The Florida Gators men's basketball team is riding high with a six-game SEC winning streak, but Coach Todd Golden is hungry for more. The Gators, currently leading the league with a 20-6 record and 11-2 in the SEC, have won 11 of their last 12 games. As they gear up for a matchup against Ole Miss, the focus is on maintaining momentum and building a program that thrives in March.
Golden, speaking on “Gator Talk,” emphasized that the team isn’t resting on its laurels. “We are trying to continue to build this program to where the expectation is deep runs in March,” he remarked. “We are definitely not satisfied.”
The Gators have faced a challenging schedule, ranked as the fifth toughest in the nation. Early losses to powerhouses like Arizona, TCU, Duke, and UConn exposed areas for improvement, but tackling these issues head-on has set the stage for their current success.
During their winning streak, Florida has been shooting lights out, with a 50.3% field goal percentage compared to their opponents' 35.9%. Urban Klavzar has been a standout, nailing nearly 47% of his three-point attempts.
Golden attributes this improvement to time and team chemistry. “It takes a little bit to get comfortable playing together,” he explained.
The Gators have also been learning to play as a cohesive unit, highlighting each other’s strengths. This teamwork has been crucial, as evidenced by Xaivian Lee being named SEC Player of the Week-the fourth Gator to earn the honor this season.
The team's versatility is a major asset. “You really don’t know who it’s going to be on a given night,” Golden noted.
“If you are trying to take away one certain guy, other guys are able to step up.”
With five games remaining in the regular season, the Gators are focused on the immediate challenge of facing Ole Miss. The Rebels, who recently lost to Texas A&M, present a tough matchup with senior transfers AJ Storr, Ilias Kamardine, and Malik Dia. However, Golden sees opportunities, citing the Rebels' struggles with team cohesion.
“All the great feeling about where we are and what’s in front of us might not be there if we don’t take care of business on Saturday,” Golden said. For the Gators, it’s all about staying present and taking it one game at a time.