What makes this UF basketball team great is its unselfishness
Back when the Gators were winning back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007, opposing coaches schemed every which way imaginable to come up with a winning formula. Usually, it entailed trying to take out one of Florida’s better players but that simply opened the door for someone else. Nobody really cared who got the glory as long as the Gators got the win. Those two teams were that unselfish.
Fast forward to the current season where the 3rd-ranked Gators (22-3, 9-3 SEC) are poised to move up to the No. 2 slot when the Associated Press rankings come out today. If there is one characteristic shared by both those NCAA championship teams and this year’s Gators it is the unselfish nature. Todd Golden has a team that really doesn’t care who scores the most points or grabs the individual headlines as long as the Gators get the win.
We have seen the unselfishness all season long, but these last four games have truly brought out the best in this team. Injuries have made the Gators lean on someone new every single game.
Against Vanderbilt, the Gators were without Walter Clayton Jr., who sprained an ankle against Tennessee. So, Will Richard scored 21 points; Alex Condon scored 19 with nine rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots; Denzel Aberdeen scored 13 while playing 35 turnover-free minutes; and Tommy Haugh had eight points, nine rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Urban Klavzar came off the bench to hit all three of his 3-pointers and Sam Alexis had five points, one rebound, two assists and a blocked shot.
Against No. 1 Auburn, Clayton returned by Alijah Martin had to sit due to a hip pointer that limited him against Vanderbilt. So Clayton scored 19 to go with six rebounds, nine assists, a block and a steal; Condon had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists; Haugh had 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and a steal; and Aberdeen had 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. Klavzar hit both his threes and Alexis hit a key three.
Martin was out last week against Mississippi State and Condon went down 30 seconds into the game. Later Alexis sprained an ankle. So, Aberdeen stepped up with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals; Clayton had 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and a steal; Haugh came through with 16 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and two steals; Richard scored 10 with one rebound, one assist and one steal; and Reuben Chinyelu scored 10 all in the second half when he grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.
When the Gators beat South Carolina, they were without Condon and Alexis. Micah Handlogten threw off his planned redshirt to play for the first time all season. He walled up the interior defense, blocked a shot and had five assists. Clayton focused on passing. He had 10 points, four rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Chinyelu scored 10, grabbed five rebounds and blocked a shot. Klavzar hit another three. Martin came off the bench for his first action in three games, scored 11 to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
For the fourth straight game, Aberdeen and Haugh had monster games. Aberdeen scored 22 while hitting 5-7 from the 3-point line. He also had two rebounds, three assists, a steal and no turnovers. Haugh scored 20 including 3-6 from the 3-point line. He led the Gators with six rebounds and added three assists, a blocked shot and two steals.
Next man up is so often mis-used, but this Florida truly is about next man up. Nobody worries about minutes and the only role they care about is being able to contribute to a win.
One way to measure greatness in basketball is the grasp of the true team concept. This Florida team knows the concept and embraces it. They just might make the Final Four and win it all.
SEC BASKETBALL
No. 2 Alabama (21-4, 10-2 SEC): Losing to Auburn won’t hurt Alabama that much if the Crimson Tide can score a couple of wins this week – at Missouri Wednesday and home against Kentucky Saturday. When the AP poll comes out today, there’s a good chance Alabama drops no lower than No. 5. The NCAA NET ranking is No. 6.
Arkansas (15-10, 4-8 SEC): The Razorbacks need to go 3-3 the rest of the way if they entertain hopes of making the NCAA field. Lunardi currently has them in his last four in category. They could help themselves immensely this week if they could score an upset either at Auburn Tuesday or home against Missouri Saturday. The NCAA NET ranking is 42.
No. 1 Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC): Getting that win at Alabama was huge, particularly since the Tigers will host Alabama at Neville in the last game of the regular season. The Tigers are firmly on Lunardi’s No. 1 line and No. 1 in the NCAA NET rankings.
No. 3 FLORIDA (22-3, 9-3 SEC): The Gators are likely to move up to No. 2 in the AP poll today. They’re No. 4 in the NCAA NET rankings. The next three are Oklahoma at the O-Dome Tuesday and roadies to LSU and Georgia.
Georgia (16-10, 4-9 SEC): The Bulldogs have a top 40 (38) NCAA NET ranking but to make the NCAA Tournament they have to find a way to win three of their last five games. This week they go to Auburn. Georgia is 1-6 on the road.
No. 15 Kentucky (17-8, 6-6 SEC): Despite their 6-6 record in SEC play, the Wildcats have the No. 17 NCAA NET ranking. They are a lock for the NCAA Tournament but for a decent seeding they at least need to break even in league play. The Wildcats have two tough ones this week – Vanderbilt, which already has beaten them, and No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
LSU (13-12, 2-10 SEC): The Tigers got an SEC win at Oklahoma, which was a big surprise. They get South Carolina at home Tuesday so a third SEC win is entirely possible. The Gators travel to Baton Rouge Saturday. The NIT is a long shot.
No. 22 Mississippi State (18-7, 6-6 SEC): The Bulldogs helped themselves immensely by beating Ole Miss in Oxford. Can they spring the upset when No. 8 Texas A&M comes to Starkville Saturday? Mississippi State has a No. 30 NCAA NET ranking and is a lock for the NCAA Tournament.
No. 21 Missouri (19-6, 8-4 SEC): Mizzou jumped up to No. 15 in the NCAA NET rankings. The Tigers get No. 2 Alabama in Columbia Wednesday night, a big opportunity for a major move on the brackets. A 4-2 finish in the last three weeks of SEC play could move the Tigers up to the No. 5 line.
Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9 SEC): The Sooners’ chances of making the NCAA Tournament took a hit with the loss to LSU at home. Oklahoma has dropped out of the NCAA NET rankings top 50 (52 now) so a 4-2 finish in SEC play would help immensely. The Sooners are at Florida Tuesday night. They’re 1-6 on the road this year.
No. 19 Ole Miss (19-7, 8-5 SEC): The Rebels dropped four places in the NCAA NET rankings (No. 25) with the home loss to Mississippi State. They will make the NCAA Tournament but they desperately need to beat Vanderbilt in Nashville on Saturday.
South Carolina (10-15, 0-12 SEC): The Gamecocks might not have a better opportunity to avoid an 0-18 SEC record than they will have Tuesday night when they visit LSU.
No. 5 Tennessee (21-5, 8-5 SEC): The Vols have the mid-week bye, so they have extra days to prep for their road trip to College Station to face the Aggies on Saturday. The Vols are No. 5 in the NCAA NET rankings.
Texas (16-10, 5-8 SEC): The Longhorns helped themselves when they took out Kentucky at home. They have a mid-week bye, then travel to South Carolina, a game they cannot afford to lose. The NCAA NET ranking is 33.
No. 8 Texas A&M (20-5, 9-3 SEC): The Aggies are a very dangerous team, currently on Joe Lunardi’s No. 2 line. They might move up to a No. 1 this week if they can win at Mississippi State and then take out Tennessee at home. Their NCAA NET ranking is 11, but that should move somewhere around eight or possibly a little higher if they score two wins this week.
Vanderbilt (17-8, 5-7 SEC): The Commodores are No. 40 in the NCAA NET rankings. They’ve already beaten Kentucky, whom they play at Rupp Wednesday. They’re home against Ole Miss Saturday. Two wins would certainly help their NCAA resume. Lunardi has them on the 10 line but they have six games to move up.
Tuesday’s games
Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9 SEC) at No. 3 FLORIDA (22-3, 9-3 SEC)
No. 8 Texas A&M (20-5, 9-3 SEC) at No. 22 Mississippi State (18-7, 6-6 SEC)
South Carolina (10-15, 0-12 SEC) at LSU (13-12, 2-10 SEC)
Wednesday’s games
Vanderbilt (17-8, 5-7 SEC) at No. 15 Kentucky (17-8, 6-6 SEC)
Arkansas (15-10, 4-8 SEC) at No. 1 Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC)
No. 2 Alabama (21-4, 10-2 SEC) at No. 21 Missouri (19-6, 8-4 SEC)
Saturday’s games
No. 3 FLORIDA (22-3, 9-3 SEC) at LSU (13-12, 2-10 SEC)
Georgia (16-10, 4-9 SEC) at No. 1 Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC)
No. 15 Kentucky (17-8, 6-6 SEC) at No. 2 Alabama (21-4, 10-2 SEC)
No. 5 Tennessee (21-5, 8-5 SEC) at No. 8 Texas A&M (20-5, 9-3 SEC)
No. 19 Ole Miss (19-7, 8-5 SEC) at Vanderbilt (17-8, 5-7 SEC)
No. 21 Missouri (19-6, 8-4 SEC) at Arkansas (15-10, 4-8 SEC)
No. 22 Mississippi State (18-7, 6-6 SEC) at Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9 SEC)
Texas (16-10, 5-8 SEC) at South Carolina (10-15, 0-12 SEC)
NAPIER WILL HIRE DERON WILSON TO COACH THE CORNERS
The Gators will be hiring Deron Wilson to replace Will Harris on the football coaching staff per multiple reports. Wilson, who was an analyst for Napier in 2022, coached the secondary at Arkansas the last two years. In January he was named defensive coordinator at Georgia State, but is leaving for Gainesville.
A standout corner during his playing days at Southern Miss from 2010-12, Wilson started 39 consecutive games. Wilson previously coached at Texas-San Antonio and McNeese State (defensive coordinator) prior to joining the Florida staff in 2022.
Wilson is the third new defensive coach Napier has added since the end of the 2024 season. Previously added were co-defensive coordinators Vinnie Sunseri, who will coach the safeties, and Robert Bala, who will coach linebackers.
UF BASEBALL: GATORS PLAY FIVE THIS WEEK
Off to a 3-0 start thanks to a dominant, 3-game sweep of Air Force in which the Gators outscored the Falcons 28-6, the Gators will play five games this week. They will be at Jacksonville Tuesday, returning home to face Florida A&M Wednesday night. The weekend series at Condron Family Ballpark will be against Dayton of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Brody Donay, who homered in all three games against Air Force, leads the Gators with a .700 average while Hayden Yost is hitting .667 after six hits including three doubles in the two wins Saturday.
Starting pitchers Liam Peterson (11), Pierce Coppola (12) and Jake Clemente (8) combined for 31 of Florida’s 47 strikeouts.
UF SOFTBALL: DUKE HANDS GATORS FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON
The 14th-ranked Duke Blue Devils avenged a Friday loss to No. 1 Florida, downing the Gators (13-1), 8-1, Sunday in a game that faced weather delays that pushed its start time until 5:30. Duke held the Gators to four hits, one of which was a second inning home run by Mia Williams.
The Gators will face North Florida in Jacksonville Wednesday before traveling to Tempe, Arizona where they will play five games in Arizona State’s annual Sun Devil Classic. The Gators will play California Baptist and Arizona State Friday, New Mexico State and Grand Canyon on Saturday and finish things up Sunday with Iowa State.
UF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: GATORS GET BUZZER BEATER WIN
Ra’Shana Kyle made the defensive play of the game with a steal with 11 seconds left and Jeriah Warren hit a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired Sunday afternoon as the Gators (13-13, 4-8 SEC) knocked off Mississippi State (18-9, 5-8 SEC), 69-66, at the O-Dome.
Warren’s big shot put the finishing touches on a rally that saw the Gators outscore Mississippi State 9-1 in the final 3:26 to get the win.
Liv McGill led four Gators in double figures with 20 points while Laila Reynolds scored 14, Warren 12 and Kyle 10. Reynolds also had two rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
The Gators will travel to College Station to face Texas A&M Thursday, returning home Sunday to face Tennessee.
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