The Florida Gators men’s basketball program has grown significantly since its beginnings. They transformed from a mid-pack SEC team to one of the most iconic powerhouses in college basketball. And now, with the 2025 National Championship Game coming up, they’re hoping to hang another banner in the rafters.
The Early Years of Florida Gators Laying the Groundwork
The Gators began their basketball program in 1915. However, success was a long time coming. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Florida began to make postseason rumblings. And it happened as coach Norm Sloan led the team to its first NIT bid in 1969. The program remained competitive for decades but could never seem to crack the national dialogue. All of that changed in the late ’90s.
The Billy Donovan Era: A Dynasty Is Born
The real Florida basketball golden age came when Billy Donovan was hired in 1996. By 2000, he had guided the Gators to their first appearance in the national championship game. But the 2005–2007 period really cemented his legacy.
- 2006 Title Run: The Gators were unranked to start the season but dispelled skeptics with a 17–0 beginning. Led by a talented and youthful quartet — Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Taurean Green, and Corey Brewer. No wonder why Florida blitzed its way through the NCAA Tournament at that time. In the championship game, they overwhelmed UCLA 73–57 for the first national title in program history.
- 2007 Repeat: The same core group came back, and hopes were sky-high. Florida did not disappoint. Following another solid regular season and an SEC Tournament championship, the Gators made it back to the NCAA final. Again, they were unstoppable, defeating Ohio State 84–75. There, they become the first team since Duke in the early ’90s to win consecutive titles with the same starting five. That run solidified Florida into a basketball dynasty and Donovan into a coaching icon.
When Donovan departed for the NBA in 2015, the Gators experienced a reset. There were some highs and lows, but the foundation was established. Jump forward to 2022, and Florida welcomed a new face: Todd Golden, a young star on the coaching horizon. Golden introduced a new style, a focus on analytics, and a new energy to Gainesville.
The 2024-2025 Season: Gators Are Back
This year has been nothing short of explosive for Florida. The Gators ignited during conference play and won the SEC Tournament. That’s not all, as they also received a No. 1 seed in the NCAA bracket — just the third time in school history.
They’ve supported it with a stunning run through March Madness, paced by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. He burst forth for 34 points in an electrifying Final Four victory over Auburn. His shooting, clutch performances, and leadership have returned Florida squarely into the national limelight.
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The title game will pit Florida against a hardened Houston team making its first championship appearance since 1984.
The Cougars beat Duke by there points in a tight Final Four contest, and they’re ready to put on a grit-and-guns show. Both programs have taken significantly different routes to arrive here, but now they have the same objective: cutting down the nets.
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