Florida basketball to face in-state foe in Tampa to open 2026-27 season, per report
By Ethan Stone
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Florida basketball will open its season against Miami in Tampa, Florida, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. The matchup is set for November 2 — though there has been no official announcement from either Florida or Miami.
This is the second straight year that the Gators and Hurricanes will face off on the hardwood. Florida beat Miami soundly last season on November 16, with Rueben Chinyelu dominating the paint in a 16-point, 10-rebound and 2-block performance. Florida won, 82-68.
Miami, like many teams in college basketball these days, is going to look quite different next year. Florida, for the most part, will not.
The Gators are set to return Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar, Isaiah Brown and CJ Ingram, as well as potentially Chinyelu. On top of that, Florida is getting Denzel Aberdeen back in Gainesville after he took one season to play for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
As for Miami, a good part of the Hurricanes’ roster will not be returning. Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson are out of eligibility and Tru Washington, Noam Dovrat and Ernest Udeh opted to enter the transfer portal. Incoming transfers Somto Cyril (Georgia), Acaden Lewis (Villanova) and Nick Dorn (Indiana) should help supplement head coach Jai Lucas’ roster around returners Shelton Henderson and Dante Allen, though.
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Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
