NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Todd Golden, the coach of the fourth-ranked Florida Gators, is clear about the team’s aspirations. “We have a chance to win a national championship,” he announced as Florida celebrated their victory in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament on Sunday.
Walter Clayton Jr. was instrumental, scoring 22 points to help Florida secure their fifth SEC Tournament title and their first since 2014, triumphing over the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers with a score of 86-77.
Clayton’s decision to join Florida was rooted in the belief in their potential to win titles. “I came here because I believed in that vision,” Clayton expressed about their victory, acknowledging the realization of that dream as an incredible achievement.
The Gators, now boasting a 30-4 record, were runners-up in this event last year. This season, they showcased their depth, defeating No. 21 Missouri, No. 5 Alabama, and ultimately the Vols, adding another title to their history that includes a streak of three consecutive wins from 2005 to 2007. “When we are playing like this, I think we are the best team in America,” Golden affirmed.
Florida’s Will Richard contributed 17 points, while Alex Condon added 13, Thomas Haugh had 11, and Alijah Martin scored 10. Richard, with part of the game net draped around his neck, emphasized that winning doesn’t stop with the SEC; it’s fueling their drive to aim for similar success in the NCAA Tournament. “Cutting down the nets is a great feeling, but we want to be able to do that in the NCAA Tournament as well,” Richard stated.
As for fourth-seeded Tennessee (27-7), they remain in pursuit of their first SEC championship in two years. Under Coach Rick Barnes, the Vols experienced the disappointment of falling in the finals for the fourth time in the last seven tournaments. “We came with the idea we wanted to win this tournament,” Barnes mentioned. “Disappointed that we didn’t. We get to go again next week. Hope that we can survive and keep moving on.”
Jordan Gainey achieved a career-high of 24 points for the Vols, while Zakai Zeigler added 23 and Chaz Lanier scored 11, before fouling out. Tennessee senior Jahmai Mashack remarked on the team’s tough experiences as preparation for March, the ultimate goal. “The experience we’ve had, playing the best of the best in this conference is going to help us in March, and that’s the biggest goal,” he said, reflecting on the loss.
This season, the Florida-Tennessee battles resulted in one win each, with both teams defending their home courts effectively. In Sunday’s game, the strong contingent of Vols fans provided a home-like atmosphere, though Tennessee’s lead was brief, peaking just minutes after the start at 6-5. Florida then assumed command, leaping ahead to a 34-22 advantage and leading 39-30 at halftime, capped by a buzzer-beating deep 3 from Denzel Aberdeen. Tennessee struggled to close the gap, never narrowing the lead to less than five points in the second half.
Clayton, wearing a piece of the winning net himself, relished the memory of cutting down a net at Iona in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, where he was recognized as the player of the year before transferring to Florida. He remembered a high school title win where no nets could be cut because games followed theirs. “They had games after us,” he shared with a grin.
A brief mix-up occurred during the postgame ceremony over the MVP title, initially mistakenly awarded to Richard before being correctly given to Clayton.
Tennessee’s tournament history in their home state remains challenging, as their SEC title game record here now stands at 1-5. The Vols last claimed a tournament title in Tennessee back in 1936. In contrast, this season has seen the Gators face a commendable seven games against teams in the Top 10, finishing 5-2 compared to a 6-16 record in similar matchups before this season.
Tennessee managed to narrow Florida’s lead to five points on four occasions in the second half. However, following the final instance, Clayton’s 3-pointer at 6:48 sparked an 11-2 run that sealed their victory. The Gators’ superior performance on the boards, out-rebounding the Vols 39-25 and boasting a 15-5 advantage on the offensive glass, was a crucial factor.
Both teams now await their respective seedings in the NCAA Tournament, looking to carry the momentum forward.
