Florida basketball schedule, Starting Line -Up For Spelling: Gaters Mount National Title Defense under Todd Golden

When Alex Condon dived for a loose ball on the Alamodome floor as time spent on the 65-63 National title match of Florida in April, it marked the highlight of a quick return to the prominent for the Gaters under Coach Todd Golden. Florida was no more than the first weekend of the NCAA tournament since 2017 until it tore by the Big Dance of 2025 and cut off the nets in San Antonio.

Golden raised Florida from 16-17 in his first season to 24-12 with a return to the NCAA tournament in his second season. Then came a quantum jump that UF brought back to the heights of the legendary term of office of Billy Donovan. Florida tied a school record with 36 wins like Golden, who just turned 40 in July, pulled a chair at a table with the greats of the game.

Now comes the encore. Florida’s three -headed guards monster from Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard have left, but the Gators will not be short of continuity if they mount their national defending defense. With Star Forwards Thomas Hahuh and Alex Condon next to a top tandem of centers in Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Handlogs, Florida will again be a force in 2025-26 and is number 6 in the CBS Sports Top 25 and 1 Early rankings.

It would be no surprise if the Gators land at the top of the AP poll of the preseason. With Golden on the sidelines and a seductive harvest of perimeter talent that arrives via the portal as a supplement to the best front court of the nation, Florida has a legitimate chance of following the back-to-back titles of UConn with successive championships.

After all, it was previously done in Florida. Prior to the Huskies in 2023 and 2024, Florida was the last back-to-back champion of the sport in 2006 and 2007. With the movement cycle of players outside the season and the 2025-26 season that are getting closer, we look closer closer to the rosters of the best sides of college basketball. Here is the breakdown of the ruling national champions.

The Summer Shootaround of 2025 also rolls with Matt Norlander who talks with Jim Root and Ky from @Threemanweave8462 about the national Florida Gaters champion. Will the Gaters go back-to-back, or will they fall short of expectations?

Projected Starting Line -Up

1. Xaivian Lee | 6-4 | 180 | Sr.

Lee was only a roller player as a first-year student on Princeton’s Sweet 16 team in 2023 before he developed into a double all-Iivy League artist. After performing the show for the Tigers, Lee (+6500 to win the Wooden Award At Fanduel) will probably share the tasks of the ball treatment with Boogie Fland. He shines when the dribble shoots, just like Walter Clayton Jr. Last season for Florida. As such, he should be a natural fit in Golden’s system, although it would of course be bizarre to expect that he would completely replace Clayton’s production.

2. Boogie Fland | 6-3 | 180 | So.

The former five -star perspective played only 21 games last season as a first -year student for Arkansas in the midst of a thumb injury that required surgery in the middle season. But his attacking benefit as a facilitator (5.1 assists per match) and shooter (36.8% of 3 = point range before his injury) were more than clear. Just like Lee, Fland (+5000 to win the Wooden Award At Fanduel) is not afraid to let it fly off the dribble, but he must improve when finishing through contact in the paint.

3. Thomas HAUDH | 6-9 | 215 | Jr.

Golden has made no secret of the fact that Haugh (+10000 to win the Wooden Award At Fanduel) will play considerably more on the 3 in 2025-26 after he was deployed as a Super-sub Four during a Breakout second-year season. He is a glory rebounder, versatile defender and is offensive self -conscious. Haugh thrives on the edge as a ruthless Downhill director in transition and as a cutter/roller. But if you give him space, he can drill 3-PINTERS. A strong junior season will make him serious NBA -Concept appearance.

4. Alex Condon | 6-11 | 230 | Jr.

Condon is back for more after flirting with the NBA design after an All-SEC second-year season. The versatile Australian Big (+10000 to win the Wooden Award At Fanduel) runs on the floor like a deer, but also has 3-point shooting and traditional post-ups in his bag. Defensively, he has the right combination of size and mobility to protect the paint and to keep his circumference.

5. Rubern Keyel | 6-10 | 265 | Jr.

Chinyelu was a smart pick -up of 2024 for Florida, who needed his size last season after a devastating injury to Micah handlogs in the 2024 sec tournament. Although the great man of the ex-Washington is not overwhelmingly competent, his rare combination of size, athletics and engine makes him perfectly suited for a team that runs into transition and crushes opponents on the glass.

Banking

Micah Handlogten | 7-1 | 265 | Sr.

Handlogs could have taken a medical grater shirt last season after a horrible leg injury in the 2024 sec tournament. But the 7-footer returned to play a valuable bench role during the Stretchrun. He is another big rebounder and interior finisher and will contribute to Florida’s efforts to physically overwhelm opponents.

AJ Brown | 6-4 | 210 | R-JR.

The older brother of second-year guard Isaiah Brown struck 38.8% of his 3-POINTERS at 4.8 attempts per match in Ohio last season. He is the kind of low use, spot-up shooting threat that could play a version of the role that Richard played last season.

CJ Ingram | 6-6 | 202 | Fr.

Ingram shot up the recruitment ranking as a senior to complete the recruitment cycle of 2025 on number 19 in the class by 247Sports. He was also a football player in high school and brings physicality to the wing. Given that he is a late bloomer that turns 18 on August 12, his attacking contributions are probably limited as a first -year student.

Urban Klavzar | 6-1 | 195 | Jr.

Klavzar was a summer obligation last season that was only released after the season started by the NCAA. But he nevertheless found a niche as a 20-year-old newcomer, who registered 10 minutes per match in 26 performances. He is a 3-point threat that has some vintage European craftsmanship as a reserve guard.

Isaiah Brown | 6-4 | 210 | So.

Brown never completely cracked the rotation as a first -year student for a team that remained remarkably healthy. While he competes for minutes this year, he will do this alongside his brother, AJ Brown.

Alex Lloyd | 6-3 | 178 | Fr.

Lloyd was the number 41 in front of the class and comes with a lot of offensive potential. Earning an immediate role will not be easy, but there is clearly an upper part with an in-state prospect that was a late riser in the classroom.

Fill the schedule

The Gators are ashamed of wealth at the forefront. Rioux has gained quality game experience for Canada in the FIBA U19 World Cup in the summer. In the meantime, Mikic played a key role for Serbia in the U20 Euro championship. Kovatchev adds the depth after missing all games on one except four games due to an injury in Sacramento State last season. He was part of the protection of Hornets as a first-year student in 2023-24.

• Alex Kovatchev | 6-5 | 190 | R-So.
• Viktor Mikes | 6-11 | 250 | So.
• Olivier Rioux | 7-9 | 305 | R-Fr.

Market watch

The chances of Florida to win 2026 NCAA Tournament (via Fanduel): +1700

The fully intact return of Florida’s Elite Frontcourt gives the Gators an incredibly high floor while putting on their national defense. There is no team in college basketball that has the same combination of size, athletics and reserved tenacity. If there is a question for the Gators to answer, it is on hold.

Fland and Lee were every top-30 transfers, but they have huge shoes to fill. Clayton, Martin and Richard were more competent external shooters and good in the edge last season. Finishing in the track was a weakness in the game of Fland in Arkansas, and it is also no strength for Lee. Golden’s wish to play Haugh at Small Forward In addition to Condon and Chinyelu, will also be a fascinating experiment.

A bad result of going with a large setup would be a reduction in floor distance that combines with poor finishes of the guards to create offensive regression. But even in that scenario, Florida would still be great in defense and rebound. The positive alternative result is that the Gators physically dominate the opponents, while they also benefit from two facilitators on their way to another Final Four.