WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Baylor ripped Florida's defense for 52-percent shooting from the floor and a deadly 14-for-25 from the 3-point line in Friday's NIT Season Tip-Off title game in Brooklyn, N.Y. The eventual 95-91 defeat, however, wasn't because of anything Riley Kugel did. The UF sophomore guard had career-best scoring and rebounding efforts and was mostly glued to his man, hopping over screens and sticking to the principles the Gators' laid out in the scouting report. Coach Todd Goldenand guard Riley Kugel
Yet there was Kugel, in the post-game news conference after posting 26 points and nine rebounds, basically apologizing for how he'd played early in a 2023-24 season that he entered with sky-high and the-NBA-is-watching expectations.
"I owed it to my teammates and whole organization," Kugel said after going 10-for-20 from the floor, four of six from the arc, grabbing five offensive rebounds, blocking two shots and holding the Bears' leading scorer to a season-low in points. "I kind of played selfish a little at the start of the season, thinking all about me maybe at the start."
UF coach Todd Golden was sitting to Kugel's left and felt compelled to chime in.
"I want to say something about that. I don't think he's playing selfishly, to be honest. This team is a lot better than we were last year and Riley is a big part of that. He's done a good job, specifically, the last couple weeks trying to find his way in terms of not having to shoulder the whole load like he did last year," Golden said. "Early on in the year he was a little concerned about scoring, but he's one of the best defenders in the country, one of the best downhill drivers in the country and, obviously, he can make shots off the bounce like he did [against Baylor]. He's a great player. I appreciate everything that he's doing for us."
With that, Golden set the record straight. It's true, Kugel had a run of four games where his numbers weren't great – 11 of 43 from the floor (25.6 percent), 5-for-20 from deep (25 percent), 8.5 points per outing – but the UF coaches knew exactly what was going on. Like Golden said, his team is much better than last year, especially when it comes to scoring firepower, and the best chance for the best version of his team is when Kugel lets the game come to him on offense and continues to excel on defense.
That's what he did against Baylor, the nation's 13th-ranked team and one of the best offenses in the country. That's what the Gators (4-2) will need from him Wednesday night when they square up against Wake Forest (3-3) in the inaugural SEC/ACC Challenge at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
As a freshman last season, Kugel erupted onto the scene in February when he began a run of 10 consecutive games of double-digit scoring to end the season, a feat accomplished by just one other freshman, Bradley Beal, in program history. The go-to role was necessitated by the season-ending injury to forward and scoring leader Colin Castleton, with Kugel, who averaged 6.7 points over the first 22 games and 17.3 over the final 10, proving up to the challenge on his way to garnering Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team honors.
But that Kugel is not the Kugel the Gators need now. Oh, he may be the one opponents mark in scouting reports, but that's when his fellow perimeter scoring options – Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Zyon Pullin – can take some pressure off.
Through six games, even after that explosive performance against Baylor, Kugel is at 13.7 points per outing, 39.7 percent from the floor and 31.0 from distance. Assuming he continues to play to the role these upgraded Gators need, those numbers will improve.
"It's a process," said UF associate head coach Korey McCray, who tutors the guards. "He's in a different role. Now, he's a hunted guy. We all knew he was extremely talented last year, but this year they're game-planning to stop him. That's a different place than he's been before, but he'll adjust. He's a talented guy, but there are also going to be nights when he's going to be double-teamed and he'll have to make the right choice for his teammates."
Pittsburgh point guard Carlton Carrington (left) had a tough night dealing with Riley Kugel in UF's win at Brooklyn.
The first-round NIT win against Pittsburgh was an example of that adjustment and making right choices. Kugel's shot wasn't on that night (2-for-9 overall, 1-for-6 from 3), but he made plays for his teammates and finished with a career-high six assists in UF's 81-66 victory, while making life miserable for heralded freshman point guard Carlton Carrington in the halfcourt.
The second-round game against Baylor was an example of Kugel at his absolute best versus earlier in the season when he tried to force some things.
"Now I'm just trying to have fun and run with the guys," Kugel said.
Perfect. The sooner the Gators, to a man, embrace the identity of this team – that it's going to be different dudes each night – the sooner that coveted best version of the Gators will show up each game.
Meanwhile, Kugel will continue to play the ferocious brand of defense that frustrated Baylor guard and 2023 McDonald's All American Ja'Kobe Walker into an 11-point game, eight off his season's average, over an exhausting 33 minutes of fast-paced basketball.
Kugel wasn't always that guy on the defensive end.
"He was a little inconsistent [last season] and that's where you see the growth. The growth is the consistency. He's doing it every possession," Golden said. "When he gets scored on, it sticks out because the other times he's doing such a good job preventing them from scoring. He's a fantastic wing defender, for sure."
Kugel's teammates would do well to follow his lead, especially after being carved to pieces by the Bears, who played to their credentials as one of the top-10 offenses in the country.
Wake Forest is not Baylor, but the Demon Deacons have a decent mix of size and perimeter punch that could put UF in some binds, especially on the road. The Deacs' 36-percent marksmanship from the 3-point line, which ranks 89th nationally, will be of concern, considering the Gators are defending the arc at a generous 36.4 percent, which ranks 286th.
"We've had an issue [as a team] guarding the 3-point line and Riley's been very good at it," Golden said. "He's doing a lot of the different things that we ask him to do at a high level right now."
