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Five times the Florida Gators overcame "The Final Boss"

Much like Cody Rhodes, Florida has had to come face to face with The Final Boss

By Benjamin Henderson

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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2. 2005 Men's Basketball Against Kentucky

Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

These days the expectations for Gator basketball are high and Florida is still the only team to win back-to-back national titles over the past 30 years (UConn not withstanding this weekend).

But before Florida could win a national title in 2006, they needed a springboard from the previous season. Even though the Gators made the Final Four in 1994 and in 2000, Florida had never won a conference tournament title heading into the 2005 SEC Tournament.

Florida won the first two games in the tournament to make the finals, where the Kentucky Wildcats awaited.

The Wildcats entered the game having won six of the previous eight SEC championships, including the 2004 title over Florida.

Both teams spilt the 2005 regular season, with both games coming down to the wire. Inside the Georgia Dome though there was catharsis for the Gators as Florida won 70-53 to win their first ever SEC Tournament title.

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