![Florida head basketball coach Todd Golden talks about the upcoming season on the first official day of basketball practice at University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Monday, September 22, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2596,h_1460/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01k77nbyk5wcnmw6hbn3.jpg "Florida head basketball coach Todd Golden talks about the upcoming season on the first official day of basketball practice at University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Monday, September 22, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Looking back at the 2024-25 season, it is somewhat humorous to reflect on the narrative surrounding Florida Basketball prior to the season. The Gators were ranked in the AP Preseason Top 25, but they were also seen as a squad with numerous question marks that needed to be answered, and no one had Florida on their radar to win a national title.
Fast forward a year later, and there is nowhere to hide for Florida as everyone has made sure to give the Gators their flowers.
Florida ranked No. 1 by Busting Brackets
Our Fansided sister site Busting Brackets released their preseason top 25, and coming in at No. 1 was none other than the Gators.
Of Florida, they said:
"The defending champions are reloaded for a repeat bid. Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) join returning frontcourt duo Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon. Florida may take time to gel, but will remain as one of the teams to beat by March.
Golden and the Gators are certainly going to miss their playmaker, Walter Clayton Jr. He led the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game. Alijah Martin is another piece of the puzzle that the Gators will miss. But strong work in the portal and on the recruiting trail will keep pieces together for another title run.
A season ago, the Gators won their final 12 games. The last time they lost was on the road at the Georgia Bulldogs on February 25. Following wins over Texas A&M, Alabama, and Ole Miss, the Gators remained hot with six of their final nine wins over teams ranked in the Top 25."
Reloaded for 2025-26
As we will preview in depth, the two lingering question marks for Florida heading into 2025-26 are how well the new-look backcourt is going to gel and how well Tommy Haugh is going to perform at the 3 spot this season.
Boogie Fland and Xavian Lee were two huge additions for Florida out of the transfer portal, but if Haugh and Alex Condon pair well together, it will give the Gators an even greater size advantage compared to the massive advantage they enjoyed last year.
Florida opens its season on November 3 in Las Vegas against Arizona.