Dear Gator Basketball Fans,
By now you’re in a state of acceptance, confusion, and anxiety as soon as a basketball game is approaching. Through all the seas of orange and blue cheering on their team, you know you can find yourself there as well. Whether it’s in the O’Dome or glued to the SEC Network, you simply can’t help but lend out your support for your gators.
Yet as the game commences, you realize it wasn’t supposed to be this way. Coming off of an SEC championship and a number one seed, a trip to the Final Four expectations were high, and so were your emotions going into the new season. True, you knew there were many new faces coming in after graduation, but there was still the hope of competing in every game. Little did you know that as the first game of the season began, an emotional roller coaster was soon to follow.
Were there good times? Sure there were. We showed our might and dominance against opponents by as much as over 40 points (looking at you Jacksonville). To SEC play where we seemed to be gaining back our confidence and you were right there cheering them on like the early January three game win streak. But between those patches of hope came trying times where seven games were lost by a mere margin of less than three points.
It was these games that ended up breaking you fans as you found your heart racing and palms sweating, and as that buzzer went off, your heart sank just a little more each time with your head down in shame. You asked yourself "why?" If only that ball would have went in. Or if only they would have made that free throw. But, in the end, the deed was done and the game was over.
Now as the season nears its end and playoff season begins, you wonder, "Is there still hope?" Can the orange and blue make a comeback in the SEC Tournament? Will their record hold and make the NCAA Tournament? Only time will tell of the outcome but one thing is certain, you gator fans will still be there donning your orange and blue cheering your heart out because despite the outcome, In all kinds of weather, We’ll all stick together.
