Relive the 2025 NCAA hoops title with "The Golden Season"

Tommy Haugh and Franz Beard with the big trophy (Photo by Chris Spears)

April 2, 2007. Sitting on a podium at the now extinct Georgia Dome, the Oh-Fours swayed the Luther Vandross recording of “One Shining Moment.” A tear streaked the face of Corey Brewer, who mouthed the words. Were they tears of joy that the Florida Gators had repeated as NCAA basketball champions? Or was it the reality that this would be the last time he would play basketball with Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Taurean Green, roommates and true soul brothers since the day they met as freshman recruits back in the summer of 2004?

Who could know that night in Atlanta that it would take 18 years before the song “One Shining Moment” confirmed another championship? The years were like novocaine. Even for someone who grew up in an era when “Wait ‘til next year” Gator fans were known as the Southeastern Conference’s most eternal optimists, the years weighed heavily. When you’re in your seventies and it seems a week doesn’t go by without word that another classmate or teammate has passed, you begin to wonder if there will ever be another year to wait for.

And then something truly magical happens. This pied piper named Todd Golden tells you “We got some dudes” over breakfast at the Mi Apa Latin café on 34^th Street in Gainesville. That is in the summer. Then, starting in November the “dudes” begin to gel and you start remembering the Oh-Fours and designated baby faced 3-point assassin Lee Humphrey were like this. They really and truly don’t care who scores the most points as long as the Gators win.

November becomes December and then comes January with the first loss in Lexington. Disbelievers start coming out of cracks in the woodwork, but Todd Golden doesn’t waver. Neither do Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, Alijah Martin, Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon. Those are Golden’s starters. On the bench he’s got Denzel Aberdeen and Thomas Haugh. In February, when the injury bug hits, Micah Handlogten, who literally broke his leg in half at the 2024 SEC Tournament championship game, burns his redshirt and just like that the Florida Gators go from contenders to favorites to bring home Florida’s third NCAA basketball championship.

The SEC Tournament is a walk in the park. Experts predicted the Gators might lose to Missouri. They didn’t. There were also some who thought Alabama would stick it to UF. Didn’t happen. Finally, there was Tennessee. The Gators and Vols split two games during the regular season. This one was all Florida.

Jay Bilas, who said the Gators would win it all even before the SEC Tournament title, is joined by Seth Greenberg predicting the Gators would cut down the nets in San Antonio now that the NCAA Tournament was on the way. The NCAA was white knuckles and fingernails bit to the quick. Heart attack city as Bennie Kimble, my old high school coach in Mississippi would call it in that shrill, high-pitched voice. A thunder dunk by Alijah Martin highlighted the Gators come from behind win in Raleigh to end UConn’s dream of a third straight title. In San Francisco, the Gators were down nine when Tommy Haugh and Walter Clayton Jr. went into shooter’s comas to down Texas Tech. In San Antonio Walt was a one-man wrecking crew to end Auburn’s dreams. Houston put the clamps on Walt’s scoring but Will Richard made the key defensive plays as the Gators held Houston without a shot the Cougars’ last four possessions. A defensive gem by the whole team punctuated by a fly-by stop courtesy of Walter Clayton Jr. sealed a 65-63 win, maybe the most intense and exciting NCAA championship game in years.

And with that, the numbness wore off. Eighteen years vanished and “One Shining Moment” signaled a championship for the Florida Gators.

“The Golden Season” is my recollection of Florida’s run to the NCAA title starting with breakfast at Mi Apa with Todd Golden and ending with the Gators turning Houston into runners-up. Again. The book won’t be sold in bookstores. It can be ordered at this email address: thegoldenseasonbook@gmail.com.

Pre-ordered books can be picked up at three Ocala locations: Koontz Furniture on south Pine, Cogent Bank downtown, and Prestige Auto on SR 200. Pick-up locations in Gainesville and surrounding areas will be announced at a later date. Any requests for mailed copies will include a postage charge.

We will run a Black Friday special of two books for $30. Any email dated Black Friday will secure the deal.