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Second-seeded Florida can rest easy this week knowing an early departure from the Southeastern Conference tournament wouldn’t hurt the school’s NCAA Tournament seeding.

But Gators coach Todd Golden sees it the opposite way — seeding improvement is part of his plan when Florida opens play in Friday’s quarterfinals against seventh-seeded Missouri at Nashville.

The No. 21-ranked Tigers (22-10) reached this stage with Thursday’s 85-73 victory over 10th-seeded Mississippi State.

Missouri stunned the Gators during the lone regular-season meeting, winning 83-82 at Gainesville on Jan. 14. Caleb Grill led the way with 22 points and six 3-pointers.

While No. 4-ranked Florida (27-4) could accept the projected No. 2 seed in the NCAA field, Golden wants to move up to the No. 1 line. That undoubtedly would mean winning the SEC tournament.

“To be honest, I think it’s really important to us,” Golden said. “We definitely want the 1 seed, don’t get me wrong. At this point, I think we’re in a really good spot. Pride-wise, we’re going to do everything we can to get this 1 seed. But I’m confident in our potential, whether we end up getting it or we’re a high 2.”

Missouri coach Dennis Gates said there shouldn’t be any doubt that the Gators should be the top seed of a regional.

“They’re a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament,” Gates said after the win over Mississippi State. “I don’t know the strength of that No. 1 seed, but they’re one of the top two, three teams in the country, in my eyes.

“I think no one has given them the amount of credit that they deserve.”

The Gators certainly are on the short list of teams that can win the national title.

Florida went 13-0 in non-conference play and beat two teams ranked No. 1 during SEC play — 73-43 over visiting Tennessee on Jan. 7 and 90-81 at Auburn on Feb. 8.

But resting on their laurels isn’t part of the Golden plan.

“I want them to be very proud of the effort and the success that we’ve had to this point,” Golden said. “But we have a lot of work left to do and a lot of things left to still accomplish.”

The Gators have been off since recording a 90-71 home win over Ole Miss last Saturday. Walter Clayton Jr. made five 3-pointers while registering 23 points and eight assists, and Alex Condon contributed 17 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.

Condon is averaging 22 points and 12.5 rebounds over the past two games. The Aussie put up a career-high 27 points in a 99-94 road win over then-No. 7 Alabama on March 5.

Missouri lost three straight games before outplaying the Bulldogs on Thursday.

Tamar Bates scored 25 points and Tony Perkins added 20 and the Tigers’ defense limited Mississippi State star Josh Hubbard to 3-of-14 shooting from 3-point range despite him scoring 24 points.

Gates and Perkins both discussed how tough and competitive the SEC has been this season.

“It’s not titled NBA South for no reason,” Bates said. “You got to come to play every night. I feel like this conference has prepared us, and obviously every other team that’s going to hear their name called on Sunday, for March Madness.”

Said Perkins: “I would say every game is a battle, regardless of who you are playing. Playing the best team or the worst team they say in the conference. At the end of the day, every night, it’s a battle. Every night might be a football game, so you never know.”

Missouri forward Mark Mitchell exited the contest with a knee injury with six minutes left in the first half. Gates said he didn’t yet know of Mitchell’s status for Friday.

–Field Level Media