NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Todd Golden credits his high-major basketball career break to Bruce Pearl, who 10 years ago lured Golden away from his assistant's post at Columbia to be director of basketball operations at Auburn, an opportunity that eventually turned into a full-time staff assistant. A decade later, Golden speaks often of how Pearl's greatest influence was the manner with which he built close relationships with players, to the point they would give maximum effort as a byproduct of the tight and loving ties. 
 
That relationship piece was on poignant display Sunday afternoon when Golden, now the coach at Florida, was at the podium following the sixth-seeded Gators' 86-67 loss to Pearl and his 12th-ranked, fourth-seeded and defensively dynamite Tigers in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. 
 

The dismay (and tears) on Golden's face was not rooted in the lopsided defeat. The Gators have more basketball to play. No, Golden was overcome with emotion as he recounted the devastating lower leg injury suffered by starting center Micah Handlogten that, first, silenced packed Bridgestone Arena, then left the crowd standing and cheering as the 7-foot-1 sophomore – one of the most beloved players on the team – was taken from the court on a stretcher and in visible pain.
 
"Yeah, it's tough, man, cause he's a great kid," Golden said through a cracking voice as he reached for a Gatorade towel to wipe his swollen eyes. "You just hate to see it for him because he does everything the right way. He works hard. That's a super-fluky injury that you don't see very often in this game, especially when a young guy like him that's worked so hard to get to this point, playing in a big-time game like this, to go out that way … I just feel for him."
 
The injury came just 101 seconds into the game and shook the Gators to their core. The Tigers and their league-best defense that rates as one of the best in the country took advantage of their shaken prey in pouncing to a 12-point lead as UF tried to settle back into the game. The Gators managed to do so, if only momentarily, closing to within a point in the second half, before a lightning-fast sequence of Auburn domination and Florida sloppiness had the Tigers again up by 12 and running away to their second league tournament title since 2019. 
 
All-SEC forward Johni Broome scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots on his way to being named the tournament's most valuable player. Another seven Auburn players were scattered between seven and 11 points, as the Tigers (27-7) shot 50.8 percent for the game, including 64.3 in their dominant second half, while defending the Gators (24-11) at 36.4 percent (second-lowest of the season) and holding UF to its fewest points during the 2023-24 campaign. 
 
The post-game chatter wasn't so much on what the Tigers did or what the Gators didn't do, or even about the NCAA Tournament, which the program will play in for the first time in three years later this week. It was mostly about Handlogten, who as they spoke was two miles up the road at Vanderbilt University Hospital readying to be taken into surgery. 
 
* Grad forward Tyrese Samuel: "We were trying to win a championship for him. We really care about him. He's part of our family." 
 
* Backup freshman forward Alex Condon: "Half the team was crying at the start of the game because we all love him so much. He's got such a great attitude, just the type of guy who is always positive, always has your back and is totally selfless." 
 
* Grad point guard Zyon Pullin (15 points, 7 rebounds, both team highs): "We tried to rally together, kind of focus on staying together."  But it was hard, especially in the face of an Auburn defense – ranked No. 5 nationally in efficiency – that shuttered UF into 36.4 percent from the floor, just 1-for-13 from the 3-point line (7.7 percent) and blocked 10 shots. 
 
The Tigers, with one fewer tournament game under their belt, seemed to have a little more bounce and an edge early, jumping in front 7-2, with their third field goal coming when Handlogten collapsed to the floor during a loose-ball sequence that ended with a layup at the other end. 
 
Officials called timeout to tend to Handlogten, who was at the other end of the floor, writhing in pain. Soon the coaches and players came out and encircled their fallen teammate. Handlogten's parents came out of the stands and onto the floor.
 
Then came the stretcher, air cast and all the gut-wrenching thoughts of a young man's season – and its impact on a team that thrives on closeness – vanquished in a split second.
 
"Guys were emotional," Golden said. "Losing him so early, human nature kind of took over a little bit."
 
Eight minutes later, the Tigers were up by 10, then twice by 12 before the Gators sliced it to eight at halftime.  When Walter Clayton Jr. (13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers) nailed a 3-pointer three minutes into the second half, the Gators trailed by just one. After a stop, they had the ball and chance for the lead. 
 
But UF's next five possessions: two missed shots; another miss; one more miss; two missed free throws; turnover. 
 
Auburn's next five possessions: miss; miss; run-out layup; 3-pointer; steal and dunk to light up the partisan Tigers crowd. 
 
The lead was suddenly eight, then just as quickly got to a dozen again and swelled to as high as 21, as the Gators rushed to make shots, any shots, against Auburn's elite guard. The game, though, was over. 
 
It probably was over well before that. 
 
"Their fourth game in four days could have been a factor," Pearl said. 
 

Gator Nation, Thank you for all of the love and prayers! It has helped more than anyone could imagine. Keep supporting the boys so we can make a deep run in the NCAAT! I love you all!
🧡💙🐊

— Micah Handlogten (@MHandlogten) March 17, 2024

There was at least one other. 
 
"He's just got a great attitude," Condon said of his fallen teammate. "Just the type of guy who is always positive, has your back and is totally selfless."
 
Now the Gators must move on without him. 
 
"We didn't play our best, but our effort was there, our intent was there, our heart was in the right place, head in the right place," Golden said. "Just ran into a team that was playing really, really well. They just beat us. That's OK. It happens. We'll kind of dust ourselves off and get back up and get ready for the NCAA tournament. Obviously disappointing."
 
Then came this. 
 
"I feel for Micah."
 
Everybody does.