From left: Micah Handlogten, Alex Kovatchev, Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh during Monday's first practice of the '25-26 season.
Champions Reset: Florida Reloads with Ruthless Intent
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ahead of the 2025–26 season, the Florida men's basketball team gathered at Coach Todd Golden’s home to watch the SEC Network documentary Repeat After Us, which revisits the Gators’ historic back-to-back national titles in 2006 and ’07.
The viewing wasn’t about inspiration—it was about insight.
“It’s tricky, because unlike 20 years ago we don’t have our whole starting five back,” Golden said Monday. “On a macro level, our goal is to win again, but with this team, specifically, we’re not talking a lot about repeating. We are talking about doing everything we can to play deep into March.”
That’s what Florida did six months ago. And it’s what this new group—who hit the court Monday afternoon for their first official fall practice—aims to do again.
The Gators return three players who logged starter-level minutes last season, along with four more scholarship athletes who contributed during the regular season and helped cut down nets after a 36–4 campaign that delivered the program’s third NCAA championship—and first in nearly two decades.
Senior writer Chris Harry
Gone are the perimeter anchors of that title run: Walter Clayton Jr, Will Richard, and Alijah Martin. But Florida brings back a four-man frontcourt rotation widely considered among the deepest and most talented in the nation, plus two high-profile transfer guards to round out the backcourt.
With so many changes, the idea of “repeating” doesn’t quite apply.
“Coach talked to us about not being focused on repeating. That’s a word I think that dwells in the past a bit,” said junior center
Alex Condon, a third-team All-SEC selection in 2025 who passed on an NBA opportunity to return. “It’s going to take a lot for this team to go all the way, but I think we have the capability to do it.”
Junior forward Alex Condon throws down during scrimmaging Monday.
Florida enters the 2025–26 season with a wealth of experience, especially in the frontcourt. Three projected starters—Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, and Thomas Haugh—each averaged at least 19 minutes per game last year and are expected to take on even larger roles. Senior center Micah Handlogten,, now stronger and more physically refined, will come off the bench but play significant minutes—starter-level impact in a reserve role.
The backcourt has been retooled with the arrival of transfer guards Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton), both expected to contribute immediately. Returnees Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown will also see expanded, more clearly defined roles. The rest of the rotation will take shape over the next six weeks of practice.
Florida opens its season on Nov. 3 against Arizona in Las Vegas. Don’t be surprised if the Gators appear near the top of the Associated Press preseason poll or are picked to win the SEC—something they haven’t done since 2014.
Last season, Florida debuted at No. 21 and was projected to finish sixth in the conference. This year, the narrative has flipped.
From hunters to hunted.
“It’s college basketball. At this level, there’s a lot of pressure, in general,” Haugh said. “Obviously, [repeating is] going to be in the back of our minds, but I think this team’s mature enough and confident enough to move on to the next year, and we’re going to go out there and show it.”
Strategic Shifts in Staff Leadership
During Florida’s postseason run last March, two key assistants—Kevin Hovde and John Andrzejek—accepted head coaching roles at Columbia and Campbell, respectively.
Hovde had served as the offensive coordinator, helping the Gators climb to No. 2 nationally in offensive efficiency. Andrzejek, in his debut season as defensive coordinator, oversaw a dramatic leap from No. 94 to No. 6 in defensive metrics.
With both now departed, Todd Golden will take the lead on offensive planning, supported by the broader coaching staff—including Kevin Olsen, recently appointed director of basketball strategy and analytics.
Dave Klatsky
On the defensive side, newly promoted assistant Jonathan Safir and newcomer Dave Klatsky (formerly of NYU) will share responsibilities.
“I think those guys, specifically, will be tasked with making sure we’re on target for where we are and what we need to do,” Golden said. “The good thing about defense is there is some technicality to it, but it is a lot more about effort and enthusiasm and about being physical and playing hard. I think those guys will do a good job on that side of the ball.”
Versatile Forward, Elevated Role
Standing 6-foot-9 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Thomas Haugh is set to start at small forward—a position held almost exclusively by Will Richard over the past three seasons. Though Haugh started just five games last year, he logged more minutes than any other frontcourt player, averaging 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds.
With Haugh shifting to the wing, Florida will regularly deploy three of its four elite big men, creating one of the most aggressive rebounding units in the country—and one of the most energetic front lines.
But how will Haugh adapt to the perimeter responsibilities, especially the shooting demands of the “3” spot?
“Tommy has proven the ability to be a good wing. He knows how to shake up and get a catch and shoot. He knows how to get downhill going right,” said head coach Todd Golden. “Really good basketball players kind of figure it out, and he’s one of those guys, and we still have the ability to play him at the [‘4’] when we want to get ‘Condo’ some rest. He’s an elite playmaker in the middle of the floor. And my hope is, offensively, we’ll take care of the ball really well this year with this group, and we should be elite on the offensive glass. He just allows us to continue to raise our floor with this specific team.”
Since arriving in Gainesville in summer 2023, Haugh has drawn comparisons to Chandler Parsons—thanks to his frame, athleticism, instincts, and skill set. Unlike Parsons, who took time to find his rhythm, Haugh has consistently embraced every role assigned to him and is well ahead of that developmental curve.
“I’m going to embrace it,” Haugh said.
He’s already shown significant growth, boosting his free-throw percentage from 46.7% to 79.4 and his three-point accuracy from 25.5% to 34.0 between his freshman and sophomore seasons. Now entering year three, he’s aiming for another leap.
Dual Threat at the Point
Heading into the season, Boogie Fland is projected to lead Florida’s offense as the primary point guard—“PG1,” as it’s often called. Despite battling injuries last year at Arkansas, he averaged 13.5 points and finished second in the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio.
But don’t overlook Xaivian Lee, whose passing ability drew high praise from head coach Todd Golden: “He’s fantastic.” Lee’s combination of playmaking and shot creation adds a dynamic layer to Florida’s revamped offensive scheme.
Last season, both guards averaged over five assists per game at their previous programs—more than any Florida point guard has posted in the past five years.
“With him playing off the ball, we want to get him in positions where he’s a decision-maker and a playmaker,” Golden said of Lee. “So you want to get him there whether it’s a [dribble handoff] action or you let him bring it up, let him play over a ball screen, where he’s getting downhill, going to his right hand. He’s very capable as a playmaker going left or right as well. Honestly, one of his best talents is his ability to play-make both ways, but my point is that we just need to get him into positions where he can make plays. And so, getting him downhill to his right hand off some different actions that we can run with Boogie starting the offense will be really good for us and make teams guard both sides of the floor.”
Two years ago, Micah Handlogten started 32 of 33 games while weighing between 230–235 pounds. Now up to 260, he’s moving better than ever. “He’s playing great and is as healthy as he’s been in a long time,” said head coach Todd Golden.
Florida has two closed scrimmages lined up for the preseason: one on Oct. 18 vs. Florida International at the O’Dome, and another on Oct. 25 in Orlando against Illinois, a team projected to be in the national top 20.
Last Friday, several hundred gathered at the Alachua County Sports and Event Center at Celebration Pointe for a special reunion honoring UF basketball alumni, coaches, and staff dating back to the early 1960s. Among the attendees: Hall-of-Fame coach Lon Kruger and former standouts Andy Owens, Chip Williams, Andrew Moten, Stacey Poole, Craig Brown, Dan Cross, Eddie Shannon, Patric Young—and Gator all-time scoring leader Vernon Maxwell, whose records were reinstated ahead of his emotional return to the program.
“I think it was a long time coming and a great opportunity for us to get one of our best alums back involved in the program,” Golden said. “Now, understandably, a relationship with a Gator great that was a little frayed prior to this past weekend is back. Anytime you can say that it’s a huge win.”
Credit goes to former player and longtime supporter Bill Koss for organizing the first-of-its-kind event.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
