Florida Gators Eye Statement Win at Cameron Indoor Against No. 4 Duke
Gainesville - Todd Golden’s phone buzzed with a message from Mike Krzyzewski, and in that moment, it hit him: he wasn’t just coaching college basketball anymore - he was part of the conversation. Now, his Florida Gators have a chance to make an even louder statement on the hardwood.
Tuesday night, No. 15 Florida heads to Durham to face undefeated No.
4 Duke in one of college basketball’s most iconic venues. A win at Cameron Indoor Stadium wouldn’t just be a résumé booster - it could be the kind of signature moment that defines a season.
“In a way, these are more enjoyable because you don’t have as much to lose,” Golden said Monday. “If we go into Cameron and win, it’s going to be the best résumé win in the country all year. If you go in and lose, I don’t think people are going to hold it over your head - unless you have a poor effort, which I don’t anticipate us having.”
That mindset - fearless, focused, and opportunistic - is exactly what the Gators will need against a Duke team that’s firing on all cylinders.
Florida enters the matchup at 5-2, still searching for consistency after a national title run that turned heads last season. Road losses to Arizona and TCU exposed some early-season growing pains, particularly on the defensive end and in taking care of the basketball. But the Gators bounced back with a strong showing against Providence, and they’re hoping that momentum carries into Tuesday’s heavyweight clash.
Golden’s respect for Duke - and Coach K’s legacy - runs deep. It’s personal.
Two of his uncles attended Duke, and like many college hoops junkies growing up, he followed the Blue Devils closely. Now, he’s not just watching from afar - he’s walking into their house with a team that’s capable of spoiling the party.
“To be able to, in the professional part of my career, get an opportunity to go coach there is really special,” Golden said. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
The Gators’ trip to Durham is part of a non-conference gauntlet designed to test them early and prepare them for the grind of SEC play, which begins Jan. 3 at Missouri. So far, the results have been mixed.
The season opener - a 93-87 loss to Arizona in Las Vegas - showcased Florida’s offensive firepower but also highlighted some defensive lapses. Last week’s 84-80 loss to TCU in San Diego was a lesson in game management, as the Gators coughed up a 10-point second-half lead and committed 19 turnovers.
But Friday’s 90-78 win over Providence offered a glimpse of what this team can be when things click. Xavian Lee, a transfer from Princeton, broke out of a shooting slump in a big way, knocking down four threes and finishing with a game-high 20 points. It was a needed boost for both Lee and the Gators’ backcourt.
“It was a tough little stretch for him - couldn’t really get it to fall,” said guard Urban Klavzar, who’s averaging nearly 15 points over the past four games. “But I kept telling him to keep shooting because we know how good he is.
He really enjoyed playing the other day. So it was really nice to see that.”
Florida’s going to need more of that confidence and rhythm if they want to hang with Duke - especially with Cameron Boozer on the other side.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman has been nothing short of dominant. The son of former Duke star Carlos Boozer, he’s averaging 22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists - all team highs. And he’s doing it with a level of poise that’s rare for a player his age.
“Cam is a different beast,” Golden said. “I’d probably take him No. 1 [in the NBA draft] if I was a GM, based off his personality as a young man, and also the poise in which he plays and the comfort that he has out there, being a go-to guy early in his career. He’s phenomenal.”
Boozer isn’t doing it alone, either. Duke’s supporting cast has been steady, and the Cameron Crazies - arguably the most raucous student section in the country - know how to turn up the pressure. It’s a hostile environment, and Golden knows his team will need to be locked in from tip-off.
“You want to make sure that you enjoy and kind of take a moment to appreciate the opportunity,” Golden said. “But after that, if you don’t get locked in, it could be a long night.”
After Tuesday’s test, things don’t get any easier. The Gators head to Madison Square Garden on Dec. 9 to face No. 5 UConn in the Jimmy V Classic - another top-five opponent, another national spotlight, and another chance to show the college basketball world that Florida isn’t just defending a title - they’re chasing another one.
But first, it’s Duke. In Durham.
In December. And for Todd Golden and the Gators, it’s an opportunity they’ve been waiting for.