Florida Gators

What Happened

Florida junior wing Will Richard scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed six rebounds, while guard Walter Clayton Jr. pitched in 18 points, five assists and three rebounds to lead the Gators to an 89-68 victory over Florida A&M Tuesday night at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. UF also got a couple terrific reserve performances from 6-foot-11 freshman forward Alex Condon and sophomore point guard Denzel Aberdeen, both of whom tallied career-best scoring and boarding numbers. Condon, who was scoreless in Friday night's loss to Virginia, had 17 points in just 17 minutes and six rebounds, while Aberdeen had 12 points and four rebounds. The game was an eyesore from the start, as Florida missed 13 of its first 14 field-goal attempts and trailed 7-4 more than five minutes into the game before a run of seven straight points, sparked by a 3-ball from Richard, gave the Gators the lead -- for good, as it turned out. Still, there was plenty for Coach Todd Golden to pick at during half (and in the second half; and in the post-game locker room, too), as the Rattlers tore into a 15-point lead, and chance for the home team to break the game open, by making four of their last five field-goal tries of the period to trail by just 10, at 38-28, at the break. The second half didn't start much better, with FAMU trimming the UF lead down to eight. And when the Gators went on a run of six straight converted field goals to go up by 23, the Rattlers hit back by making five straight shots and taking the lead back to just 15-point game. As things turned out, that was as close as the game got, with the Gators, especially Condon, finishing strong enough to make things look comfortable. On a night when their leading scorer, sophomore guard Riley Kugel, was held to just five points on 1-for-7 shooting, the Gators hit 58.6 percent for the game to the Rattlers' 42.6. Florida, which had been so good on the glass through two games, won the rebounding margin 46-31, but also gave up 14 on the offensive end that led to 16 second-chance points. The Gators also got 35 points from the bench after reserves accounted for just four points against UVA.

   

What it Means

Not much, other than an unimpressive win over a vastly inferior opponent. Golden likely will have some choice words for his team's defense. The Gators have a lot of work to do on that end, especially with the stretch of games -- four straight against power conference opponents -- on the immediate horizon.
 

In the Spotlight

In addition to his points, Aberdeen also posted career highs of four rebounds and 19 minutes. In just 12 appearances as a freshman last season, he totaled 41 minutes, 19 points and four rebounds. This is a player who has bought into the old-school notion of being a program player who develops and increases his role. It's refreshing, actually. 
 

Staggering Statistic

Going 1-for-14 to start the game against any team is pretty staggering, but the Florida coaches will far more frustrated with FAMU shooting nearly 52 percent in the second half, including 65 through the first 15-plus minutes of the period. 
 

Up Next

Florida (2-1) is back home Friday night for its annual date against rival Florida State (2-0). The Seminoles, who are trying to rebound from a 2022-23 season that was the worst in program history, have opened with identical blowout home victories of 94-67 over Kennesaw State and Central Michigan, respectively. UF has won each of the last two meetings, following a run of seven consecutive wins by the FSU.