The fifth-ranked Florida Gators concluded their remarkable regular season campaign with a dominant 90-71 victory over Ole Miss, putting an exclamation point on what has been one of the most successful seasons in program history.
The numbers tell a compelling story: 27 regular season wins, marking the second-most in program history, and a stellar 14-4 SEC record that ties for the second-most conference wins in school history. Even more impressive is the team’s strong finish, winning nine of their final ten regular season games to secure sole possession of second place in the SEC – far exceeding preseason expectations that had them picked to finish sixth.
Senior Night in Gainesville proved to be an emotional affair for the departing players. Walter Clayton Jr. delivered a masterful performance in his O’Dome finale with 23 points and eight assists, while Alex Condon dominated with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Fellow seniors Alijah Martin and Will Richard added 13 and 10 points respectively in their farewell home game.
For Clayton Jr., the evening stirred deep emotions: “Emotions were high, obviously, being here two years, I’ve basically made family here. It’ll always be a family here, the coaching staff, all of the fans, there’s a lot of love.” The Florida native added, “It means everything to me… It’s been great to come back home, my family, they’re closer so they can drive up here and see me play… I appreciate Florida for welcoming me with open arms, allowing me to be myself these past few years.”
Will Richard’s reflection on his journey with the program captures its transformation: “It’s been night and day, that’s what makes it so special, seeing how we’ve grown from that first year to now and how we’ve completely changed things around. It makes it so much fun to be a part of this program, seeing how much things have changed and how it’s been for the better.”
Even sophomore Alex Condon expressed his appreciation for the departing seniors: “It’s been pivotal in my development. I think they played a large role last year… They’re awesome leaders and they are crucial for this team’s success. They’re great friends, too. I love these boys.”
Head Coach Todd Golden, marking his 100th game at the helm, has already etched his name in Florida basketball history. His 67 wins represent the most by any Florida coach through their first 100 games. Golden’s pride in his team is evident: “Just incredibly proud of our program… To go 14-4 in the league and to finish the regular season the way we did today, just can’t say enough about the job our players did this year.”
As the team prepares for the SEC Tournament, there’s a shared sense of unfinished business. As Richard notes, “We’re just trying to go out and win every game. It’s the start of a whole new season, so we’re going to go out there and attack every game at a high level no matter what seed we are.”
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