Revisiting preseason bold predictions for Florida Basketball after winning it all

Florida Basketball is the last team standing in 2025 and has won their third national title in program history after knocking off Houston 65-63.

Before this magical season began, we wrote a piece back on November 1 titled "Five bold predictions for Florida Basketball ahead of the 2024/25 campaign"

How did those predictions hold up?

Let's take a look.

Florida Basketball: "Florida Will Start The Season 10-0"

This one was a smashing yes. We had noted coming into the season that Florida had a favorable non-conference slate and were KenPom favorites in every game in their first ten games up until their date against UNC.

We noted at the time that:

"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."

Sure enough, Florida went undefeated in non-conference play.

"Walter Clayton Will Average 20 Points A Game"

He didn't quite get to 20 points for the entire season, which would have made him the first Gator to do so since Vernon Maxwell, as he averaged 18.2 points per game.

But, if we want to cheat, he did average 22.3 points in the NCAA Tournament and 21.7 points point per game during the entire postseason when you throw in the SEC Tournament.

The reason for Clayton's jump? He improved upon what we said he was going to need to do prior to the season:

"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"

He didn't play a minute this season, and yet Olivier Rioux did, in fact, become Florida's most consistently viral player.

During all three net-cutting ceremonies the Gators had, Rioux didn't even need to use a ladder to cut down his piece of the net.

"Florida Will Be Top 150 In Defensive Efficiency"

In retrospect, this was a comically low bar to set for Florida. But you have to keep in mind that it was coming off a year where they were 216th in defensive efficiency, and defense was what held them back from a deep run last year.

The Gators looked lightyears better on defense in 2025, cracking down on missed rotations and making life difficult for opponents to score near the rim.

The end result was that Florida finished 21st in defensive efficiency and ultimately won the national title of a defensive stand.

"Florida Will Make The Elite Eight"

Keep in mind that prior to this season, Florida had only made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament between 2015 to 2024.

So, the bar at the Elite Eight wasn't an automatic lock when you also consider Florida to be ranked 21st in the AP Preseason Top 25.

We said prior to the season that:

"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."

Well, Florida shored up their defense and kept dancing for quite some time.