Forward Alex Condon was UF's top rebounder and fourth-leading scorer when he went down with an ankle injury Feb. 11 at Mississippi State.
'Condo' Trending Toward Return, as Gators Near Full Strength
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
ATHENS, Ga. – Alex Condon dressed out Saturday night at LSU and went through Florida's pregame warm-up. The sophomore forward was unlikely to play against the Tigers, but used the circumstance as another workout, another step toward getting back on the floor for the Gators.
That was three days ago, which means there have been several more such steps since. Alex Condon Saturday at LSU
"I'm feeling pretty good," the 6-foot-11, 230-pound Australian and team rebound leader said Monday. "Just taking my time with my recovery, making sure I'm not rushing back."
It's been exactly two weeks since Condon collapsed to the floor 30 seconds into UF's game Feb. 11 at Mississippi State. The scenario was alarmingly reminiscent to the one that played out with senior point guard and leading scorer Walter Clayton Jr. at Tennessee 10 days before that. In both cases, the Gators dodged serious injury bullets. Same with the hip pointer that befell fifth-year guard Alijah Martin on Feb. 4 against Vanderbilt.
Clayton missed one game, Martin missed two and Condon (discounting his 30 seconds in Starkville) missed four. Their UF teammates, however, hardly missed a beat.
The third-ranked Gators (24-3, 11-3) are on a six-game winning streak – the run coinciding with those three starters absent a combined seven games – and now look to inch closer to full strength when they face Southeastern Conference rival Georgia (16-11, 4-11) Tuesday night at Stegeman Coliseum.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
Condon was full-go at practice Monday and listed as "questionable" on the game's first availability report Monday night.
"I think he'll play, unless something happens at practice," UF coach Todd Golden said earlier Monday, allowing both team and player intend to proceed with caution. "He was very close on Saturday. I think he wanted to play. He was chomping at the bit a little bit. But just as we've been able to do with Walt and Alijah, we just don't want to bring him back too early. Obviously, every game for us in the SEC feels like the Super Bowl, but we also want to make sure we're ready for March."
On Monday, "Condo" was running reps with front-line rotation players; even taking turns in the lineup with 7-1 Micah Handlogten, a frontcourt combination that has not been on the floor together in nearly a year. It was a "big" and beautiful sight.
UF junior center Micah Handlogten (3) had six rebounds, three on the offensive end, in his third game back Saturday at LSU.
But it was the memory of Handlogten suffering his grisly compound fracture in the Southeastern Conference tournament championship last March 17, though, that struck Condon in the moments after jumping for an inbound pass and landing on the foot of Mississippi State forward RJ Melendez on the game's first possession Feb. 11. He collapsed to the floor, grabbing his leg in obvious pain.
"Pretty scary," Condon said. "It kind of reminded me of that, with the crowd getting so quiet."
After being carried from the Humphrey Coliseum floor, it wasn't long before trainers determined no structural damage had occurred, which X-rays soon confirmed. Head trainer Jon Michelini
But Condon joined the list of Gators – a lengthy one that soon included backup forward Sam Alexis, also injured at Mississippi State – requiring extra attention in the UF training room, which Golden referred to last week as a "M*A*S*H unit." That would make head trainer Jon Michelini and grad intern Tyler Hrubes the team's "Hawkeye" and "Trapper John." Those two, plus student assistant Preston Dill, have been universally praised for their work by coaches and players the last several weeks.
"Big shout-out to the training stuff, man!" Martin said.
Golden also praised his health staff, as well as strength/conditioning coordinator Victor Lopez. Their collective diligence and teamwork have gotten players ready to go.
"We've done a great job internally of being on the same page, communicating really well, with those guys with executing what's going on downstairs to get these [players] right," Golden said. "We're talking everyday where they are. No curve balls. No one caught off guard. We have a good understanding of what's going on and have been able to navigate these injuries pretty well, so far."
Six straight games without at least one starter (one game without two). Six straight victories, all but one by double digits.
Yeah, pretty good.
CHARTING THE GATORS A look at how select Florida players have stepped up during the current six-game winning streak when at least one starter has been missing in each.
Condon exits just 30 seconds in; Haugh flirts with triple-double (16 pt, 9 reb, 8 ast); Aberdeen equals career-high with 20 pt, 3-for-6 from arc; Clayton 19 pt, 6 ast.
South Carolina
W 88-67
Condon
Haugh
Martin returns, but comes off bench for 11 pt; Aberdeen pours in career-high 22, with 5 3s; Haugh with career-high 20 pt, 6 reb, 3 ast; Micah Handlogten makes season debut with 2 pt, 3 reb, 5 ast in 20 min.
Oklahoma
W 85-63
Condon
Haugh
Clayton leads with 18 pt; Martin 14 pt off bench; Klavzar career-high 10 pt.
The players who have adjusted in their roles, of course, deserve the most credit. What Denzel Aberdeen, Thomas Haugh and Urban Klavzar have done in being summoned for extended minutes and impacting the game with winning plays in high-pressure situations has been spectacular.
Not to be discounted is Handlogten's selfless decision to forgo a medical redshirt year and join the active roster late in the season. And then there's starting center Rueben Chinyelu's recent inspired play of four straight double-digit scoring games, including a standout 19-point, 13-board performance in the weekend victory at LSU, when the Gators needed more punch up front.
Injured forwards Alex Condon (center) and Sam Alexis (right) on the bench during last weekend's home win over Oklahoma.
Condon has enjoyed it from his place on the bench, but hopes (and wants) to soon be contributing again to this special season.
"Everybody has stepped up," Condon said. "Micah made a big decision to come back. Tommy's leadership, specifically, has been great. Rueben, as well. It's all been crucial for us."
Just like Condon's eventual return (against the Bulldogs Tuesday, perhaps?) will be.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
