GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s head coach Todd Golden communicates a consistent message to his players each game day: “Many of us weren’t supposed to be here.” This serves as a motivational reminder of the remarkable journey the Gators have taken together, both as individuals and as a cohesive team.
“We share a collective energy and a chip on our shoulder,” Golden expressed. “If we can keep that mindset, we’ll have a strong season.” When he began assembling the Gators’ roster over two years ago, only two players from his inaugural 2022-23 season remain. He prioritized recruiting fiercely competitive individuals eager to demonstrate their potential.
The outcome is a resilient and determined squad that establishes its presence, regardless of location or opponent. The Gators (20-3, 7-3 in the Southeastern Conference) stunned fans with a historic road victory against a No. 1 team, triumphing 90-81 against Auburn. This marked a significant achievement, as they became the fifth men’s team in college basketball history to defeat two different top-ranked teams in one season, having previously outclassed then-No. 1 Tennessee by 30 points in January.
Next, Florida will face off against No. 22 Mississippi State (17-6, 5-5) on Tuesday. This match will present an opportunity for the Gators to compete against Riley Kugel, a former Florida guard. The junior, who hails from nearby Orlando, played two seasons with Florida before entering the transfer portal after a tumultuous tenure marked by conflicts that saw him benched during critical moments.
Many believe that Kugel’s exit has benefitted the Gators. “We focus on bringing in players who exhibit positive attitudes and diligence, but, most importantly, those who take pride in being part of Florida basketball,” Golden mentioned. “Our team’s talent and unity generally propel us, but we are particularly keen on having motivated individuals eager to maximize their opportunities and showcase their abilities.”
The underdog theme resonates strongly with Golden, age 39, who knows this feeling personally. He was once a walk-on at St. Mary’s College, evolving into a reliable starter by the end of his college career, where he averaged 5.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, notably ranking second nationally for assist-to-turnover ratio in his senior year.
Golden’s journey included a head coaching role at San Francisco in the West Coast Conference and a prior stint at Auburn under coach Bruce Pearl before taking the helm at Florida, a milestone that was significant beyond just the lucrative salary he secured.
The Gators’ backcourt epitomizes Golden’s philosophy of valuing humble origins. Leading scorer Walter Clayton Jr. joined from Iona, while his teammate Will Richard transferred from Belmont. Alijah Martin came to Florida after four years at Florida Atlantic, merging talents from mid-major backgrounds into a formidable unit.
“Many overlooked us along the way. We’ve worked hard to prove them wrong,” Clayton noted. “We have to retain that mindset; it’s vital to our success.” Despite Martin’s previous success with the Owls who made it to the Final Four, his entry into Gainesville was relatively low-key.
“It’s important to remember your roots and the journey you undertook,” Martin remarked. The Gators’ frontcourt is equally driven to excel. Center Rueben Chinyelu came from Washington State, forward Sam Alexis hails from Chattanooga, with Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh joining as three-star recruits. Condon even played rugby and water polo until he unexpectedly grew 6 inches from 10th to 11th grades, steering him towards basketball after realizing his potential.
Today, Condon and Haugh rank among college basketball’s most effective post duos and are set to step up when senior leaders like Clayton, Richard, and Martin leave after this season.
“We all share a common underdog story, and that motivates us,” Condon explained. “None of us were heavily recruited; we’ve outperformed expectations, which gives us an edge against other teams.”
