After placing the nation on discover with a number of top-25 wins and a postseason berth to the NIT final season, the Florida Gators have tasted success, and this yr, they need extra. As Coach Todd Golden builds on the muse he and the staff established in his second yr on the helm in Gainesville, he’s decided to assist the Gators get again within the image of title rivalry. Picked to complete in the course of the pack within the preseason media ballot, Florida is primed to be a sleeper contender within the SEC this season.
Coach Golden has been meticulously constructing his program in two methods: via recruiting—each the switch portal and prep ranks—and instilling a successful mentality and dedication to collective success that every one begins on the defensive finish. The Gators climbed into the highest 10 in KenPom’s defensive effectivity scores at a degree throughout final season, and so they completed ranked eighth within the nation in blocks per recreation with simply over 5. Between a mixture of extremely touted transfers and returning gamers who’ve improved their video games, the Gators added some offensive firepower to the fold, which ought to make for an thrilling model of basketball.
Riley Kugel is a participant many individuals predict to have a breakthrough season. Loads are shocked he even returned to varsity after the talents he showcased final yr and the potential he needed to leap to the NBA. The previous top-100 recruit earned SEC All-Freshman honors and averaged 12.6 ppg in convention play, probably the most by a Florida freshman since Bradley Beal in 2011-12. This yr, Kugel was voted to the Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC Workforce.
The 6-5 swingman is the principle constructing block for the Gators, and he’s off to an excellent begin this season, exhibiting why he’s destined to be a first-round choose every time he does determine to take that step. He dropped a easy 25 factors and 9 rebounds on No. 13 Baylor and continues to thrive in his position regardless of being on the prime of opponents’ scouting experiences. Fortunately for him, he doesn’t need to bear the burden of offensive output alone. His backcourt accomplice is proving to be simply as deadly.
That accomplice is Walter Clayton Jr, a 6-2 combo guard switch by means of Iona, who earned 2023 MAAC Participant of the 12 months. He creates tempo and goes to be a key ingredient to what Florida is aiming to perform this season and past. His scoring prowess has been on full show, with an early season-high of 28 factors towards the ACC’s Pittsburgh Panthers. It seems that enjoying for Corridor of Fame coach Rick Pitino the previous few years at Iona has paid off. Making the leap from mid-major to high-major, Clayton Jr appears proper at dwelling. Whereas Kugel is perhaps the participant who receives a lot of the consideration because of his NBA body and pro-style recreation, Clayton Jr is the pinnacle of the snake whose manufacturing will dictate how far this Florida staff goes.
Different key gamers embody 6-4 graduate switch Zyon Pullin and 7-1 Micah Handlogten, a sophomore switch from Marshall. Pullin is a three-time All-Huge West honoree who poured in over 1,300 factors throughout his 4 years at UC Riverside, and Handlogten is a flexible massive who was the 2023 Solar Belt Freshman of the 12 months.
On paper, this Florida roster can compete with anybody within the nation. And by the appears of issues early on, they is perhaps able to go dancin’ come March.