For the Florida Gators, November brought a few significant challenges in men’s basketball.
The FSU game? A rivalry contest against an opponent that has owned the Gators in recent years. Milwaukee’s visit to the O’Dome? A game against an NBA lottery pick. Games in Fort Myers against California and Ohio State? Clashes with teams from big-time conferences — with one admittedly being a lot better than the other.
But Florida passed all of those tests, its indefatigable defense and wealth of scoring options helping to make mincemeat of every foe except Ohio State and preserving the Gators’ chances for long enough in that game for a buzzer-beater for the books to snag the win in it in thrilling fashion.