Florida’s First-Round Performance: Fast Start, Defensive Concerns Florida came out blazing against Norfolk State, building a commanding 32-point lead late in the first half. However, a lapse in focus allowed the Spartans to close the period with five consecutive made field goals and four Florida turnovers, resulting in an 11-0 run that shifted the tone heading into halftime. This brief breakdown—despite Florida’s rare status as a team ranked in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive efficiency—is likely to be a key area of emphasis for Coach Todd Golden and his staff, especially with a high-caliber opponent like UConn up next.

The Gators set a new program benchmark with 53 first-half points in NCAA Tournament play. They finished the game shooting 48.3%, connected on 10 of 32 three-point attempts (31.3%), and dished out 20 assists. Still, defensive lapses were evident, as Norfolk State shot nearly 46% overall and scored 48 points in the paint. In the second half, NSU hit 50% from the field, going just 1-for-6 from beyond the arc but converting 14 of 24 two-point attempts (58.3%).

Coach Todd Golden joined an exclusive group, becoming only the eighth head coach to win his NCAA Tournament debut as a No. 1 seed.

Clayton’s Consistency and Tournament History Walter Clayton Jr., a First-Team All-America selection at point guard, led all scorers with 23 points—16 of which came in the first half, including four made threes. He’s averaging 21.3 points per game in the postseason, shooting 49% from the field and 48.6% from three-point range (17-for-35), while converting 88.8% of his free throws (16-for-18). Clayton has now hit at least one three-pointer in 57 consecutive games.

This upcoming matchup marks Clayton’s second NCAA Tournament appearance against UConn. As a sophomore at Iona—where he earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors—Clayton faced the Huskies in the first round in Albany, New York. Iona led by two at halftime before UConn surged in the second half to win 87-63. Clayton finished with 15 points, three made threes, and four assists.

Supporting Cast Contributions Alijah Martin, who previously won four NCAA Tournament games with Florida Atlantic, added his fifth with a 17-point outing on 5-of-10 shooting, including two three-pointers. Will Richard struggled from the field (1-for-6, all from three), but contributed with four rebounds and five assists. Together, the trio of Clayton, Martin, and Richard combined for 48 points against Norfolk State, nearly matching their average of 51.7 points per game during Florida’s three-game run to the SEC Tournament title.

Frontcourt Impact Alex Condon chipped in 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Rueben Chinyelu added six points and eight boards, while 7-foot-1 reserve Micah Handlogten (2.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg) matched those numbers in just 17 minutes of action. Thomas Haugh (9.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg) was perfect on his two-point attempts (4-for-4), missed all five threes, and finished with 13 points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Junior guard Denzel Aberdeen scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds, and hit his only three-point attempt. Florida is now 21-0 in games where Aberdeen makes a three.

  Now in his seventh year at the helm, Dan Hurley has accomplished a rare feat in college basketball. In his fifth and sixth seasons, he led Connecticut to back-to-back NCAA titles—something only Mike Krzyzewski (in his 12th season at Duke) and Billy Donovan (in his 11th at Florida) had previously done. The Huskies compiled a 68-11 record across those two championship runs, capturing the 2023 title as a No. 4 seed and following it up with a 2024 championship as a No. 1 seed.

Their recent 67-59 victory over Oklahoma marked UConn’s 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament win, tying the 64-team era record set by Duke from 1991 to 1993. They’ll aim to break that streak against Florida. This season, the Huskies placed third in the Big East with a 14-6 conference record, finishing behind St. John's and Creighton. While they had ranked in KenPom.com’s top 10 for both offensive and defensive efficiency the past two years, their metrics dipped in 2024–25—particularly on defense.

Offensively, UConn operates at a deliberate pace but remains effective. They rank 28th nationally in effective field-goal percentage, converting 57.3% of their two-point attempts (15th in the country) and 35.1% from beyond the arc (106th). On defense, they’re formidable inside the arc, allowing opponents to shoot just 45.8% on twos (11th nationally), bolstered by the nation’s second-best shot-blocking rate at 17.7%. However, they’ve struggled to defend the perimeter, ranking 256th in three-point defense (34.6%). That vulnerability could present an opportunity for Florida—if they can capitalize on open looks.

Connecticut primarily relies on an eight-player rotation, anchored by a physically dominant backup center in Tarris Reed Jr. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Michigan transfer contributes 9.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, offering a strong interior presence off the bench.

Additional depth comes from forward Jaylin Stewart, who averages 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds, and guard Aidan Mahaney, a transfer from Saint Mary's, who adds 4.5 points per contest. Both are expected to see meaningful minutes in the rotation.