Florida Gators Basketball: 4 reasons Florida will reach the Final Four

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Tre Mann #1 of the Florida Gators saves a ball from going out of bounds against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half of their second round game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Vanderbilt 69-63. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Tre Mann #1 of the Florida Gators saves a ball from going out of bounds against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half of their second round game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Vanderbilt 69-63. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – FEBRUARY 16: Head Coach Mike White of the Florida Gators directs his team during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 16, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators 75-64. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Experience

Who is the only SEC team to make the past 4 NCAA Tournaments? That’s right, it’s the Florida Gators. Since Coach White’s hire, the Gators have only missed the tournament once, not including the canceled 2020 tournament in which Florida would have made anyway. Although not many players have NCAA Tournament Experience on the team (Noah Locke and Collin Castleton are the only players with experience), Coach White knows how to prepare his players to play in the big dance.

The Gators haven’t just consistently made the tournament, but they have won at least their first-round game in each of the last three tournament appearances with the run to the Elite Eight in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. I believe Coach White is one of the most underrated coaches in the country, as he has been a winner everywhere he has coached. He is only one of two coaches to receive Coach of the Year honors in three different conferences. There is no doubt Coach White will have his players ready to play in the big dance.