Florida spent 13 of the final 14 weeks of the 2024-25 season in the top six of the AP Top 25 poll before running the table in the NCAA Tournament to win its third national championship.
They were led by a couple of former transfer guards in Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin, along with a deep, versatile frontcourt. With transfers Boogie Fland and Xavian Lee coming to Gainesville, the 2025-26 roster is beginning to look very similar -- and I'm not the only one that's drawing this conclusion.
Florida with a top seed in way-too-early bracket
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi delivered his way-too-early NCAA Tournament bracket, revealing his first field of 68 with complete seeding.
He placed the Gators on top of the throne they built in April as the top overall seed. Florida sits as the No. 1 seed in the East Region, playing in the Tampa Bay pod. A Round of 64 win results in a matchup against the winner of No. 8 Cincinnati and No. 9 Texas.
Others in the region include No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Illinois and No. 5 North Carolina.
Lunardi had this to say of the Gators' chances to repeat:
"This team has all the pieces to make a Final Four return and win the title again. The Gators won't be overwhelming favorites like Billy Donovan's repeat champions in 2007, but the 2026 Gators will be in the mix next March."
Outside of the major backcourt portal additions, Florida returns frontcourtmen Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Reuben Chinyelu, and Micah Handlogten. This group dominated the glass on both ends of the court, and their energy and relentlessness on defense caused myriad issues for opponents.
Add in a pair of Top-40 recruits in Alex Lloyd and CJ Ingram, according to On3 Sports' industry rankings, and there's serious firepower behind the argument for Florida having the best roster in the nation.
While Florida will still have to prove it on the hardwood, which could be difficult considering its non-conference matchups with Duke, Arizona, UConn and two of Prividence, TCU and Wisconsin.