The remaining nine SEC games could determine what seed Florida gets in the NCAA tournament - or whether the Gators even make it.
This stretch, which leads up to the SEC Tournament, includes two games against No. 23 Vanderbilt and No. 10 Kentucky. Florida hosts the Commodores at 9 Tuesday night (ESPN) and Kentucky on Saturday (9 p.m., ESPN), then visits each of those schools before the end of the season.
The Gators (16-5, 5-2 in the SEC) also have games against South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia remaining.
"We've got tough games coming up, so we've got to be ready," forward Vernon Macklin said. "We've got two games at home against two great teams. It's a great opportunity for us."
Florida needs to win these games to reestablish itself as a tournament team.
The Gators started the year ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, but quickly dropped and have been in and out of it since then.
They were No. 24 last week and felt strong after a double-overtime win at Georgia, a borderline contender to reach the tournament, but lost 71-64 at unranked Mississippi State. Prior to Saturday's win over Florida, the Bulldogs were 10-9 this season.
The Gators' shooting has been turbulent this season and it cost them at Mississippi State. Florida hit 39.7 percent from the field, shot 5-for-21 on three-point attempts and made 9 of 19 free throws.
It will be nearly impossible to get by Vanderbilt, which swept Florida last year, with a similar performance. The Commodores (15-5, 3-3) lead the SEC in scoring at 78.8 points per game and are No. 1 in shooting at 46.3 percent.
