NORMAN, Okla. – In the 1960s, the Southeastern Conference actually lost two teams.

Georgia Tech bailed from the league in 1963 and Tulane followed in ’65. Their defections occurred more than two decades after Sewannee, a charter member of the league from its 1933 inception and with an 0-42 league record in football, bowed out from being perpetually blown out. 

So from 1965 through 1991, the SEC had 10 member institutions, then added Arkansas and South Carolina for the 1991-92 basketball season. Twenty years later, the league welcomed Texas A&M and Missouri, by way of the Big 12, into the conference fold, giving the SEC 14 members. 

 

In 2024, of course, Oklahoma and Texas, also former Big 12 programs, became SEC member institutions 15 and 16. 

 

[Read senior writer Chris Harry‘s “Pregame Stuff” setup here]

 

The UF basketball team faced (and defeated) both of those first-year program at home during its run to the 2025 NCAA championship. On Tuesday night, the Gators (11-5, 2-1) will play a road conference game against the Sooners (11-5, 1-2) for the first time when the two square up at Noble Center. 

 

Note: Florida will play its SEC debut road game at Texas on Feb. 25. 

 

With this bit of history set to unfold, it seemed like an appropriate time to revisit the historical previous firsts when the Gators, also a SEC charter school, played their inaugural games against those aforementioned new additions.

Jan. 22, 1992 

Barnhill Arena / Fayetteville, Ark. 

Arkansas 75, Florida 62 
The Razorbacks were a national basketball brand (and power) and absolutely ecstatic about being out of the Southwest Conference – a league of eight teams, all but one from the state of Texas – after 57 years. Hall-of-Fame coach Nolan Richardson was in his Hogs’ heyday, with a trio of eventual NBA first-round picks – Todd Day, Lee Mayberry and 305-pound center Oliver Miller – leading the way. The Gators, under Coach Lon Kruger during what would be run to the NIT Final Four, stuck around through the first half at historic old Barnhill, trailing just 33-31, but Mayberry’s 21 points and Miller’s 18 points and nine rebounds keyed a ferocious and emotional second half ignited by the fiery Richardson being ejected. UF forward Stacey Poole led all scorers with 22 points, while center Andrew DeClercq had a game-high rebounds. That Arkansas team finished 26-8, won the SEC West and lost in the NCAA Tournament second round. 
 
Feb. 22, 1992 

McGuire Arena / Columbia, S.C.

Florida 50, South Carolina 48
The Gators came in riding a four-game winning streak that looked in jeopardy following an atrocious first half when they shot 16.7% and trailed 28-17. UF, though, nearly doubled its point production in the second half, outscoring the Gamecocks 33-20 behind 16 points from guard Craig Brown, a trio of 3-pointers guard Brian Hogan off the bench and forcing the home team in 18 turnovers. USC, which played football as an independent but basketball in the Metro Conference, was coached by Steve Newton and went on to finish 11-17 overall and last place in the SEC East. 
 
Jan. 17, 2013 

Reed Arena / College Station, Texas 

Florida 68, Texas A&M 47 

The 10th-ranked Gators scored the final 14 points of the first half to take a 17-point lead into the locker room and silence a sold-out A&M crowd that included recently crowned Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. UF shot 55.6% in the opening period while holding the Aggies to an 8-for-24 half and led 35-18. The Gators did not let up after the break, either, opening a lead that swelled to as many as 33 before UF emptied its bench and gave up the game’s final 12 points (and got chewed out in the post-game for it by Coach Billy Donovan). Florida was led by guard Mike Rosario’s 19 points, as well as center Patric Young’s 18 points and seven rebounds, plus forward Erik Murphy’s 16 points and seven boards. A&M, coached by Billy Kennedy and with a dozen points from freshman point guard Alex Caruso, shot just 34% for the game. The Aggies went 18-15 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six seasons. 
 
Feb. 19, 2013

Mizzou Arena / Columbia, Mo.

Missouri 63, Florida 60 
With 11 minutes to go, the Gators led by 13 points, but then commenced to melt down in what turned out to be their second conference loss in an eventual SEC-championship season. Forward Laurence Bowers hit a jumper in the paint with 1:15 left, giving the Tigers their first lead since the game’s opening minutes. UF had its chances on the final two possessions, but the first ended with a turnover and the second, after Mizzou free throws, ended with Rosario’s missed 3-pointer as time expired. Rosario led the way with 14 points, but UF – despite hitting six of 12 from the 3-point line – shot just 40.7% for the game and also got out-rebounded 40-28. Mizzou, coach by Frank Haith, went 23-11 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 
 
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.