved up two spots in the poll. The Gators have a 1-1 record so far, with a win over No. 17 Colorado and a close loss to No. 1 Maryland.

Women’s basketball
Florida vs. Georgia, 12:00 p.m. (SECN/Watch, Listen, Stats): The Gators concluded their home slate on Thursday, with a tough loss to Tennessee. For Florida’s final regular season game of the year, the Gators visit the No. 19 Bulldogs.

Softball
Florida vs. Georgia Southern, 1:30 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators conclude their weekend of games with the Eagles. Florida has won their one and only meeting with Georgia Southern, all the way back in 2001.

Track and field
SEC Indoor Championships, 6:00 p.m. (SECN/Watch, Stats): The Gators’ men’s and women’s track teams conclude their weekend in Texas at the league championships. Sunday’s events include finals in hurdles, meter races, miles, and relays.

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