However, if Sunday is any indication, the reigning national champion Gators have what it takes to challenge for a repeat. Against a No. 23 Alabama team that was as healthy as it had been in weeks, and with former G League player Charles Bediako eligible for a third game, No. 19 Florida dominated with an assertive physicality usually reserved for overmatched mid-major opponents.
The final score of 100-77 tells the story of a second half that was never even remotely close, and Florida (16-6, 7-2) was more than happy to push the pace late in hopes of reaching the 100-point mark. In fact, it was Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-1 behemoth off the bench, who pushed the Gators into triple figures.
A Freshman… AT 7’9″😳
Freshman Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in college basketball history, puts the exclamation point on Florida’s 100-77 win over Alabama. pic.twitter.com/3FYKhVkJ6h
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 1, 2026
The Gators’ frontcourt of Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Micah Handlogten crushed the Tide (14-7, 4-4) inside and helped Florida beat Alabama 72-26 in points in the paint. If those 72 points in the paint sound like a staggering number to you, that’s because they were: According to ESPN, Florida was the first SEC team to score more than 70 points in the paint against a major conference opponent in the past 20 seasons.
Florida drive after Florida drive got to the rim, and the Gators also got plenty of easy buckets via well-executed cuts and pick-and-rolls. Bediako had a few blocks early, but he and fellow Tide big man Aiden Sherrell couldn’t handle the continued onslaught from the Gators’ deep frontcourt. It was a demolition of an old school around the bucket.
But despite that inner dominance, Boogie Fland was perhaps the most crucial Gator on the field. Fland had two easy steals-and-layup sequences in the first half and ultimately finished with an eye-popping eight steals, highlighting a one-sided turnover battle. Fland also added 15 points and eight assists, playing a great floor game and dictating the action from the opening tip.
Alabama coughed it up 18 times, contributing to Florida’s 26 fast-break points. At the other end of the court, Florida had just two miscues, and Alabama – one of the fastest teams in the country – finished with a paltry three fast-break points.
To the Tide’s credit, they fought well for a half. A 46-36 halftime deficit seemed surmountable, especially given Alabama’s ability to knock down triples and play at a fast pace. Instead, Florida started the second half with a bang. Chinyelu’s elite defense from the center spot and Florida’s ability to cause defensive chaos made a decisive impact on the match, with Florida extending its lead on a 12-0 run to start the second stanza. The lead would never go back to single digits. Chinyelu (14 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks) convincingly defeated Bediako, who fouled out after six points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes.
“G-LEAGUE DROPOUT!!” 😅
Former NBA G League player Charles Bediako heard it from the Gator fans at the free throw line for Alabama. pic.twitter.com/Q5M0YUhZUk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 1, 2026
The result had to feel good for Florida coach Todd Golden, who was outspoken following Alabama’s midseason addition of Bediako from the professional ranks. While he acknowledged that Oats and the Tide rightly took advantage of an available legal remedy, he lamented the inconsistent system that allowed Bediako — who entered the NBA Draft after two seasons at Alabama and played professionally the past two seasons — to return to school. He said Bediako knowingly forfeited his eligibility when he turned pro, but Golden also confidently stated that Florida would “beat them no matter what” with Bediako on the floor.
And beat them, the Gators did. That’s nothing new: Golden and his Gators have now won four straight meetings against Alabama. The second half was an example of Florida’s matchup advantages, particularly in the paint – an area Bediako had to help solidify for the Tide.
SEC standings (via Sunday’s games)
For Alabama, this loss was a wake-up call to how far the Tide is from where they want to be as a team. Even when their entire contingent of guards was healthy and Bediako got going, Oats’ team was severely outclassed. This group still has Final Four potential, but the defensive holes are real and still need to be addressed. And Bediako’s status will be determined at a court hearing next Friday.
On the other hand, the Gators are now high in the rankings after winning two games by a combined 70 points this week. Florida is still chasing surprise upstart Texas A&M at the top of the SEC standings, and Tennessee is also playing extremely well lately. But the Gators have the biggest advantage in the conference in March, with some real optimism building around the possibility of another deep postseason run in Gainesville.
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