Skip to main content
Hail Florida Hail
Fansided

Rueben Chinyelu leaves no room for doubt with Florida’s national championship declaration

“There’s no if”: Rueben Chinyelu makes Florida’s championship expectations clear
ByJadon Haynes
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Reddit
Google Discover
Feb 7, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Feb 7, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As Florida men’s basketball nears the first exhibition game against Baylor, center Ruben Chinyelu has a message that will set the expectation for Gator basketball this coming season.

Chinyelu and forward Thomas Haugh sat down with Matt Norlander at SEC Media Days to discuss expectations for next season and what the Gators need to do to win their second national championship in three years.

“There’s no if; we’re winning it,” Chinyelu said.

Florida thinking title or bust in 2027

The Gators return four starters from last year’s team, which Iowa eliminated at Benchmark International Arena.

Among them were Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Haugh and Chinyelu. Joining the core four is Kentucky transfer guard Denzel Aberdeen, whose return could provide the shooting Florida needs to turn Chinyelu’s championship promise into a realistic pursuit.

What makes Aberdeen stick out, rather than a traditional transfer guard, is the familiarity factor. Aberdeen's addition brings the guard back to Gainesville after he entered the transfer portal following Florida’s 2025 national championship win.

Aberdeen spent the year at Kentucky, where he averaged career highs in points and assists as a starter for the Wildcats.

He shot over 36% from 3-point range, which, among the Gators’ starters last year, would’ve been the highest. As a team, Florida shot just 31% from three, a steep decline from the 35% they shot the year they won the national championship. The championship team included a less experienced Aberdeen.

Each of the last five NCAA tournament winners shot at least 35% as a team.

Sunday won’t just be the first look at the team many expect will be No. 1 team in the preseason AP poll. It will mark the start of a journey Chinyelu promises will end with Florida hoisting the NABC National Championship Trophy. With a second national championship at Florida, coach Todd Golden would tie Billy Donovan and cement his place among the program’s elite.

“This group of guys, we’re ready,” Chinyelu said. “We want this really bad, and we’re going to get it.”

Florida officially opens its season on November 2nd in Tampa against the Miami Hurricanes. The first game at home will be November 5th againt Jacksonville.

Add us as a preferred source on Google
Home/Florida Gators Basketball