The defending National Champions, the Florida Gators, have not had the expected start to the season. Currently, they hold a 5-4 record and rank No. 18. While everyone expected them to be on a roll this season, it hasn’t been the case so far. The Gators are coming off a loss against UConn on Wednesday and are under immense pressure to live up to their expectations.
The panel of “The Field of 68: After Dark” podcast has issued a warning that the Gators are about to face a hard reality check early in the 2025-26 season. The analysts highlighted that the team’s backcourt struggles with physicality and consistency could derail their title hopes. They pointed to recent games where smaller guards got overwhelmed and failed to execute under pressure. Furthermore, the reality check intensifies with comparisons to higher-ranked teams like UConn. To this, Rob Dauster said:
“If you’re a coach like Todd Golden, what did you have last year? You had guards, you knew what you were going to get every single night. All three of them, not one of them. all three of them, you knew what you’re going to get out of Clayton, Elijah and Will. And now ,you don’t have anybody, you know, both those guys, you really have no idea what you’re going to get night to night.” (1:54)
The panel also highlighted how transfers like Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee show flashes but lack consistency.
“I think Xavier Lee should be a 35% three point shooter with the shots that he’s taken. And he’s at like 18 or 19% right now. but you flange should be about the same and he’s below 25%,” said Jeff Goodman.
The panel predicted that Florida stars such as Alex Condon can carry offense, but the SEC grind has exposed major flaws with the guards. It’s high time for coach Todd Golden to prioritize guard development amid a tough SEC slate. Without fixes, Florida risks a 5-7 tournament seed despite offensive power. Everyone at the panel predicted explosive wins for the Gators, only if consistent guard lapses don’t cap their ceiling.
Coach Todd Golden Compliments UConn as a ‘Pretty Good’ Team
Coach Todd Golden was impressed by the way the UConn Huskies showed up for this game at Madison Square Garden. In a way, he complimented how the roster bounced back from injuries, especially after facing a second-round defeat against his own team last season.
“This UConn team is very good also. Obviously I think they’re top 5 or 6-ish team right now, and they’re going to win a lot of games this year,” Golden said.
The Huskies have been on a roll, winning nine games so far and losing just one this season. However, rebounding and defense have been issues, which they are willing to address as the season progresses.
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