Florida’s Three-Point Woes Could Be the One Thing Standing Between Them and a Repeat Title Run
The Florida Gators have the look of a team built to contend deep into March. They’ve rattled off 10 wins in their last 12 games, including a trio of victories over ranked SEC opponents. They’re the defending national champions, and on paper, they’ve got the kind of talent and experience that makes you believe they could do it again.
But there’s one glaring issue that could derail it all - and it’s not a minor one.
Florida is struggling mightily from beyond the arc. And not just in a “they’ve had a few off nights” kind of way.
We’re talking about a team that currently ranks 344th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage. That’s near the bottom of Division I basketball, and it’s a stat that’s starting to loom larger as we inch closer to tournament time.
Former North Carolina standout and current Field of 68 analyst John Henson didn’t mince words when breaking it down.
"This team is one of the best in the country, and they're 344th in three-point percentage," Henson said. "We keep saying maybe the ball will start going in eventually.
But I mean, damn, it's January. It might be February.
Are you going to hit shots or not?"
It’s a fair question - and a critical one.
Florida isn’t completely devoid of perimeter threats. Urban Klavzar is knocking down 37.1% of his threes, and Thomas Haugh is a respectable 34.8%.
But outside of those two, the Gators just aren’t getting enough consistent shooting from deep. And when the postseason hits, that can be a fatal flaw.
We’ve seen it before. Teams with size, defensive grit, and athleticism fall short in March because they can’t stretch the floor.
When opponents pack the paint and dare you to shoot, you’ve got to make them pay. If you can’t, it’s lights out - no matter how talented the rest of the roster is.
Henson also pointed to another area of concern: the backcourt.
“They’ve got to shoot the ball better,” he said. “And like Jerel [McNeal] said: that backcourt’s too inconsistent.
There are some dog backcourts out there that are going to sit on that. And I love the bigs as much as anyone else.
But if you’ve got the backcourt not giving you production at the highest level when it’s time to really go get it, it’s going to be a long night.”
That inconsistency in the backcourt is especially troubling given how important guard play becomes in March. Bigs can anchor a team, but guards win games in the tournament. You need poise, shot creation, and yes - the ability to knock down threes under pressure.
This year’s Gators already have six losses on the season - two more than they had during their 36-4 championship run last year. And perhaps more telling?
That 2025 squad ranked 82nd in the country in three-point percentage. Not elite, but certainly good enough to keep defenses honest and open up the floor.
This year, it’s a different story. And at this stage of the season, there’s no guarantee that story gets a rewrite.
Florida’s got the pedigree. They’ve got the talent.
They’ve got the momentum. But if they don’t start hitting shots from deep - and soon - all of that might not be enough to carry them through another title run.