Florida men’s basketball bounced back in a big way on Friday, taking down Providence 90-78 and shaking off the sting of a tough loss to TCU just 24 hours earlier in the Rady Children’s Invitational. This wasn’t just a win-it was a response. And it was the kind of performance that showed what this Gators team can look like when the guard play clicks and the offense flows.
Head coach Todd Golden made it clear after the TCU game that the team let one slip. Up double digits late, Florida couldn’t close, and it cost them.
But against Providence, the Gators flipped the script. They tightened up the ball security, found rhythm in the halfcourt, and leaned on their depth-especially with big man Alex Condon sidelined.
Let’s break down what changed and how Florida turned the page.
A Turnaround in the Backcourt
The most immediate difference? Ball control.
Golden stressed two points heading into this one: take care of the basketball and defend without fouling. Florida didn’t go two-for-two, but they nailed the first one.
After coughing the ball up four times in the opening minutes, the Gators settled in and committed just four more turnovers the rest of the way. That kind of discipline completely changed the game’s tempo and allowed Florida’s offense to stretch its legs. The guards were locked in-making smart decisions, limiting mistakes, and finding open looks.
Xaivian Lee led the way with 20 points and looked every bit like the player Florida hoped he’d be when he arrived this summer. His shot finally started falling, but more importantly, he stayed composed through the slump. Golden praised Lee’s effort on the defensive end and on the glass, noting that the sophomore earned his minutes by doing the little things even when the scoring wasn’t there.
On Friday, the scoring showed up-and it made a big difference.
Depth Steps Up Without Condon
With Alex Condon unavailable, Florida didn’t just survive-they thrived thanks to a balanced attack. Five players hit double figures, and the backcourt trio of Lee, Walter Clayton Jr.
(Boogie), and Urban Klavzar (Urby) combined for 55 points and 11 made threes. That’s the kind of production that can carry a team through a tough stretch of the schedule.
Golden credited the guard play for setting the tone, and he’s right. When the ball is moving and the guards are hitting shots, Florida’s offense opens up in a big way. The Gators didn’t need one guy to dominate-this was a team win, built on smart, systematic basketball.
Klavzar, in particular, continues to emerge as a key piece off the bench. He’s getting more comfortable with each game and is starting to make consistently good decisions with the ball. Golden noted that when the guards play like this, Florida becomes a very tough team to beat-especially when paired with a frontcourt that’s already proven it can hold its own.
Raising the Ceiling
Lee’s breakout performance may have been the headline, but the bigger story is how Florida responded as a unit. After a tough loss, this team didn’t sulk-they adjusted. They cleaned up the turnovers, got back to their identity, and executed.
That kind of resilience matters, especially early in the season. It’s not just about wins and losses in November and December-it’s about building habits that translate in March.
Golden’s message to his team is clear: do the things that don’t require talent-defend, rebound, take care of the ball-and the offense will come. On Friday, it did. And if this is the version of Florida that shows up consistently, they’re going to be a factor in the SEC and beyond.
This was more than just a bounce-back win. It was a glimpse of what this team can be when the pieces come together.