Florida basketball fans, media respond to Gators' SEC Tournament Finals win over Tennessee
The Florida Gators are the 2025 SEC Tournament Champions thanks to an 86-77 win over the Tennessee Volunteers on Sunday, putting the program in pole position for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Todd Golden and his team entered the tourney as a No. 2 seed, and used a quarterfinal win over the Missouri Tigers plus a semifinal win over the Alabama Crimson Tigers to set up the rubber match with their conference rivals. Rick Barnes simply did not have enough answers for the Orange and Blue, leading to the Vols' loss in what was ostensibly a home-court environment in Nashville.
As one would expect, the Gator Nation is beyond ecstatic with the first men's basketball tournament title since 2014, when the legendary Billy Donovan still manned the helm. Speaking of whom, Golden's recent rise to prominence seems to mirror that of his predecessor.
As the dust settles, Florida fans, the team and the media alike took to social media to share their excitement over the recent developments. Take a look below at a sampling of some of the best posts from Twitter.
IT'S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR #GoGators | Presented by @WellsFargopic.twitter.com/Z0yatEckjj
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) March 16, 2025
SEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/tbwmqEDyVR
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) March 16, 2025
The Florida Gators are your SEC Champions. pic.twitter.com/U78ogQbpMU
— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) March 16, 2025
this moment 🥹 pic.twitter.com/avcXWvrRMB
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) March 16, 2025
Gators hoist the SEC Tournament trophy as the confetti falls 🐊 pic.twitter.com/5bGeqen6tg
— Florida Gators 🐊🔥 (@gatorsszn) March 16, 2025
The best college basketball team in America is the Florida Gators debate your grandma🐊 pic.twitter.com/fG0nLiF0iG
— Graham Marsh (@1010XLGraham) March 15, 2025
I SAID 🗣️🗣️🗣️ ITS GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!!!!!! SEC CHAMPS!!! 🐊🐊🐊 pic.twitter.com/VIq0wyjoSz
— Stevie Stacks 🇺🇸🇮🇱🐋 (@StevieStacks84) March 16, 2025
THE FLORIDA GATORS ARE THE BEST COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM ON PLANET EARTH.
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) March 16, 2025
IT'S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR! 🐊🏆 pic.twitter.com/3ERkpMtRlT
— FLSportsTakes (@FLSportsTakes_) March 16, 2025
It’s GREAT to be a FLORIDA GATOR!!! 🧡💙🐊 pic.twitter.com/0hA15H17ex
— Gator Jen (@jenafish17) March 16, 2025
It is not a debate
— Big Will (@BigWillLevenson) March 16, 2025
The Florida #Gators are the best team in the country
They have been all year
There is nothing they can’t do
There is no one they can’t beat
They can beat you in every way
2014 Gators were special
This team might be even better
SEC champs 🐊🏀🏆 pic.twitter.com/1YKZ8kP6QK
Tommy waves goodbye to the Tennessee student section 😂 pic.twitter.com/dlrx7z4HxE
— Florida Gators 🐊🔥 (@gatorsszn) March 16, 2025
Been waiting a while to be able to say this. The time for the Florida Gators to win a national champion is NOW
— Harrison Smajovits (@HarrisonSmaj) March 16, 2025
The window can’t get much wider than it currently is #GoGators
SEC Champs 🫡 Go Gators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/Gs7b1PlAEv
— Justin (@jds00605) March 16, 2025
I don’t give a shit what anyone says, Gators should be the overall #1. They ran a gauntlet end of season and through SEC tournament and dominated.
— Daniel LaMontagne (@DanLaMontagne) March 16, 2025
The Florida Gators are an immovable object, an unstoppable force, and most importantly the best team in the fucking country… Keep sleeping on em. I’ll take my bread
— DJ Lagway’s Burner (@DJLagwayLocks) March 16, 2025
Rocky Flop you’ll always be poverTy to me!! 🐊😎
— #1 Ethan 🐊🏀(27-4) (@GatorsEthan) March 16, 2025
Forget the Tennessee getting a one-seed debate, if conferences tournaments mean anything the Gators should get priority over Auburn for Atlanta
— Hail Florida Hail (@HailFloridaHail) March 16, 2025
College basketball is better when the gators are good
— WCJ Truther 👨⚖️ (@TlawTruther) March 16, 2025
Go Gators! 2025 Southeastern conference champions in men’s college basketball! Party time!
— The amazing Dr. Bob. (@TheamazingDrBob) March 16, 2025
As good as this team is and as great as these players are, these guys are totally unselfish I totally love this team!!! Energy and effort is unmatched! GO GATORS BABY DAMN THESE BOYS GOOD!! 🔥💯🤝🏾🐊🫡😤🏀 @GatorsMBK
— Steven Harris #93 (@FAMOGANG365) March 16, 2025
Not saying Florida is going to win the national championship, but the Gators are playing better than anyone else in the country.
— Kevin Sjuts (@kevinsjuts) March 16, 2025
Wooooooo!
— Inland K9 SAR (@InlandK9SAR) March 16, 2025
Go Gators!
🎉🎊🏆 pic.twitter.com/ogGYIm37Pj
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.Well deserved. pic.twitter.com/hiAjAnUhQ5
— Fightin' Gators Touchdown Club (@FGTCgators) March 16, 2025
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Social Media Reactions: Fans go nuts after Florida beats Tennessee
Topics
-
Social media reactions to Florida's SEC Tournament Quarterfinals win over Missouri
The Gator Nation reacts after Florida basketball's 95-81 win over the Missouri Tigers in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Florida basketball takes down Tennessee Volunteers to claim SEC Tournament championship
For the fifth time in program history, the Florida Gators are SEC Tournament champions, following a convincing win over the Tennessee Volunteers.Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Injury report for SEC Tournament Finals between Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers
Injury Report: Florida Gators will be missing Sam Alexis while the Tennessee Volunteers will be without J.P. Estrella in the SEC Tournament Finals.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
No. 4 Florida Gators win their 1st SEC Tourney title since 2014 by beating No. 8 Tennessee 86-77
Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 points and fourth-ranked Florida won its fifth Southeastern Conference Tournament title and first since 2014 Sunday, beating the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers 86-77. Will ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Gators win SEC Tournament title, secure No. 1 seed in NCAAs
A day after setting an SEC Tournament scoring record, No. 4 Florida got defensive to beat Tennessee in the title game and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. Following a 86-77 win over the No. 8 Vols, ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Top social media reactions to Florida basketball's blowout of Alabama in SEC Tournament
Take a look at the top reactions to Florida basketball's 104-82 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament Semifinals.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
No. 4 Florida Gators win 1st SEC Tourney title since 2014 after beating No. 8 Tennessee 86-77
Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 points and fourth-ranked Florida won its fifth Southeastern Conference Tournament title and first since 2014 Sunday.Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Stephen A. Smith after Florida's SEC Tournament win over Alabama: 'They look real as hell'
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith was extremely impressed with the Florida Gators after their win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament SemifinalsYahoo Sports - 1d -
Title tilt set: Scouting report, prediction, Florida basketball vs Tennessee in SEC Tournament finals
Florida basketball gets a third meeting with Tennessee in the SEC Tournament finals Sunday at Bridgestone Arena in NashvilleYahoo Sports - 22h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
FSU women earn a No. 6 seed in NCAA Tournament
Bob Ferrante The Florida State women's basketball team gathered at Township on Sunday night to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.FSU (23-8) will play George Mason in the first round of the ...Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Oregon vs. Liberty officially set. Time, date for March Madness first round game
What time does Oregon basketball play Liberty in March Madness Round of 64? Here’s time, date, TV for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Reacting to West Virginia being left OUT of the NCAA Tournament
© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Keenan Cummings and Wesley Shoemaker discuss WVU being excluded from the NCAA Tournament field. The Mountaineers finish as the first team out of the Field of 68 ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Reacting to West Virginia being left OUT of the NCAA Tournament
© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Keenan Cummings and Wesley Shoemaker discuss WVU being excluded from the NCAA Tournament field. The Mountaineers finish as the first team out of the Field of 68 ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Milwaukee Fiserv Forum tickets in 2025 NCAA tournament: Prices, how to buy
Want to buy tickets to Fiserv Forum for the 2025 NCAA tournament in Milwaukee? Here’s how, including prices for March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 21m
More in Sports
-
2025 NCAA Tournament winners and losers from bracket reveal: Who got the best and worst draws?
A few teams will love their March Madness draw. Others? Not so much.CBS Sports - 11m -
2025 NCAA Tournament winners and losers from bracket reveal: Who got the best and worst draws?
A few teams will love their March Madness draw. Others? Not so much.CBS Sports - 11m -
March Madness 2025: Iowa State announces star 'won't be available' for Big Dance moments after getting 3-seed
Keshon Gilbert missed the final game of the Big 12 Tournament and won't play in the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 12m -
2025 NCAA Tournament bracket: Ranking every team playing in March Madness from No. 1 to 68
From best to worst, Matt Norlander lays out the need-to-knows about all 68 teams in this year's men's NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 12m -
2025 Players Championship purse, prize money: Payouts for golfers, winner's share out of $25 million pool
The biggest prize fund of the PGA Tour's season is up for grabs this week during its signature event at TPC SawgrassCBS Sports - 13m