Butler and Florida have agreed to a men's basketball home-and-home series. The Bulldogs will travel to Gainesville during the 2018-19 season, while Florida will visit Hinkle Fieldhouse during the 2019-20 campaign.

The programs jointly made the announcement Monday, March 26.

The Bulldogs and Gators have met three times previously, each time in the NCAA Tournament. Butler defeated Florida, 74-71, in the 2011 Elite Eight. The Gators won a 2007 Sweet 16 contest (65-57) and a 2000 First Round meeting (69-68). The 2011 and 2000 games each went to overtime.

"We have great respect for Florida's basketball program. They are a strong addition to our schedule for the next two seasons," said Butler coach LaVall Jordan. "Coach White and his staff do a tremendous job. Every season they are near the top of the SEC standings and in the NCAA Tournament. This series provides our team with another challenge to help prepare us for BIG EAST play and also gives our fans another marquee opponent to look forward to."

Florida went 21-13 overall in 2017-18, finishing third in the SEC at 11-7. In his three seasons as head coach, Mike White has led the Gators to three 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Senior guard KeVaughn Allen will highlight the Gators' 2018-19 team after earning All-SEC honors as a sophomore and joining the 1,000-point club as a junior.

Butler and Florida are both in the field for the 2018 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis. The programs will be placed on opposite ends of the bracket.

Season tickets for Butler's 2018-19 campaign go on sale in April. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets can contact the Butler Athletics Ticket Office at (317) 940-DOGS or tickets@butler.edu.  

The remainder of Butler's non-conference schedule will be released over the coming months. That schedule will include a Dec. 15 Crossroads Classic game against Indiana at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, while the Bulldogs will travel to Saint Louis to complete a home-and-home agreement that began this season at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Bulldogs recently earned their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Butler is one of only eight programs nationally to win at least one NCAA Tournament game in each of the last four seasons. The Bulldogs concluded the 2017-18 season with a 21-14 record under first-year Butler coach LaVall Jordan. Butler returns a talented group, headlined by guard Kamar Baldwin and his 15.7 points per game average as a sophomore. Also returning are starters Sean McDermott and Aaron Thompson, along with rising seniors Nate Fowler and Paul Jorgensen.