NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Walter Clayton Jr. delayed his turn on the post-game ladder for the traditional net-cutting, choosing first to embrace teammates and pose for photos. Eventually, scissors in hand, he climbed up to claim his keepsake from above the Bridgestone Arena floor.

After finishing the ritual, the Florida guard — a first-team All-American and the team’s on-court leader — stepped down and delivered a line that resonated with Gator fans everywhere:

"Six more to go," Clayton said.

That message points toward the bigger journey ahead, as Florida (30-4), the No. 1 seed in the West Region, prepares to face Norfolk State (24-10) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

For now, though, Sunday was about celebration. On a confetti-covered court and later during a jubilant flight home, the Gators reveled in their 86–77 win over sixth-ranked Tennessee to capture the SEC Tournament championship. Clayton led the way with 22 points, including four three-pointers and clutch shots down the stretch, while four other teammates also reached double figures. True to the team’s season-long identity, it was another collective effort — a resilient performance in front of a Tennessee-heavy crowd that couldn’t shake Florida’s composure and determination.

Coach Todd Golden and the Gators on the post-game podium.

"Just incredibly proud of our program," said UF head coach Todd Golden, who became only the second coach in school history—joining Hall of Famer Billy Donovan—to lead the Gators to an SEC Tournament championship. He added, "They've done an incredible job all year just being coachable and unselfish. We knew early on in the year we had really good talent, but the thing that separates us is our unselfishness, our willingness to put the greater good of the program in front of ourselves."

That spirit was evident with the trophy at stake. Senior guards Will Richard and Alijah Martin contributed 17 and 10 points, respectively. Sophomore forward/center Alex Condon added 13 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore forward Thomas Haugh provided a spark off the bench with 11 points and six rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. Florida dominated the boards, out-rebounding Tennessee 39–25, including a 15–5 edge on the offensive end, and maintained composure against the Volunteers’ trademark physical play and a crowd largely in Tennessee’s favor, just 90 minutes from their campus.

Alijah Martin (15) does a pull-up on the rim after a late dunk on the Vols.

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes offered high praise for Florida’s roster depth and frontcourt strength.

"I think they've got the best front line in college basketball," Barnes said. "You look at their depth. Not many teams have that. They've used it well. I think those guys really understand what they need to do, how they need to play. They've got experience, but they've got quality depth. They're big, mobile, agile and do their jobs."

Despite shooting just 42.6 percent against the SEC’s top-rated defense (third nationally), the Gators attacked inside, drew fouls on key Volunteers players, and earned 28 trips to the free-throw line. They converted 89.3 percent overall, including 19 of 22 in the second half, when Tennessee (27–7) and its energized crowd pushed for a rally. Florida defended effectively (holding UT to 44.9 percent shooting) and matched the Vols’ own strong free-throw performance (21 of 25 after halftime) with enough decisive plays to secure a historic victory.

The win gave UF its fifth SEC Tournament championship (2005–07, 2014, and 2025) and marked the program’s first basketball title of any kind since the 2014 squad led by Scottie Wilbekin and Patric Young, which swept the regular season and tournament on its way to the Final Four.

This year’s team has its sights set on that same destination. The trajectory under head coach Todd Golden has been remarkable. In his first season, Florida finished 16–17 and exited the SEC Tournament after one game, settling for an NIT berth. Last year, the Gators went 24–12, reached the SEC Tournament final but fell to Auburn, then bowed out in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round. Now, in Golden’s third season, Florida has compiled more wins heading into NCAA play than any team in program history except the 2014 Final Four squad.

The senior leaders have been central to that rise.



"What makes it so special is just the journey from me and Coach's first year to what we've been able to do now," said Will Richard, the first player to commit to Golden back in 2022 when he arrived from the University of San Francisco. Sharing the podium with his coach on Sunday, Richard reflected: "It's a testament to all the work we've put in. It's good to see it come to fruition … and we know we've still got a lot more ball to play."

Will Richard (5) made three 3s and all eight of his free throws on the way to 17 points.

Florida entered the SEC championship determined to begin its next title pursuit with the conference crown secured, though the path included tense stretches along the way.

This was the third meeting between the Gators and Tennessee. The first clash came on Jan. 7 in Gainesville, when the Vols arrived unbeaten and ranked No. 1 nationally, only to suffer a 73–43 defeat — the largest loss for a top-ranked Associated Press team since 1968. The rematch on Feb. 1 in Knoxville flipped the script, with Tennessee winning 64–44, handing Florida its second-lowest scoring output in the 38-year shot-clock era.

That set the stage for a decisive third matchup, played at a “neutral” site that leaned heavily orange. Florida, riding a streak of six straight wins and 12 victories in its last 13 games, rose to the challenge against Tennessee’s defense, which led the SEC in points allowed (62.3 per game), opponent field-goal percentage (38.0), and opponent three-point percentage (28.0).

The Gators broke a 16–16 tie with a 16–4 surge late in the first half to build a 12-point lead. Tennessee trimmed the margin, but junior guard Denzel Aberdeen (9 points) drilled a deep three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to send Florida into the locker room ahead 39–30.

Early in the second half, Walter Clayton Jr. connected from long range to spark a 9–3 run, stretching the lead to 13 with 16 minutes remaining. Florida maintained that cushion until the 10-minute mark, when UT guard Jordan Gainey (who finished with a game-high 24 points) single-handedly scored eight straight to cut the deficit to five, igniting the crowd into a frenzy.

Walter Clayton Jr. (1) averaged 20.6 points and totaled 13 3-pointers in UF's wins over No. 21 Missouri, No. 5 Alabama and No. 6 Tennessee at the SEC Tournament this weekend. 

Will Richard, perfect at the line with an 8-for-8 performance, halted Tennessee’s momentum with a pair of free throws. Still, the Volunteers, led by point guard Zakai Zeigler’s 23 points, eight assists, and three steals, continued to push back, cutting the margin to five on three separate occasions. Each time, Florida responded:

• Walter Clayton Jr. with a three-pointer
• Clayton sinking two free throws
• Clayton hitting another three-pointer

With the lead at six, the Gators delivered what they call a “kill” — three straight defensive stops — and capitalized on each possession. Free throws, a three-pointer from Thomas Haugh, and two more from Richard completed an eight-point burst that stretched the advantage to a game-high 14 with four minutes remaining.

The final stretch became a battle at the free-throw line until Florida broke Tennessee’s full-court press. Alex Condon fired a pass to Haugh, who lofted an alley-oop that Alijah Martin finished with authority, sealing the win in emphatic fashion.

Celebration erupted on the Florida bench, highlighted by Associate Head Coach Carlin Hartman sharing an emotional embrace with junior center Micah Handlogten. The moment carried special meaning, as Handlogten had suffered a broken leg on the same floor during the 2024 title game. The two had wept together then, and this time they did so again — as champions.

"Ain't done yet!" Martin exclaimed, capturing the team’s mindset moving forward.

UF associate head coach Carlin Hartman and center Micah Handlogten share a championship moment. 

Any speculation about Florida possibly slipping from a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament was silenced with this victory. The Gators delivered their response — not through words, but through performance.

"Humbly, I don't think we have to say anything," Clayton remarked with a smile afterward.

Still, the journey continues, with six more wins needed to reach the ultimate goal.

"We're a hungry group and we know the main goal," Richard said. "This is definitely a motivator. Cutting down the nets is a great feeling, but we want to do it at the NCAA Tournament, as well."

For further details, contact senior writer Chris Harryat chrish@gators.ufl.edu