Florida heads back to Columbia on Wednesday night, looking to rewrite the script from its last trip to South Carolina-a game that ended in chaos, drama, and just enough late-game magic to steal a win. Gator fans will remember Will Richard’s game-winning layup with five seconds left, a clutch moment that capped a wild finish and gave Florida a 70-69 victory. But for all the excitement at the end, the overall performance left plenty to be desired.
That night, South Carolina came in just 10-8 overall and winless in SEC play. And yet, Florida trailed for most of the second half, needing another miracle comeback to escape.
The Gators shot just 33% from beyond the arc and struggled to assert themselves in a game they were expected to control. It was a recurring theme last season-digging a hole, then scrambling out of it late.
What’s more telling now? Three players who struggled in that game-Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu-are all starters this season.
Condon logged 31 minutes and scored just five points. Haugh added only two in 25 minutes.
Chinyelu? Two points in 17 minutes.
That trio is now tasked with anchoring the Gators' frontcourt, and their performance could be the difference between a solid road win and another frustrating night away from Gainesville.
Because here’s the reality: Florida has not been the same team outside the O’Dome. Losses to Arizona, TCU, Duke, UConn, and in the SEC opener at Missouri have exposed a team that struggles to find its rhythm on the road.
And when the paint gets clogged-like it did against Auburn-Florida’s offense grinds to a halt. The Gators are shooting just 28.5% from three this season, so relying on perimeter shots to bail them out isn’t a winning formula.
That puts the pressure squarely on the frontcourt. If Florida can establish itself inside early and control the glass, it can avoid falling into the same trap it has so many times before-playing down to the level of its opponent. South Carolina may sit near the bottom of the SEC standings, but they’ve shown fight, pushing Auburn and Georgia in competitive games.
This matchup is less about the Gamecocks and more about which version of Florida shows up. If the Gators want to be taken seriously in the SEC race, they can’t afford another sluggish road performance. And this time, they won’t have Will Richard to bail them out at the buzzer.
The message is clear: dominate the paint, take care of business early, and leave Columbia with a win that looks as good in the box score as it does on film.