NCAA Tournament MOP Walter Clayton Jr. at the bandshell celebration Tuesday.
From Court Kings to Campus Legends
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As the Florida Gators made their way home Tuesday morning from San Antonio, Head Coach Todd Golden settled into the front row of the charter flight—middle seat—with his wife Megan beside him on the aisle and son Jacob at the window. On his laptop: footage from Monday night’s NCAA Tournament championship, where the Gators staged a thrilling comeback from a double-digit second-half deficit to edge Houston 65–63. The win marked Golden’s first national title and Florida’s first since the legendary back-to-back triumphs of 2006–07.
The replay wasn’t about analysis—it was about savoring the moment.
Celebrations had already begun hours earlier in a packed banquet hall at the Riverwalk team hotel, where players, staff, and loved ones gathered deep into the night.
“I got about a three-and-a-half hour nap, like 4:30 to 8,” Golden said. “Feel great.” Probably never better.
The team landed back in Gainesville around 2:20 p.m. While waiting for his luggage, Golden was asked if other coaches had reached out. He mentioned kind messages from Alabama’s Nate Oats and Missouri’s Dennis Gates, though he hadn’t yet had time to dig through his inbox. To illustrate, he held up his phone: 668 unread messages. And counting.
One message he did read came from longtime supporter Gary Condron, who had followed the team from the SEC Tournament in Nashville to NCAA stops in Raleigh, San Francisco, and San Antonio.
“I've been a Gator since 1973 and a booster 40+ years. This has been my greatest Gator memory ever! You are so special.”
Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh (right) and Alex Condon hoist the hardware.
The celebration was just getting started. After touching down at Gainesville airport, the team bus headed straight to campus for a spirited welcome-home rally at the Flavett Field bandshell. There, it was announced that a larger celebration was being planned to coincide with Saturday’s Orange & Blue spring football game—a reveal that drew loud cheers from the mostly student crowd.
They cheered everything. That’s what Gator Nation does when honoring a “championship.”
“This team won 36 games,” Golden told the crowd. “That's one of the best teams in the history of college basketball standing right there.”
no words.🥹
The crowd of several thousand erupted when senior point guard and NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Walter Clayton Jr.. declared, “Them Gator Boys are hot!” The energy soared even higher as Alex Condon and teammates danced to “Won’t Back Down,” the anthem that defined the Gators’ gritty 2024–25 season. That grit was on full display the night before.
Florida’s path to the title wasn’t easy. Facing a Houston squad that had won 18 straight and 31 of its last 32, the Gators were up against the nation’s top-ranked defense. The Cougars dictated tempo early, using aggressive ball screens and hard hedges to disrupt Clayton’s rhythm and shut down Florida’s transition game.
Houston turned it into a halfcourt slugfest—exactly the kind of battle they thrive in. But Florida didn’t flinch. They matched Houston’s physicality and, in the second half, outplayed them at their own game. Down by 12 with under 16 minutes remaining, the Gators locked in defensively, holding the Cougars scoreless for nine straight possessions. They clawed back, tying the game six times before Alijah Martin sank two clutch free throws with 46.5 seconds left to give Florida a 64–63 lead. Then came two unforgettable moments.
First, Will Richard stripped Houston’s Emanuel Sharp as he drove the lane. The ball ricocheted off Sharp and out of bounds. Denzel Aberdeen hit one of two free throws, extending the lead to two with 19.7 seconds remaining.
After a Houston timeout, LJ Cryer was smothered on the right wing and kicked the ball to Sharp at the top of the key. Sharp had a clean look for a three—but Clayton, who had been deep in the lane, launched himself toward Sharp with such speed that it rattled him. Sharp hesitated, tried to dribble, and was whistled for a violation.
"Walter Clayton made a defensive play!" UF associated head coach Carlin Hartman said. "Can you believe it?"
Walter Clayton Jr. (1) makes his championship-winning defensive play forcing Houston's Emanuel Sharp (21) into a turnover in the final seconds.
As the final seconds ticked away, UF forward Alex Condon pounced on the loose ball—sealing the win and igniting a celebration that crowned the Gators national champions. Can you believe it?
“Unbelievable focus,” said Alijah Martin, proudly wearing his national championship cap alongside teammates. “Last few minutes of the game, we had to dig in and get some stops to be champs. And now the hat fits.” Like a crown.
When the team returned to campus, they were welcomed like royalty—deservedly so. And with a few days to recharge, they’ll be ready to do it all again for Saturday’s Orange & Blue festivities.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
