Florida Basketball is entering the NCAA Tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. Preseason polls predicted a solid year for the Gators, but very few had Florida having the type of season that they have had as the Gators enter March Madness as a number one seed.
But perhaps you haven't followed this squad super close. We here at Hail Florida Hail have your back and this is the guide for the lapsed fan who maybe didn't follow Florida during the regular season but wants to hop on the bandwagon ahead of the Big Dance.
Florida Basketball: For The People
So Billy Donovan is still the coach right?
You really are a lapsed fan, aren't you?
Just kidding. I did hear Mike White was having a great year.
Well, he left three years ago for Georgia. Todd Golden is the current coach.
Isn't that the guy who was being investigated?
He was the subject of a Title IX investigation. Nothing substantial was found, and the investigation was dropped.
So, if Golden has been here for a couple of years, how did Florida get so good all of a sudden?
There are two main factors that have led to Florida getting a one-seed in 2025.
The first is roster construction. The Gators have a trio of senior guards who are among the best guards in the country. Walter Clayton is a First Team All-American, Will Richard is a great complimentary scorer, and Alijah Martin transferred from FAU this year and is a great defender. Add in Florida having a deep rotation of big men, starting with Alex Condon, and there are few teams who can match up with Florida.
The second factor has been an increased emphasis on defense. During the first two years of Golden's time in Gainesville, Florida was prone to poor defensive rotations that would leave guys wide open for three. Last year, Florida was 216th in defensive efficiency. This year, they are 20th.
Alex Condon, he's the 7'9" guy I heard about right?
Not exactly. That's Olivier Rioux, who is redshirting this season and hasn't played all season.
What about the guy who broke his leg last year?
That's Micah Handlogten. Many thought he was going to redshirt this season, but he returned to action during SEC play and has been averaging about 15 minutes per game.
Wasn't there some guy from Europe on the team this year?
That's Urban Klavzar. He's from Slovenia and is usually good to hit a three-pointer per game.
So, what is this team strongest at?
Offensive rebounding has been their calling card all season long. Florida is 8th in the country at offensive rebounding, led by the previously mentioned Condon and Washington State transfer Rueben Chinyelu.
One thing Florida also does really well is using their big men to seal off the inside when their guards drive to the rim. Watch for Florida to cycle the ball around up top, drive, and have a big man essentially box out a defender to allow for an easy lay-up.
Where is this team weak?
To be honest, there are very few areas this team is weak. But free throw shooting has been a sore spot for the Gators. Florida is 202nd in the country in free throw percentage.
They also aren't a high-assist squad, ranking 152nd in assists per field goals made. Given some of the plays that Florida likes to run, this isn't always a bad thing, but the Gators do have a tendency at times to want to create on their own and overdue individual play.
Am I a homer if I have Florida winning my bracket?
Not at all. Oddsmakers give Florida the second-best odds to win the title.
What does Florida's path to the Final Four look like?
Assuming they beat Norfolk State in the 1st round, they will take on the winner of Oklahoma and UConn. Florida beat Oklahoma by 22 points earlier in the year, while UConn is the two-time defending national champion.
Potentially, in the Sweet 16, they could play Memphis or Maryland, the latter of which might cause the most problems for the Gators.
In the Elite Eight, Florida would probably play either Texas Tech or St. John's.
Anything else I need to know?
Florida takes the court on Friday at 6:50 as 28.5-point favorites. Other than that, enjoy the ride and Go Gators.