No. 1 Florida Faces No. 14 Miami in Blockbuster College Basketball Opener
The new American college basketball season begins with a major Sunshine State showdown as top-ranked Florida takes on No. 14 Miami on Monday, November 2, in Tampa. The defending 2025 national champions are looking to begin another title campaign strongly after suffering a second-round exit in last season’s NCAA Tournament.
Florida enters the contest with much of its previous squad intact, retaining four starters and more than 80 per cent of its scoring. Preseason SEC Player of the Year Thomas Haugh leads the returning group alongside Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Boogie Fland. Miami, meanwhile, is seeking to build on a remarkable turnaround under coach Jai Lucas, having improved from a 7-24 record to 26-9 last season. Shelton Henderson and Acaden Lewis are among the key returning players, while highly rated freshman Caleb Gaskins is another name to watch.
The game tips off at 6 p.m. Eastern Time at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Fans can also follow the action through Fubo, DIRECTV and the ESPN app, while SiriusXM will provide radio coverage on channels 84 and 167. Florida will begin its campaign against Jacksonville on November 5, while Miami returns to action against Wagner on November 6.
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