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Florida Gators Basketball Shifts Focus from Repeating too Reaching March Madness Depth
The University of Florida men’s basketball programme, fresh off a remarkable 36-4 season and NCAA Championship, isn’t fixated on “repeating” its success in 2025-26. Instead, Coach Todd Golden and his team are prioritizing sustained excellence and a deep postseason run, acknowledging a considerably altered roster dynamic.
The Gators recently gathered at Coach Golden’s home to view the SEC Network documentary “Repeat After Us,” revisiting the program’s back-to-back national championships of 2006 and 2007. Though, the viewing wasn’t intended as motivational fuel, but rather as a study in championship blueprints. “It’s tricky, as unlike 20 years ago we don’t have our whole starting five back,” Golden explained. “On a macro level, our goal is to win again, but with this team, specifically, we’re not talking a lot about repeating. We are talking about doing everything we can to play deep into march.”
UF returns a core of experienced players – three who logged significant starting minutes from the championship squad – alongside four scholarship players who contributed to the team’s success. The program bids farewell to key perimeter players Walter Clayton Jr., will Richard, and Alijah martin, but boasts a formidable frontcourt rotation widely considered the nation’s best and deepest. The addition of transfer guards Boogie Fland (from Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (first-team All-Ivy League at Princeton) further bolsters the team’s perimeter attack. technically, the team’s composition is so different that the concept of “repeating” feels largely irrelevant.
“Coach talked to us about not being focused on repeating. That’s a word I think that dwells in the past a bit,” said junior center Alex Condon, a third-team All-Southeastern Conference selection who opted to return to school instead of pursuing the NBA. “It’s going to take a lot for this team to go all the way, but I think we have the capability to do it.”
the Gators’ strength lies in their frontcourt, anchored by projected starters Condon, Rubern Keyelu, and Thomas Haugh, all of whom averaged at least 19 minutes per game last season and are expected to see increased playing time. Senior center Micah Handlogten,now weighing 260 pounds after playing at 230-235 pounds two years ago,is also poised to be a significant contributor off the bench.
The integration of Fland and Lee, coupled with expanded roles for returnees Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown, will define the perimeter rotation. The team will fine-tune these roles over the next six weeks of practice before opening the season November 3 against Arizona in Las Vegas. Analysts predict Florida could debut near the top of The Associated Press preseason rankings and be favored to win the Southeastern Conference – a feat the program hasn’t achieved since 2014. Last year, the Gators debuted at No. 21 and were picked to finish sixth in the league.
The team is embracing a new challenge, moving from the role of hunter to hunted. “It’s college basketball. At this level, there’s a lot of pressure, in general,” said Haugh. “Obviously, [repeating is] going to be in the back of our minds, but I think this team’s mature enough and confident enough to move on to the next year, and we’re going to go out there and show it.”
A recent post on X (formerly Twitter) from the Florida Gators Men’s Basketball account (@GatorsMBK) on September 22, 2025, showcased the team’s positive energy.
https://twitter.com/GatorsMBK/status/1704888888888888888
New Coordination on the Coaching staff
The Gators will navigate the season with a reshaped coaching staff following the departures of assistant coaches Kevin Hovde and John Andrzejek, who accepted head coaching positions at Columbia and Campbell, respectively. Hovde, the former offensive coordinator, helped the Gators rank no.2 nationally in offensive efficiency. Andrzejek, known for his defensive expertise, played a crucial role in the team’s stifling defensive performance. Golden has
