Florida basketball didn’t just bounce back last week - they made a statement. After a tough home loss, the Gators responded with two of their most dominant performances of the season, steamrolling South Carolina on the road and then dismantling a ranked Alabama squad in Gainesville.
The result? A 2-0 week in SEC play, a pair of eye-popping blowouts, and a well-earned climb in the AP Top 25, moving from No. 19 to No.
Let’s start with Wednesday night in Columbia. Florida didn’t just beat South Carolina - they tied a program record for the largest SEC victory in school history, matching a 47-point win from 1993. The 95-48 final wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about how they got there.
The Gators came out locked in, jumping to an 18-8 lead before uncorking a 15-0 run that effectively shut the door early. That stretch was Florida’s biggest unanswered scoring run in SEC play this season, and their second-largest overall. They were surgical in the first half, hitting 10 straight field goals and entering the break up by 28.
The ball movement was next-level. Florida racked up 28 assists - the most they’ve recorded in an SEC game in the last 30 years.
Not since a 2007 matchup with NC Central had they posted more in any game. Xaivian Lee led the passing clinic with a season-high nine assists, Alex Condon tied his career-best with eight, and Boogie Fland chipped in six.
That trio made a bit of history - it was the first time since December 2000 that three Gators each had six or more assists in the same game.
Thomas Haugh paced five Gators in double figures, scoring 18 points and knocking down three triples. He’s now hit a three in 16 straight games, adding another layer to his offensive versatility.
After the game, head coach Todd Golden praised his team’s response. “We had a tough loss on Saturday… this was an opportunity for our guys to prove that we can respond the right way,” Golden said. “One of our best defensive and rebounding efforts combined all year.”
Then came Sunday, and with it, a marquee matchup against Alabama - one that had a little extra juice thanks to some pregame chatter between Golden and Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats. But once the ball tipped, it was all Florida.
The Gators blitzed Alabama 100-77, riding a relentless attack in the paint and a suffocating defensive effort that turned the game into a rout. Florida outscored Alabama 72-26 in the paint - yes, you read that right - and posted a staggering 25-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
Rueben Chinyelu was an absolute force inside, finishing with 14 points and 17 rebounds for his 13th double-double of the season. Boogie Fland was everywhere - 15 points, eight assists, and eight steals, tying a program record set by Clifford Lett back in 1989. Fland’s impact went far beyond the box score, but the numbers speak for themselves.
Alex Condon led all scorers with 25 points, while Haugh followed up his strong performance in Columbia with 22 more in Gainesville.
And the Gators didn’t just dominate - they did it in waves. A 16-0 run that started late in the first half carried into a 12-0 burst to open the second, holding Alabama scoreless for more than seven minutes of game time. That kind of sustained defensive intensity is rare, especially against a team as explosive as the Tide.
Golden credited his staff, particularly Carlin Hartman, for crafting a sharp game plan that took away Alabama’s catch-and-shoot opportunities and forced them into uncomfortable spots. “When we’re at our best, our defense and our rebounding is leading to our offense,” Golden said. “One of our coaches said we got 11 straight stops coming out of halftime, which against that team is absolutely fantastic.”
Now sitting at No. 17 in the country and riding the momentum of a dominant week, Florida gets a brief breather before heading to College Station for a Saturday night showdown with Texas A&M. If the Gators bring the same energy and execution, they’ll be a tough out for anyone in the SEC - or beyond.