Todd Golden walked out of Thursday’s practice looking like a coach who’s already been through the storm and come out the other side. New haircut, contract extension in hand, and a roster that looks every bit the part of a heavyweight, Florida’s coach sounded far more comfortable than he did a year ago.
That’s what happens after a national championship.
“We’re gonna have a lot of expectations. But we’re not as worried about it this year.”
Golden and the Gators reached the top in 2025 during his third season, and now the pressure that came with that climb has shifted into something else entirely: expectation. Florida is back with four starters, including frontcourt standouts Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, and it enters the season as the presumptive preseason No.
- With that kind of talent, experience and a $25 million roster price tag, anything short of another title would feel like a letdown.
Chinyelu, the 6-foot-10, 265-pound anchor who led all power-conference players with 11.2 rebounds per game last season, chose to delay his professional future after a strong NBA Combine showing. He’s coming back for one more run, and he didn’t hide the reason.
“Being back here, doing it one more time, going to go get a national championship again, that’s the ultimate reason why I’m back,” he said.
His return carries plenty of weight. Chinyelu set a school record with 19 double-doubles and earned Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors, but the ending still sat with him. In Florida’s stunning 73-72 NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa in the second round, he finished with no points, one rebound and four fouls in 19 minutes.
“You want to be able to come out each game and feel like, ‘I did everything I can,'” he said. “That day, I don’t think I did everything that I can. I don’t want to be in that spot again.”
That loss has fueled a busy offseason in Gainesville. Florida returned 81.8% of its scoring and six of its top eight rotational players from the 2025-26 team, and the group has spent the offseason tightening the details, sharpening its weaknesses and building chemistry.
The Gators also brought back a familiar face in Denzel Aberdeen, who transferred to Kentucky after the championship season but then decided to return to UF, where he began his career in 2022. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Orlando native was expected to help deepen a backcourt that already includes starting point guard Boogie Fland and reigning SEC Sixth Man of the Year Urban Klavzar.
For now, though, Aberdeen remains in limbo under NCAA rules. He is seeking a temporary injunction Tuesday in the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Gainesville.
His path is complicated by the fact that he gave up his chance to redshirt when he played 41 minutes over 12 games as a true freshman. Earlier this year, the NCAA altered its eligibility rules to allow athletes who entered college straight from high school or before turning 20 to play five seasons in a five-year window, while eliminating redshirting. Outgoing seniors who had played all four years have argued the new rule should cover them too, though the NCAA said it would not.
Aberdeen’s case will contend that he appeared in just 33% of the games in 2022-23, the same percentage football players were once allowed under previous redshirt rules, and that he is on pace to earn his degree within five years of enrolling. Florida also did not open up a roster spot for him to return.
If the court does not grant his request, Golden says the Gators have alternatives. Junior Isaiah Brown of Orlando emerged as a useful piece late last season, and sophomore sharpshooter Alex Lloyd is still taking steps forward as an all-around player.
“Denzel has the best case, individually, of any guy that’s in this situation of dealing with the NCAA’s confusing, operative system that they’re employing right now,” Golden said. “But we’ll be ready if that happens. I don’t anticipate it happening, but we’ll be ready if it does.”
Even with Aberdeen’s situation unresolved, Golden said Florida is in a good place as it heads toward its Nov. 2 season opener against Miami in Tampa.
“We feel like we’re ahead,” he said. “We’re able to do some different things at this point in the year that we haven’t been able to do and focus on the court.”
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Florida May Get A Crucial Boost For Ole Miss Showdown
The run-up to Floridas Sept. 26 matchup with Ole Miss has turned into a waiting game, and one of the biggest developments centers on Eric Singleton Jr. The Florida wide receiver has been out since hurting his ankle in the season opener, but he is now listed as questionable, which at least opens the door for a possible return in a game that could benefit from another dynamic weapon on the perimeter.
Ole Miss has its own availability concerns, with running back Kewan Lacy also questionable as he deals with a shoulder issue and works through limited practice reps. The SEC availability report shows several other Rebels in questionable or out status as well, adding another layer of uncertainty to a matchup that already carries plenty of weight for both teams. [Read more 🡒]
Denzel Aberdeens Florida Future Just Took A Serious Turn
Denzel Aberdeens push to keep his college career alive now has a date attached to it, and Florida basketball is watching closely. The Gators guard has a hearing scheduled for Sept. 29 as part of his complaint and request for a temporary injunction against the NCAAs eligibility rules, a move that puts his future in front of a judge as the season draws nearer.
Aberdeen is arguing that the NCAAs Division I framework allows five seasons of competition within five years and that he should be granted a fifth year of eligibility. The NCAA has pushed back, saying he knew the rules when he entered college and that courts generally should not get involved in eligibility disputes, leaving one of Floridas roster questions tied to a legal process that is still unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Lacota Dippre Is Becoming Vital To Florida In An Unexpected Way
Lacota Dippre arrived at Florida as a transfer from James Madison, and early in the 2026 season he has carved out a role that fits the Gators needs perfectly. Rather than piling up catches, the tight end has become a steady presence as a blocker, helping create the kind of edge and movement that has given running back Jadan Baugh room to build his rushing success.
For Florida, that kind of contribution matters just as much as a splashy stat line, especially with a tight end room made up of several transfers. Dippre has stood out for the way his blocking has shown up on multiple touchdowns, and his willingness to put team production ahead of personal numbers has made him a quiet but important piece of what the Gators are trying to do offensively. [Read more 🡒]