The 2016–17 Florida Gators men's basketball team represented the University of Florida in the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gators, led by second year head coach Mike White, competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and played their home games at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. They finished the season 27–9, 14–4 in SEC play to finish in second place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament to Vanderbilt, 72–62 in overtime. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated East Tennessee State, 80–65, in the first round, Virginia, 65–39, in the second round, and Wisconsin, 84–83 in overtime on a buzzer beater in the Sweet Sixteen before losing to fellow SEC member South Carolina, 77–70, in the Elite Eight, denying their first Final Four appearance since 2014.
Previous season The Gators finished the 2015–16 season 21–15, 9–9 in SEC play to finish in a tie for eighth place. They lost to Texas A&M in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament, where they defeated North Florida and Ohio State to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to George Washington.
Offseason
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes DeVon Walker 1 G/F 6'6" 203 RS Junior Winter Haven, FL Graduate transferred to Troy Brandone Francis 2 G 6'5" 205 RS Freshman La Romana, Dominican Republic Transferred to Texas Tech Alex Murphy 5 F 6'8" 225 RS Senior Wakefield, RI Graduate transferred to Northeastern Dorian Finney-Smith 10 F 6'8" 220 RS Senior Portsmouth, VA Graduated Zach Hodskins 12 G 6'4" 203 Sophomore Alpharetta, GA Walk-on; didn't return Lexx Edwards 14 G 6'2" 220 RS Senior Orlando, FL Walk-on; graduated Jhonny Victor 20 G 6'4" 178 RS Freshman Orlando, FL Walk-on; didn't return
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School 3 G 6'5" 195 Junior Akron, OH Transferred from Virginia Tech. Under NCAA transfer rules, Hudson did not play for the 2016–17 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility. 24 G 6'6" 205 RS Senior Colorado Springs, CO Transferred from College of Charleston. Was eligible to play one season as a graduate transfer.
2016 recruiting class
2017 recruiting class
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=| Exhibition
!colspan=12 style=| Regular season
!colspan=12 style=| SEC Tournament
!colspan=12 style=| NCAA tournament
Rankings
*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings
See also 2016–17 Florida Gators women's basketball team
References