Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh (10) scored a career-high 19 points in his first career start Saturday against South Carolina.
Gators' Depth Keeps Showing Up
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Share:
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Who will it be Tuesday night?
When the second-ranked Florida Gators (22-3, 9-3) play host Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9) in their Southeastern Conference game at Exactech Arena they'll once again – for the fifth time in as many games – take the floor with top rotational players sidelined by injuries. It hasn't mattered the previous games, all UF wins, with the Gators playing minus their leading scorer (1 game), their second-leading scorer (2 games) and their top rebounder and third-leading scorer (2 games).
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
In each of those outings, UF prevailed and did so, frankly, rather comfortably; by an average margin of 13.8 points. Two of those victories came against ranked opponents on the road, including the historic upset win at No. 1 Auburn. The Gators have now won 18 games by double figures this season, which is the second-most in the nation behind Duke (21), and have done so in far and away the toughest league in college basketball.
And they've done it with different guys; specifically, different rotations, especially of late.
"The main thing we talked about with our team after the [last] game: we have to remain unselfish. I think that's going to be the biggest key to our success the rest of the way," UF coach Todd Golden said Monday. "It's going to be a different guy every night. Some guys aren't going to be playing as much as they want and we just can't allow that to affect us big picture-wise, in terms of our goals. If we can continue to channel how our team has been incredibly unselfish this year and be that way the rest of the way, it'll prove to be very good for us. But it's a daily challenge."
Senior guard Will Richard (left) and Alijah Martin (right)
Some of those challenges are easier than others. Take Friday, for example. Martin did more at practice than he had at any time in 10 days and was trending toward being ready to go Saturday against South Carolina. Golden spoke to Martin after practice and let him know that junior Denzel Aberdeen, who started the previous three games (one for Clayton, two for Martin), would remain in the first unit for a fourth straight and Martin would come off the bench.
Martin's reaction: "Zel deserves it. I'll be ready when you need me."
That kind of attitude and selflessness is a huge reason why Florida is flourishing. The Gators don't lean on one or two guys, but rather execute their style of play and let the production show up where it might.
Aberdeen, the junior who had never started before being summoned to the first five two weeks ago, has averaged 16.3 points in his four starts and made 11 3-pointers, while having career-best scoring nights the last two games (20 at Mississippi State, then 22 against South Carolina), and turning the ball over just three times. Sophomore Thomas Haugh was called on for extra duty the last two games when Alex Condon exited at MSU after just 30 seconds with a low-ankle sprain. Haugh, the 6-foot-9 forward, nearly had a triple-double against the Bulldogs (16 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists over a career-high 37 minutes), then followed that with a career-best 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks against the Gamecocks. Haugh has averaged 15.0 over the last four games.
Injured forwards Alex Condon(center) and Sam Alexis (right) were on the bench against South Carolina and will be for the next couple games, at least.
This was how a thoroughly impressed Jon Sundvold, calling the UF-South Carolina game's telecast for SEC Network, summed up the Gators' depth during the broadcast, relative to their long-range potential; as in come March, when the games matter most.
"Many times, when you watch the NCAA Tournament, there are teams that advance by their number of options that can beat you. Obviously, they're all good defensive teams that advance, but offensively, how many different guys can beat you? With Florida you have Aberdeen stepping up his game. Martin getting healthy. Walter Clayton can score. Will Richard can score. Thomas Haugh is becoming a 15 or 20 guy. They have a number of weapons [and] night in and night out. You might have a bad game from your star or your second guy, but if your third our fourth guy gets you 15 or 20, you can advance. … Teams that rely on one or two, on a night where one or two or both have a bad night, you go home early."
Six different UF players have had games where they either led the team in scoring or tallied at least 20 points (Haugh isn't even one of them, but could be a seventh any game). Five different players have posted the most rebounds in a game. Seven different players have earned KenPom.com's game "MVP" nod, based on analytics.
Who gets the credit doesn't matter with this bunch, as long as the team gets the victory.
"We have so many guys who can score and impact the game. It's fun to be a part of a team like that because it can be anyone's night any given night, so we can just go out there and support each other and win games," said Richard, the senior guard. "It goes back to our chemistry. We all play well together, so even with the different switching lineups there's no drop-off. We've played the same way we have all season. It's been fun."
CHARTING THE GATORS: Spreading the wealth
A look at how balanced the Gators' box scores have been, even in dealing with the run of recent injuries.
