Florida Gators Slide to No. 23 in AP Poll, But There's Reason for Optimism
The Florida Gators have taken another dip in the latest AP Poll, now sitting at No. 23 in the country. At 6-4, they’ve already matched last season’s loss total - a season, mind you, that ended with a national championship. But while the record and ranking might suggest a team in trouble, a closer look reveals a group that could be on the verge of a serious turnaround.
Let’s start with what’s gone wrong. Guard play has been a thorn in Florida’s side, with Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee giving the Gators fits on both ends of the floor. Combine that with Florida’s struggles from beyond the arc - they’ve been ice-cold from three-point range - and it’s no surprise this team hasn’t hit its stride yet.
But context matters, and Florida’s early-season schedule has been no joke. Three of those four losses came against Arizona, Duke, and UConn - all top-seven teams in the KenPom rankings.
And in each of those matchups, Florida had a real shot to win inside the final minute. That’s not the mark of a team that’s outclassed - that’s a team that’s knocking on the door.
The only real blemish is the loss to TCU, currently 63rd in KenPom. That one stings a bit more. But even with that, Florida still ranks 13th overall in KenPom - a sign that the underlying numbers like what this team is doing, even if the win-loss column doesn’t reflect it yet.
Tonight’s game against St. Francis offers a chance to breathe.
The Red Flash come in ranked 361st out of 365 Division I teams in KenPom, and Florida is favored by a staggering 45 points. This is the kind of matchup where the Gators can open up the bench, get some rhythm, and maybe see a few of those elusive threes finally drop.
St. Francis was blown out 89-56 by Radford last week - that gives you a sense of just how lopsided this one could be.
But the real story is what comes after.
Florida’s next seven opponents all rank below them in KenPom. And with the SEC looking a bit more open this year - not quite the gauntlet it’s been in seasons past - the Gators won’t face another team ranked above them in KenPom until a January 17 showdown with Vanderbilt, who currently sits at No. 10.
That’s a seven-game stretch where Florida will be favored - not just on paper, but by the metrics. It’s a window of opportunity. A chance to build momentum, stack wins, and rebuild the confidence that’s been shaken by a tough early slate.
If this team can find a way to knock down threes at even a league-average clip, things could flip fast. The defense has held up against elite competition, and the offense - while streaky - has shown flashes.
There’s talent here. There’s depth.
And there’s still time.
Don’t be surprised if the Gators go on a tear. A ten-game win streak isn’t out of the question.
It starts with taking care of business against St. Francis - but the real test will be whether Florida can turn a favorable schedule into a springboard for the rest of the season.