GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A week before Thanksgiving, Florida coach Todd Golden was still uncertain about the potential of
his team as college basketball operated in relative obscurity. However, his confidence began to rise after the Gators
secured their fourth 20-point victory in six games, a commanding 93-68 win over Southern Illinois on Nov. 22. While much
of Gator Nation was focused on Florida football’s upset of Ole Miss at the Swamp, the pieces were quietly coming together across campus at the O’Connell Center.
“We feel pretty good about the way we construct rosters and a team,” Golden remarked at the time. Fast forward six
weeks, and the Gators (13-0) have emerged as one of college basketball’s biggest surprises, boasting their best start since the program’s glory days.
“For the first time since we’ve been here, we feel like we’re in position to make a really good run,” Golden told the Orlando
Sentinel after a recent practice at the O’Dome. Now ranked No. 6, Florida begins SEC play Saturday against No. 10
Kentucky (10-2), entering conference competition unbeaten for the first time since the 2005-06 season. That historic team started 17-0 and went on to claim back-to-back national titles under Billy Donovan.
The foundation of that legendary run was the iconic ‘04s recruiting class, featuring four starters—three of whom became NBA lottery picks (Al Horford, Joakim Noah, and Corey Brewer) and the son of an NBA veteran (Taurean Green). They prioritized team success over personal accolades and remain close friends to this day. That chemistry and formula, however, would be nearly impossible to replicate in today’s college basketball landscape.
Modern roster-building is an evolving challenge, as traditional blueprints no longer hold. The transfer portal allows players to switch schools and compete immediately, while NIL opportunities have added another layer of complexity to assembling a cohesive team.
About the Author
