It was almost a goodbye, but Alex Condon pulled a fast one. After trying his hand at the 2025 NBA Combine and landing at No. 38 on ESPN’s projections, Condon has decided to don the Florida Gators jersey again.
Condon, who was named third-team All-SEC after a stellar sophomore season averaging 10.6 points, 7.5 boards, and 1.3 blocks, was the cornerstone of the Gators’ national title run. His last-minute dive for the loose ball went on to get the Gators a 65–63 win over Houston. With the NBA draft withdrawal deadline looming, Condon had every reason to chase the NBA hardwoods.
But quite poetically, just before the clock struck midnight. Alex Condon decided he is staying in Gainesville. While the Gator Nation is quite happy, not everyone’s drinking the Kool-Aid.
Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman Doubt Alex Condon’s Return Can Rescue Todd Golden’s Struggling Gators
There is no doubting the fact that Alex Condon’s return beefs up Todd Golden’s frontcourt in a big way. The Gators now have four out of five of their championship big men coming back. They have Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, Thomas Haugh, and Micah Handlogten.
Let’s do ittt 🐊 pic.twitter.com/LYW25QQVQw
— Alex Condon (@AlexCondonn) May 27, 2025
The Gators also have transfers, including Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, in the backcourt. Now, on paper, that is a brilliant roster. But on “The Field of 68: After Dark,” Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman hit pause on the hype. And the two were far from sold.
“You look at this roster, and to me, it makes a ton of sense,” Dauster began. And that is largely because of the team’s aggressive rebounders and dual scoring guards. In fact, he’s so optimistic, he’s already pencilled them in at No. 3 on his preseason rankings. But Goodman’s vision swings another way.
“Yeah, that’s fair… but,” Jeff Goodman replied. “You’ve got talent in your top seven, no doubt. But how’s it going to translate? Xaivian Lee is coming from the Ivy League—SEC ball is a whole different beast. Who’s your three-man? I’m not convinced Thomas Haugh can fill that spot.” And he is not wrong.
The Florida Gators had a three-guard setup last year that clicked beautifully. This time, they are gambling with three forwards. That kind of shift isn’t just tactical, but also very risky. Rob Dauster did push back, suggesting that the coaching staff is smart enough to adapt. Let’s not forget they did just win a national title.
As Dauster sees it, “They know how to connect the dots.” He then went on to make a cheeky jab about offseason promises that often fade fast come game time. Yet, despite the talent and big names coming in, there’s an uncomfortable amount of “TBD” floating around.
Can CJ Ingram and AJ Brown step up enough to give the team perimeter depth? Can Lee be the same Ivy League star when the pressure amps up? There’s a lot of glitter, but is it gold? While Alex Condon’s return is massive, is it enough to make lightning strike twice for Todd Golden?
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The answers are still up in the air. And if you ask Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman, they’re leaning toward a cautious maybe not. The Gators will start the title defence on November 3 in Las Vegas against Arizona. And by then, the world will know if this offseason shuffle was a stroke of genius or the beginning of a slump.
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