Florida’s place near the top of the national conversation is already clear, and Jay Bilas has the Gators slotted right where the buzz says they belong.
In his latest Bilas Index for the 2026-27 season, the ESPN analyst ranked Florida No. 2 in the country, trailing only Duke. That sets up an early measuring-stick matchup, too, with the Blue Devils set to visit on Dec. 1.
The reason for Florida’s lofty spot starts inside. Todd Golden’s team brings back Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, a frontcourt trio that played major minutes during the Gators’ national championship run two seasons ago. Their size, experience and production give Florida a clear edge around the rim and on the boards.
That advantage has shown up immediately in the first two games.
Florida opened the season with a 77-67 win over No. 14 Miami, and Haugh set the tone with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Chinyelu added 14 rebounds, while Condon finished with 11 points and seven boards.
The Gators followed that up with an 88-57 home win over Jacksonville, a game that turned into a showcase for the big men. Chinyelu posted a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds, Condon came close to a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, and Haugh chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds. Florida controlled the glass in a big way, outrebounding the Dolphins 52-25.
Bilas called Florida’s frontcourt “awesome,” but he also pointed to the backcourt as the area that will determine how far this team can go.
Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar and Denzel Aberdeen are the main names in the guard rotation, and all three have flashed early. Fland had 12 points, four assists and four steals against Miami, while Aberdeen and Klavzar each scored 12 against Jacksonville.
Florida has also been efficient from deep, knocking down 11 3-pointers in each of its first two games.
The Gators’ title team was powered by its guards, but this version of Florida looks built differently. Bilas expects the current roster to lean more heavily on its interior strength and rebounding as it tries to make another deep postseason push.
For now, the results match the ranking. Florida has started fast, looks deep, and has already shown the kind of frontcourt punch that can carry a contender.
The Gators return to action Tuesday, Nov. 10, when they travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State.
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Chinyelu led the way with a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds, while Condon added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The result also gave Golden his 105th win at Florida, moving him into fifth place on the programs all-time list, and it arrives with Florida State next on the slate. [Read more 🡒]