Such a Devastated Injury: As two Gators key players will have surgery after suffering a fractured lower leg on Sunday against…

Micah Handlogten, a sophomore center for the Gators, will have surgery after suffering a fractured lower leg on Sunday against Auburn. Upon the game, he tweeted his gratitude to the Florida supporters for their support.

After breaking his lower left leg against Auburn in the 2023–24 SEC Championship, Gators center Micah Handlogten is scheduled to have surgery later on Sunday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., according to Florida head coach Todd Golden.

In the first two minutes of the game on Sunday, Handlogten went down awkwardly while going up for a rebound. On a stretcher, his teammates encircled him with support as he was removed from the Bridgestone Arena floor.

After the game, Handlogten seemed to be in good spirits and sent out a thank-you note to the supporters on X, the social media program that was once known as Twitter. “Gator Nation, thank you for all of the love and prayers!” Written by Handlogten. “More than anyone could have imagined, it has helped. Continue to cheer for the boys so that we can win the NCAA [Tournament]! I cherish each and every one of you.”

Handlogten transferred from Marshall in the winter, and he started 32 of the 33 games he played for Florida this season. Prior to the Auburn game, the 7-foot-1, 235-pound sophomore averaged 5.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. With Handlogten injured, rookie forwards Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh will probably play a bigger role in the NCAA Tournament. Earlier in the season, when Handlogten was out by a less serious injury, Haugh started two games.