2024–25 Florida Gators men's basketball team

American college basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2024–25 Florida Gators men's basketball team represented the University of Florida during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gators, led by third-year head coach Todd Golden, played their home games at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record36–4 (14–4 SEC)
Quick facts Florida Gators men's basketball, National Championship Game, W 65–63 vs. Houston ...
2024–25 Florida Gators men's basketball
NCAA tournament National Champions
SEC tournament champions
ESPN Events Invitational champions
National Championship Game,
W 65–63 vs. Houston
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record36–4 (14–4 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaO'Connell Center
Seasons
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The Alamodome after Florida's win over Auburn in the 2024 Final Four
The Alamodome after Florida's 79–73 win over SEC rival Auburn in the 2025 Final Four.
More information Conf., Overall ...
2024–25 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 Auburn15–3 .83332–6  .842
No. 1 Florida †14–4 .77836–4  .900
No. 6 Alabama13–5 .72228–9  .757
No. 5 Tennessee12–6 .66730–8  .789
No. 19 Texas A&M11–7 .61123–11  .676
No. 12 Kentucky10–8 .55624–12  .667
Missouri10–8 .55622–12  .647
No. 18 Ole Miss10–8 .55624–12  .667
No. 20 Arkansas8–10 .44422–14  .611
Mississippi State8–10 .44421–13  .618
Georgia8–10 .44420–13  .606
Vanderbilt8–10 .44420–13  .606
Texas6–12 .33319–16  .543
Oklahoma6–12 .33320–14  .588
LSU3–15 .16714–18  .438
South Carolina2–16 .11112–20  .375
† 2025 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
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During this season, Florida experienced its most success in 11 years and restored itself as an elite program. Paying homage to the Florida team that won back-to-back championships 18 years prior, this team adopted the motto, "Gator Boys Stay Hot".

Led by senior guards Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin, Florida posted a 27–4 regular season record, finishing second in the most difficult SEC season in conference history. The Gators got off to a hot start when they finished non-conference play with a 13–0 record and No. 6 ranking in the AP Poll, which was their highest ranking in 7 years. Despite early losses to Kentucky and Missouri, Florida got hot and finished the regular season winning 9 of their last 10 games. During this stretch, they pulled off massive wins on the road against No. 1 Auburn and No. 7 Alabama. Led by Clayton Jr. and Alex Condon, Florida was able to beat a No. 1 team on the road for the first time in program history.

As the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, they defeated Missouri, 95–81, in the quarterfinals and Alabama, 104–82, in the semifinals to advance to the SEC Championship, where they defeated Tennessee, 86–77, to clinch their first SEC championship since 2014. They received an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as the No. 1 seed in the West region. They defeated Norfolk State, 95–69, in the first round, two-time defending national champions UConn, 77–75, in the second round, and Maryland, 87–71, in the Sweet Sixteen to advance to the Elite Eight. There, they defeated Texas Tech, 84–79, to advance to their first Final Four since 2014. They would then defeat SEC rival Auburn, 79–73, to advance to their first championship since 2007. In the championship game, they overcame a 12-point deficit late in the second half to beat Houston, 65–63, to clinch their third national title overall and their first since 2007.[1]

Previous season

The Gators finished the 2023–24 season 24–12, 11–7 in SEC play, to finish in sixth place. In the SEC tournament, the Gators beat Georgia, 85–80, in the first round, Alabama, 102–88, in the second round, and Texas A&M, 95–90, in the semifinals to advance to the championship game where they would fall to Auburn, 86–67. The Gators earned an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as the No. 7 seed in the South region, where they lost to Colorado, 102–100, in the first round.[2][3]

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2024–25 Florida Gators men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 1 Walter Clayton Jr. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg) GSBartow HS
Iona		 Lake Wales, FL
G 2 Kevin Pazmino 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoCypress Bay HS
Santa Fe College		 Weston, FL
C 3 Micah Handlogten 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)235 lb (107 kg) JrSouthLake Christian Academy
Marshall		 Lake Norman, NC
F 4 Sam Alexis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)240 lb (109 kg) JrApokpa HS
Chattanooga		 Apopka, FL
G 5 Will Richard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)206 lb (93 kg) SrWoodward Academy
Belmont		 Fairburn, GA
G 7 Urban Klavžar 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoReal Madrid Domžale, Slovenia
C 9 Rueben Chinyelu 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)255 lb (116 kg) SoStade Malien
Washington State		 Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria
F 10 Thomas Haugh 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg) SoPerkiomen School New Oxford, PA
G 11 Denzel Aberdeen 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) JrDr. Phillips HS Orlando, FL
C 12 Viktor Mikić 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)240 lb (109 kg) FrHamilton Heights (TN) Belgrade, Serbia
G 15 Alijah Martin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)210 lb (95 kg) GSNorth Pike HS
Florida Atlantic		 Summit, MS
G 20 Isaiah Brown 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrOrlando Christian Prep Orlando, FL
F/C 21 Alex Condon 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)230 lb (104 kg) SoNBA Global Academy Perth, Australia
G 22 Bennett Andersen (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg) GSJesuit HS Tampa, FL
G 30 Kajus Kublickas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) SoZalgiris II Kaunas, Lithuania
C 32 Olivier Rioux Current redshirt 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)305 lb (138 kg) FrIMG Academy Terrebonne, QC
G 33 Cooper Josefsberg (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoRiviera Prep Miami, FL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 15, 2024

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Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2024*
8:30 p.m., SECN		 No. 21 vs. South Florida
Jacksonville Sports Foundation Invitational		 W 98–83  1–0
  29 – Clayton Jr.  6 – Tied  3 – Martin  VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (5,764)
Jacksonville, FL
November 7, 2024*
8:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+		 No. 21 Jacksonville W 81–60  2–0
  23 – Condon  7 – Alexis  7 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (8,381)
Gainesville, FL
November 11, 2024*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+		 No. 20 Grambling State W 86–62  3–0
  14 – Chinyelu  8 – Tied  3 – Tied  O'Connell Center (7,857)
Gainesville, FL
November 15, 2024*
6:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 20 at Florida State
Rivalry		 W 87–74  4–0
  25 – Clayton Jr.  12 – Condon  3 – Tied  Donald L. Tucker Civic Center (9,797)
Tallahassee, FL
November 19, 2024*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+		 No. 21 Florida A&M W 84–60  5–0
  20 – Richard  9 – Tied  5 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (8,005)
Gainesville, FL
November 22, 2024*
7:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 21 Southern Illinois W 93–68  6–0
  32 – Martin  9 – Martin  5 – Martin  O'Connell Center (9,533)
Gainesville, FL
November 28, 2024*
2:30 p.m., ESPN		 No. 18 vs. Wake Forest
ESPN Events Invitational Semifinal		 W 75–58  7–0
  21 – Clayton Jr.  9 – Chinyelu  3 – Clayton Jr.  State Farm Field House (3,191)
Bay Lake, FL
November 29, 2024*
3:30 p.m., ESPN		 No. 18 vs. Wichita State
ESPN Events Invitational Final		 W 88–51  8–0
  19 – Clayton Jr.  11 – Chinyelu  5 – Richard  State Farm Field House (3,875)
Bay Lake, FL
December 4, 2024*
7:15 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 13 Virginia
ACC–SEC Challenge		 W 87–69  9–0
  27 – Clayton Jr.  8 – Condon  4 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (9,184)
Gainesville, FL
December 14, 2024*
3:30 p.m., SECN		 No. 9 vs. Arizona State
Holiday Hoopsgiving		 W 83–66  10–0
  25 – Clayton Jr.  11 – Martin  6 – Martin  State Farm Arena (12,900)
Atlanta, GA
December 17, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 7 vs. North Carolina
Jumpman Invitational		 W 90–84  11–0
  22 – Richard  10 – Condon  5 – Condon  Spectrum Center (16,058)
Charlotte, NC
December 21, 2024*
12:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 7 North Florida W 99–45  12–0
  26 – Richard  12 – Alexis  4 – Aberdeen  O'Connell Center (10,109)
Gainesville, FL
December 29, 2024*
1:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+		 No. 6 Stetson W 85–45  13–0
  18 – Martin  12 – Alexis  7 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (10,676)
Gainesville, FL
SEC regular season
January 4, 2025
11:00 a.m., ESPN		 No. 6 at No. 10 Kentucky
Rivalry		 L 100–106  13–1
(0–1)		  33 – Clayton Jr.  10 – Condon  5 – Clayton Jr.  Rupp Arena (21,093)
Lexington, KY
January 7, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 8 No. 1 Tennessee W 73–43  14–1
(1–1)		  18 – Martin  15 – Chinyelu  5 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (11,011)
Gainesville, FL
January 11, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 8 at Arkansas W 71–63  15–1
(2–1)		  14 – Martin  10 – Condon  5 – Clayton Jr.  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 14, 2025
9:00 p.m., ESPNU		 No. 5 Missouri L 82–83  15–2
(2–2)		  28 – Clayton Jr.  10 – Chinyelu  3 – Condon  O'Connell Center (10,491)
Gainesville, FL
January 18, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 5 Texas W 84–60  16–2
(3–2)		  22 – Martin  12 – Condon  4 – Martin  O'Connell Center (11,107)
Gainesville, FL
January 22, 2025
7:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 5 at South Carolina W 70–69  17–2
(4–2)		  22 – Richard  7 – Condon  7 – Clayton Jr.  Colonial Life Arena (14,930)
Columbia, SC
January 25, 2025
3:30 p.m., SECN		 No. 5 Georgia W 89–59  18–2
(5–2)		  17 – Tied  11 – Haugh  5 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (11,187)
Gainesville, FL
February 1, 2025
12:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 5 at No. 8 Tennessee L 44–64  18–3
(5–3)		  10 – Clayton Jr.  10 – Haugh  2 – Richard  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
February 4, 2025
7:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 6 Vanderbilt W 86–75  19–3
(6–3)		  21 – Richard  9 – Tied  4 – Tied  O'Connell Center (9,745)
Gainesville, FL
February 8, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 6 at No. 1 Auburn W 90–81  20–3
(7–3)		  19 – Clayton Jr.  10 – Condon  9 – Clayton Jr.  Neville Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
February 11, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 3т at No. 22 Mississippi State W 81–68  21–3
(8–3)		  20 – Aberdeen  9 – Haugh  8 – Haugh  Humphrey Coliseum (9,401)
Starkville, MS
February 15, 2025
8:30 p.m., SECN		 No. 3т South Carolina W 88–67  22–3
(9–3)		  22 – Aberdeen  6 – Tied  8 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (10,853)
Gainesville, FL
February 18, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 2 Oklahoma W 85–63  23–3
(10–3)		  18 – Clayton Jr.  8 – Richard  3 – Aberdeen  O'Connell Center (10,513)
Gainesville, FL
February 22, 2025
6:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 2 at LSU W 79–65  24–3
(11–3)		  19 – Chinyelu  13 – Chinyelu  5 – Richard  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,569)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 25, 2025
7:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 3 at Georgia L 83–88  24–4
(11–4)		  30 – Richard  9 – Handlogten  5 – Clayton Jr.  Stegeman Coliseum (10,066)
Athens, GA
March 1, 2025
8:30 p.m., SECN		 No. 3 No. 12 Texas A&M
College GameDay		 W 89–70  25–4
(12–4)		  25 – Richard  9 – Condon  4 – Tied  O'Connell Center (10,784)
Gainesville, FL
March 5, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 5 at No. 7 Alabama W 99–94  26–4
(13–4)		  27 – Condon  11 – Chinyelu  8 – Clayton Jr.  Coleman Coliseum (13,474)
Tuscaloosa, AL
March 8, 2025
6:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 5 Ole Miss W 90–71  27–4
(14–4)		  23 – Clayton Jr.  15 – Condon  8 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (11,191)
Gainesville, FL
SEC tournament
March 14, 2025
7:00 p.m., SECN		 (2) No. 4 vs. (7) No. 21 Missouri
Quarterfinal		 W 95–81  28–4
  18 – Clayton Jr.  8 – Condon  6 – Clayton Jr.  Bridgestone Arena (18,608)
Nashville, TN
March 15, 2025
3:30 p.m., ESPN		 (2) No. 4 vs. (3) No. 5 Alabama
Semifinal / College GameDay		 W 104–82  29–4
  22 – Clayton Jr.  10 – Tied  6 – Clayton Jr.  Bridgestone Arena (19,049)
Nashville, TN
March 16, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN		 (2) No. 4 vs. (4) No. 8 Tennessee
Championship		 W 86–77  30–4
  22 – Clayton Jr.  9 – Condon  3 – Richard  Bridgestone Arena (19,151)
Nashville, TN
NCAA tournament
March 21, 2025
6:50 p.m., TNT		 (1 W) No. 3 vs. (16 W) Norfolk State
First round		 W 95–69  31–4
  23 – Clayton Jr.  8 – Tied  5 – Richard  Lenovo Center (19,178)
Raleigh, NC
March 23, 2025
12:10 p.m., CBS		 (1 W) No. 3 vs. (8 W) UConn
Second round		 W 77–75  32–4
  23 – Clayton Jr.  7 – Haugh  4 – Condon  Lenovo Center (19,244)
Raleigh, NC
March 27, 2025
7:39 p.m., TBS/TruTV		 (1 W) No. 3 vs. (4 W) No. 11 Maryland
Sweet Sixteen		 W 87–71  33–4
  15 – Richard  9 – Haugh  4 – Haugh  Chase Center (16,417)
San Francisco, CA
March 29, 2025
6:09 p.m., TBS/TruTV		 (1 W) No. 3 vs. (3 W) No. 9 Texas Tech
Elite Eight		 W 84–79  34–4
  30 – Clayton Jr.  11 – Haugh  4 – Clayton Jr.  Chase Center (16,778)
San Francisco, CA
April 5, 2025
6:09 p.m., CBS		 (1 W) No. 3 vs. (1 S) No. 4 Auburn
Final Four		 W 79–73  35–4
  34 – Clayton Jr.  9 – Chinyelu  3 – Condon  Alamodome (68,252)
San Antonio, TX
April 7, 2025
8:50 p.m., CBS		 (1 W) No. 3 vs. (1 MW) No. 2 Houston
National Championship		 W 65–63  36–4
  18 – Richard  8 – Richard  7 – Clayton Jr.  Alamodome (66,602)
San Antonio, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West. S=South. MW=Midwest.
All times are in Eastern Time.
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Rankings

See also: 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP2120211813976685 (1)5563т (3)2 (1)3543 (2)1 (61)
Coaches211919161376558466632354 (1)3 (3)1 (31)
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