Less than three minutes into the SEC championship game between Auburn and Florida, the atmosphere at Bridgestone Arena turned somber as 7-foot-tall Micah Handlogten of the Gators suffered a horrific leg injury. Handlogten's lower left leg buckled upon landing from an offensive rebound attempt, causing him to collapse in pain on the court.

The arena, which had been filled with thunderous cheers moments earlier, fell eerily silent as Handlogten lay in agony, covering his mouth but unable to hide his look of horror and shock. Florida coaches, medical staff, and Handlogten's family rushed to his side while play continued on the other end.

As medical personnel quickly attended to the injured player, the Auburn players huddled nearby to offer prayers. Handlogten, visibly distraught, was in tears as an air cast was applied to his leg and he was carefully placed onto a stretcher. Despite the silent crowd, one fan shouted, "Be strong, Micah, be strong!" His teammates, shaken by the incident, rushed over to wish him well as he was wheeled out of the arena to a rousing ovation from the spectators.

A spokesperson for the University of Florida confirmed that Handlogten was immediately taken to the nearby Vanderbilt University Medical Center for further evaluation. Handlogten, a transfer from Marshall and the Sun Belt Rookie of the Year in 2023, had started 32 games for the Gators this season and averaged 5.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Despite not being a major contributor in recent weeks, with just nine total points in his previous six games, Handlogten's absence on the court will undoubtedly have an emotional impact on the team. The Gators, who boast other talented big men like Tyrese Samuel and Alex Condon, will need to navigate the emotional toll of this unfortunate injury.

This gruesome injury drew comparisons to Kevin Ware's leg break in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Ware's injury inspired his Louisville teammates to rally around him and ultimately win the national championship that year.

Witnesses, such as sports journalist Kyle Tucker, who had been present for both incidents, expressed their shock and disbelief at the severity of the injuries and the challenges of resuming a basketball game under such circumstances.

Updates on Handlogten's condition will be provided as more information becomes available.