If the Florida Gators don’t go on a miraculous SEC Tournament run — and it would have to be miraculous, make no mistake — they will not be making the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
But if they don’t make it to .500 by season’s end, they may not make any other tournament, either — making games like Tuesday night’s at Georgia meaningful in marginal ways.
Florida would probably like to continue expanding Riley Kugel’s role and sweep the Dawgs, too, sure. Winning right now gives these Gators a chance to keep playing into the NIT, perhaps — which, in turn, helps with getting Kugel and Kowacie Reeves the touches they might want to see if they want to return in 2023-24.