Coming off a tough stretch from beyond the arc, Florida junior forward Alex Condon didn’t let a shooting slump define him. Instead, he doubled down on what makes him a difference-maker-and the results were nothing short of spectacular.
Ahead of Sunday’s statement win over Alabama, assistant coach Carlin Hartman pulled Condon aside with a message that hit home: don’t let the missed threes shake your identity. “The 3-point shot is just not falling, but don’t worry about it.
Don’t let it affect what you do well,” Hartman told him. Condon took that to heart-and then he went out and played one of the most complete games we’ve seen from anyone in the SEC this season.
In Florida’s 100-77 blowout of the Crimson Tide, the 6-foot-11 forward from Perth, Australia, turned in a stat line that would make even seasoned pros take notice: 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks-and not a single turnover. That’s not just efficient; it’s historic.
Condon became the first SEC player this century to hit all those marks in a single game. Unsurprisingly, he walked away with Co-SEC Player of the Week honors, sharing the spotlight with Texas A&M’s Rashaun Agee.
Late in the game, as he headed to the bench, Condon shared a heartfelt embrace with head coach Todd Golden-his head resting on Golden’s shoulder in a moment that felt like both relief and redemption.
“Today he looked like a first-team All-American,” Golden said. “25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, no turnovers, two blocks, and two steals. That’s a hell of a ballgame, man.”
It was Condon’s best scoring output since he dropped 25 on North Florida back in November, and just two points shy of his career-high-also against Alabama, nearly a year ago to the day. The timing couldn’t have been better, especially after his one-point outing against Auburn on January 24, a performance that raised eyebrows and sparked questions about his consistency.
But Golden never wavered in his belief. When asked about Condon’s up-and-down performances, the Gators’ head coach didn’t flinch.
“I think he just had one bad game against Auburn. I think he was awesome before that,” Golden said.
“Anytime something negative happens-whether it’s a loss, or somebody doesn’t shoot well-that becomes the focus. So we talked to Alex about, ‘Hey, listen, you’ve been awesome all year.
Don’t let one game affect your mentality.’”
Golden’s confidence has been backed by the numbers. Condon has taken a noticeable leap this season, improving in nearly every statistical category from his sophomore campaign.
He’s averaging 3.2 more points per game, dishing out 1.5 more assists, and has bumped his free-throw percentage by nearly four points. Before the Auburn game, he had posted double-digit scoring in nine straight contests-a far cry from last season, when his longest such streak was just three games.
The one area where he’s taken a step back? The three-point shot.
After hitting 32.8% from deep last season, Condon is connecting at just 13.6% this year. And that drop-off has changed the way teams defend him.
Instead of pressing up on the perimeter, defenders are sagging off, daring him to shoot and clogging the paint.
That kind of defensive shift can mess with a player’s confidence, especially in a game where mental toughness matters just as much as physical ability. Golden acknowledged that during his weekly media session ahead of Florida’s matchup with South Carolina, noting that he needed to do a better job putting Condon in spots where he could thrive-even when teams lay off him at the arc.
Whatever tweaks Golden made, they worked. Against Alabama, Condon looked like a player in full control-calm, confident, and deliberate.
He didn’t force shots. He let the game come to him.
And when Alabama’s Amari Allen tried to attack the rim in transition, Condon delivered the moment of the night: a chase-down block that sent the crowd into a frenzy and Condon sprawling to the floor.
But it’s not just the defense or the scoring that makes Condon such a unique piece for Florida-it’s the passing. Over his last two games, he’s racked up 14 assists, tying teammate Boogie Fland for the most in the SEC during that stretch.
For a big man, Condon’s court vision is elite. He sees the floor like a guard and consistently puts teammates in position to score.
Even when the outside shot isn’t falling, he’s finding ways to impact the game. He’s embraced his role, leaned into his strengths, and shown exactly why Golden has kept the faith.
“I’m not sure you could ask for anything more out of him,” Golden said. “I thought he was decisive and played with great physicality.”
Condon’s performance against Alabama wasn’t just a bounce-back-it was a blueprint. A reminder that even when one part of your game isn’t clicking, there are still plenty of ways to dominate.
And if Condon keeps playing like this? Florida’s ceiling just got a whole lot higher.