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A stellar Sunshine State matchup is on tap Monday as No. 1 Florida and No. 14 Miami face off in Tampa to open the new campaign.
While last season ended in disappointment for Todd Golden and the Gators, as they fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after winning the national title in 2025, they're primed for another run.
The Gators are an anomaly in modern college basketball, with four starters and more than 80% of their scoring returning from last year's team. That group is led by preseason SEC Player of the Year Thomas Haugh, who averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds a year ago, along with Rueben Chinyelu (10.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg), Alex Condon (15.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Boogie Fland (11.6 ppg, 3.5 apg). Even better, guard Denzel Aberdeen returned to Gainesville for his final season after playing for Kentucky last year.
Miami also had a second-round NCAA exit last spring, but their 26-9 showing in coach Jai Lucas' first campaign represented a remarkable turnaround from the 7-24 disaster lowlighted by Jim Larranaga's midseason retirement the previous year. The Canes return a pair of double-digit scorers from last season, Shelton Henderson (13.8 ppg) and Acaden Lewis (12.2 ppg), but the player to watch is five-star freshman Caleb Gaskins. The local product split his high school career between powerhouses Montverde Academy and Columbus and dropped 20 points on Vanderbilt in an exhibition game.
Will Florida begin its quest for a second title in three years on a positive note or will Miami spring an upset on opening night? Here's all you need to know to tune in.
Where to watch Florida vs. Miami basketball today
Florida vs. Miami will air nationally on ESPN2 with Tom Hart and Jimmy Dykes on the call, and fans can stream the game live with Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Additional streaming options include DIRECTV, which also offers a free trial, and the ESPN app.
Florida vs. Miami basketball start time
- Date: Monday, Nov. 2
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
Florida and Miami will open their seasons Monday at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, the home of the NHL's Lightning.
Florida vs. Miami basketball radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM app and channels 84, 167
You can listen to live play-by-play coverage of Florida vs. Miami nationwide on the SiriusXM app or in your vehicle on channels 84 (Florida broadcast) and 167 (Miami broadcast).
The SiriusXM Sports Pass allows fans to listen to live game broadcasts of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college football and basketball, the PGA Tour, NASCAR and more. Get your first month of the SiriusXM Sports Pass for free, then pay just $5 a month or $49 for a year.
Florida basketball schedule 2026-27
Here are the Gators' upcoming games:
| Nov. 5 | vs. Jacksonville | 8 p.m. |
| Nov. 10 | at Florida State | 6 p.m. |
| Nov. 13 | vs. Merrimack | 7 p.m. |
| Nov. 17 | Notre Dame* | 4:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 18 | Houston or Rutgers* | 2 or 4:30 p.m. |
* at Las Vegas
Miami basketball schedule 2026-27
Here are the Hurricanes' upcoming games:
| Nov. 6 | vs. Wagner | 9 p.m. |
| Nov. 9 | vs. North Florida | 7 p.m. |
| Nov. 13 | vs. North Alabama | 5 p.m. |
| Nov. 17 | vs. Rider | 7 p.m. |
| Nov. 20 | vs. Manhattan | 5 p.m. |
