Ranking the SEC (2025-26), CBS Sports

I'm not quite as bullish on our postseason prospects without our veteran guards (Stan Van Gundy called it a cheat code last fall, and he is exactly right). I also agree with others that most preliminary rankings have us top 4-6 or so, though it's all guesswork at this stage until we see how the pieces fit together--for us, and for everyone else.

I love the fit of our guards together, the size, experience, depth, rebounding, and rim protection of the front line, and the versatility and balance we are going to have across the board. I think our floor is going to be pretty high (top 10-15, maybe 3-seed). There are a few big questions for me, though, that will determine our upside:
- Can Haugh defend SEC wings in space and get jumpers offensively without the benefit of bigs helping off him?
- If so, can we effectively play Chinyelu and Handlogten together for 4-8 minutes a game or so?
- If not, can AJ Brown get healthy, have a relatively full offseason, and defend well enoughn to be a full-time (or mostly full-time) three?
- Can Klavzar defend well enough to stay on the court and get into a groove offensively?
- Can either Lloyd or Ingram play early?
- Will Isaiah Brown make a leap?

I don't see us adding anyone else who will compete for time. This is kind of who we are, and really we have all the elements Golden has been after the last few years: size, rebounding, and rim protection up front to control the paint, high usage rate playmakers in the backcourt to play fast, and length and experience everywhere.

 

We return what I believe to be this past season's best frontcourt. Consider that bigs tend to get a little bit better each season. So if Condo, Chins, Haugh, and the Handyman all improve individually, PLUS have another season of experience in our system, the results could be awesome. I see that as our new cheat code. We will always be pounding the glass and getting second and third chances.
Now we will miss Clayton, Martin, Richard, and Aberdeen, but I think we're going to be very happy with Xaivian and Fland. And we'll get good bench production from the Brown Bros. and Urban for an 8-man rotation, and will have minutes from Ingram, Lloyd, or Mikic if we choose to go to a 9-man rotation. Ingram and Lloyd might even compete for starting roles. I think that's unlikely, but one or both might move into the 8-man group.
Of course, we WILL have injuries, illness, or foul trouble at some point, so any one reserve guy might move up.
I love where the program is. Lose three awesome guys but still be in that top tier.

 

https://floridagators.com/watch/?Archive=24556&type=Archive

No need to watch the whole thing. We know what happened on the court. But just watch 00:23 to 00:43. Twenty seconds that will give you goosebumps as you realize the truth Coach spoke.

 

Man that makes me feel poor. I saw boogie shopping for his brand new $100 thousand plus Mercedes on YouTube. The rest of us are in real life struggling to make ends meet in this economy.

 

I suspect Klavzar will be much improved

 

Here’s the (road) Duke game everyone wanted

Florida at Duke headlines ACC/SEC Challenge

 

Me too. I wonder if he'll get most of his minutes at the 1 or the 2. Since we have 2 starting point guards already, I suspect when one of them takes a seat, the other will be the 1, and Urbie will come in at the 2.

 

I think that with his limited minutes he will be balls out energetic on D and moving like a madman off the ball on O to get open. If he is open with his feet set he is money.

 

When do we get the final Gator Boyz video? I need it!

 

I liked the one with them ringing doorbells.

 

I don’t see it under the terms of the settlement, which will kick in for basketball for the 2026-2027 season. UK will have approximately $21 million to pay its players in all sports. It seems unlikely that the men’s basketball team players will get more than $5 million or $6 million. All NIL payments to players are required to be market value, based on the economic benefit to the payor. Good luck with that. For example, if a Lexington business will generate a few hundred thousand dollars of gross revenue from a player promoting its business, what is a fair amount to pay the player? It ain’t going to be much.

 

We always seem to play these big non-conference games on the road or in neutral site situations. At least we get Kentucky in Gainesville this time.

 

This is the big unknown...

Can Haugh defend SEC wings in space and get jumpers offensively without the benefit of bigs helping off him?
- If so, can we effectively play Chinyelu and Handlogten together for 4-8 minutes a game or so?

Ideally, Haugh could play a minimum of 20 mpg at the "3" and 5-10 mpg at the "4" if Chinyelu and Handlogten duplicate rather than complement each other.

 

Much more likely than him guarding huge guys in the post like he had to do this past season.

 

I'm not worried about Tommy's perimeter defense. He's fundamentally sound and has good lateral quickness. And better height than most wings.

 

You could argue that Cal had a "formula" that sort of worked, although he kind of fell into a generational talent (Davis) to go with some NBA players and enough long-term players to assist in changing diapers. Pope seems to fit the profile (like being the manager of the Yankees) but has spent his entire time coaching at the "A or AA level" of ball. Methinks he is going to need some serious on-the-job training to get to Golden's level of understanding how to mesh things and know what is an opportunity and what is a landmine.

IMO, this is the silly season spent pandering to the fan base. But if not, it is the typical lazy, self-righteous, herd mentality of reporting/discerning that makes major college basketball tick today. It is just plain silly, but it pays the bills.

 

To all the naysayers who like to come out of the woodwork when Florida sports are not a guarantee (like always), if you believe in Golden the way I do (but again, falls below "guarantee" status), this team will be built quite different than last years. Projecting what players play the "Big 3" roles is going to be a silly exercise. Not that they can't be replaced in a way, but rather the philosophy will be fundamentally different. And yes, that means we don't have a tried and true template as designed by Golden. And that raises the Gator Fan angst. It is what it is.

Haugh as a true 3 is going to look WAY different than what we want it to (IMO). We continue to look for Brewer or Parsons...as a senior...to just manifest because we saw it once (or twice with Brewer). Sorry to burst your bubble; it isn't likely to happen. Haugh is Haugh and he has to do "his thing". Changing direction, is anyone seeing the Thunder's long, thin dude in the finals? How can he do what he is doing? He plainly isn't Anthony Davis but yet, there he is. Why do you believe it is all about a single mold and if the player doesn't fit it then they are a bum (well meaning or not)? How about Condon being a stretch 4? Not happening? Why not?

If I had to point to a "ding" on this team, and I do sincerely hope it is not an issue, it is that Micah just doesn't have the size to play the 5 the way we need him to under this incarnation. Length? sure, but not stoutness. His claim to fame before his injury was some weakside defense and offensive rebounds. We need another big grunt to clog up the middle when the "power-running team" shows up to play us. Otherwise, Golden will have to go Plan B and bring in perimeter help, which would potentially mean a manic defensive player manifesting on the perimeter.

Now, to the "formula". Are we looking at a Final Four team who can lose at any time against the "true championship teams" that have the veteran (to each other) guards completely meshed? Sure, that is always a chance. But to believe that is the only way to win is just plain silly (like saying if your team doesn't have 5-10 5* talents in football, you aren't winning anything) and feeds the Gator Fan anxiety. And to me, that isn't a very good idea, especially so early in the process.

Me? I got my "40-0" shirt bought and hung up. AND I also got a "39-1, NC shirt" also, just in case. I ain't THAT silly. I got a brain....

 

In your opinion, should the players be eating eggs or dry cereal for breakfast?