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Five bold predictions for Florida Basketball ahead of the 2024/25 campaign

Florida starts their season on Monday against USF

By Benjamin Henderson

Oct 15, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Grand Bohemian Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
Oct 15, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Grand Bohemian Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images / Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
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If you can believe it, basketball season is here, and the Florida Gators will take to the court this Monday against USF in Jacksonville. The Gators are coming off an NCAA Tournament berth, where they were bounced in the first round by Colorado, and an appearance in the championship game in the SEC Tournament.

Todd Golden and crew are looking for a breakthrough season and the following are five bold predictions we think will play out in Gainesville this season.

Florida Will Start The Season 10-0

Florida's non-conference slate is an interesting mix of games that are just challenging enough to keep their strength of schedule respectable, but it is far from a murderer's row.

Based on KenPom ratings, the Gators will be favorites in every game they play up until their December 17th matchup against North Carolina. Even the game against the Tar Heels will be one where Florida will feel like they have a shot in, and it isn't impossible for Florida to emerge from the non-conference slate undefeated.

Walter Clayton Will Average 20 Points A Game

Last year Walter Clayton averaged 17.6 points per game off of 43% shooting. He poked around with the NBA Draft but opted to return to Florida and is on the SEC Preseason All-First Team.

Clayton's 633 points made him one of only five players in Gator history to score at least 600 points in a single season. Getting to 20 points a game is challenging, and the last to do it in a Gator uniform was Vernon Maxwell in the 80s, but Clayton does have room for improvement when shooting from three.

If he can make just a few more threes and continue to hang north of 90% from the free throw line, we like his chances to etch his name into history.

Olivier Rioux Will Be The Most Viral Player For The Gators

We have written about Olivier Rioux in the past, and at 7'9" his is listed as the "Tallest Teenager In The World."

The thing is, Rioux isn't expected to be a major factor for the Gators this season, and we wouldn't expect him to get many minutes.

But the internet being the internet, he's going to get in during mop-up time during some of these non-conference games, and all it is going to take is one dunk for every outlet to repost the video and make Rioux most-known player on Florida's roster.

Florida Will Be Top 150 In Defensive Efficiency

This is admittedly a low bar to reach, but if Florida can achieve this metric, there is a chance for an elite season. Last year, the Gators were 331st in points allowed per game. That metric is inflated because Florida also averaged the 10th most possessions per game, and more possession equals more chances for points.

But even with inflated points, the Gators were 216th in defensive efficiency, giving up 1.041 points per possession. To be a top-level defense, you want this metric under 1, and the Gators were 82nd in this category during Mike White's final season.

Todd Golden has said that the defensive side is a point of emphasis this preseason, but it is just as important to have returners who understand proper rotations in his system. And if the Gators can uptick this category even into the top half of the country, it could go a long way in getting an uptick in wins.

Florida Will Make The Elite Eight

It has been since 2017 that Florida has made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Florida probably should have been a seed or two higher in the tournament, but even if they had drawn a softer first-round opponent, they still would have needed to pull an upset in the second round.

Preseason rankings would indicate Florida is in line to bow out in the second round this season, but the Gators also have a ton of potential talent to finally make that deep run.

At the core of why this squad could take the next step is the experience on this roster. Florida could easily field a starting five of all juniors and seniors, something not as common in modern-day college basketball.

And if the defensive side at all gets shored up, it could be just enough to keep Florida dancing for a while.

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