Coach Todd Godlen (left) and the Florida bench hopes to be rejoicing again Saturday night in the Elite Eight like they were during Thursday's win over Maryland in the Sweet 16.
SAN FRANCISCO – A Scenic Pause for the Gators. Following a 20-minute police-escorted ride, the Florida Gators’ team bus veered off Geary Boulevard and turned onto Point Lobos Avenue. As it descended the steep incline, the players were greeted by a breathtaking view: rugged California cliffs meeting the vast Pacific Ocean.
The dramatic coastal scene immediately drew reactions from the team.
"Whoa, bro!" exclaimed Will Richard. "That's lit!"
Indeed, it was. Moments later, the University of Florida basketball squad stepped off the bus and made their way to the expansive beach near Lands End Lookout. Thomas Haugh quickly removed his slides and jogged solo toward the shoreline, soaking in the view and stepping into the waves.
"I love the ocean," Haugh shared.
For roughly half an hour, the team engaged in their third “grounding” activity of the trip—a wellness practice incorporated by UF’s strength and conditioning coordinator to counteract the effects of long travel, time zone shifts, and disrupted sleep. These brief excursions, where players connect physically with the earth, are inspired by the concept that direct contact with natural surfaces may help stabilize mood, health, and energy through the Earth’s electrical field.
So far, the approach has been effective.
"We're undefeated when we ground," UF coach Todd Golden said.
The mission remains clear for the Gators: keep the momentum alive through Saturday night. Florida, the top seed with a 33-4 record and riding an eight-game winning streak, is set to face third-seeded Texas Tech (28-8) in the NCAA West Region final at Chase Center. On Thursday, UF began the day with a grounding session and capped it by outlasting fourth-seeded Maryland in the “Sweet 16.” Texas Tech followed with a dramatic comeback, erasing a 16-point second-half deficit—and a 13-point gap in the final five minutes—to edge 10-seed Arkansas 85-83 in overtime.
Now it’s on to the “Elite Eight,” where Florida is firmly focused on the challenge ahead. Texas Tech, ranked ninth in the final Associated Press poll, enters with the nation’s fifth-ranked offense. The stakes couldn’t be higher: a coveted spot in next week’s Final Four in San Antonio is on the line.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
"Texas Tech is a really good team," senior All-America point guard Walter Clayton Jr. said. "They got two great bigs and they can shoot it."
UF first-team All-America guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1)
Florida appears well-equipped to respond with both depth and resilience. The fourth-ranked Gators ultimately wore down the 10th-ranked Terrapins, whose “Crab Five” starters have logged heavy minutes all season. Texas Tech, similarly, leans heavily on its core rotation. In their overtime win against Arkansas, four Red Raiders played at least 37 minutes, including Christian Peterson (22 points, three 3-pointers) and point guard Elijah Hawkins (4 points, 5 assists, 5 turnovers), who played 44 and 45 minutes, respectively.
Tech’s offense runs through standout forwards JT Toppin, a second-team All-America sophomore averaging 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds, and junior Darrion Williams, who contributes 14.8 points per game. The team is also hoping for the return of fifth-year guard Chance McMillian, a 43% shooter from beyond the arc, who has missed four games due to an oblique injury. Though expected to suit up against Arkansas, McMillian was ultimately sidelined.
"We were planning on dressing him out and when we got to the arena, he just came to me and said he couldn't do it," said Tech head coach Grant McCasland.
On Florida’s side, sophomore forward Alex Condon—standing 6-foot-11 and leading the team in rebounds while ranking fourth in scoring—briefly exited the Maryland game after aggravating a right ankle injury that had previously sidelined him for four games. He returned in the second half and played through the pain, albeit not at full capacity.
Condon received additional treatment, spent the night using a Game-Ready ice-compression device, and wore a protective boot throughout Friday—except for a brief beach walk where he submerged the ankle in 55-degree ocean water, noting reduced swelling. He skipped Friday’s team practice.
"I feel like I'll be ready to go for [Saturday]," said Condon. His presence, whether starting or coming off the bench, could offer a key advantage against a Tech squad whose tallest regulars are the 6-9 Toppin and 6-6 Williams. "We'll see how it goes, but that's the plan as of right now."
Sophomore forward Alex Condon (21), averaging 10.9 points and team-best 7.7 rebounds, returned from an ankle sprain Thursday to finish with six points and four rebounds.
How Alex Condon responds during Saturday morning’s shoot-around will be pivotal—either confirming his readiness or prompting a shift in Florida’s game plan. Before that walkthrough, the team will engage in another grounding session at Bayfront Park, located just across from Chase Center and overlooking the Central Basin of San Francisco Bay.
The Gators previously gathered at the same spot Thursday, roughly eight hours before their decisive win over Maryland. Grounding has become a ritual—one that seems to be working. With Texas Tech standing between Florida and a Final Four berth, the stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Veteran guard Alijah Martin, who helped Florida Atlantic win an Elite Eight matchup two years ago, plans to share some wisdom with his teammates ahead of tip-off. On Friday, he offered a glimpse of his message.
"Stay humble," Martin said. "Treat it like another basketball game, don't get too amped, too rowdy, or so anxious or too inside yourself. Stay level-headed through all of it. It's a long game, a lot will happen, but we'll be ready for it."
After Thursday’s Sweet 16 triumph, the team bus returned to the hotel. Head coach Todd Golden rose from his seat, walked to the back, addressed his players, and closed with the familiar “Gators on 3!”—but added a powerful reminder:
"Don't let the dream season die!"
If all goes according to plan, Florida will be grounding again next week—this time in San Antonio.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
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