It’s an emotional moment for a college basketball player when they walk off their home court for the final time. Coaches and teammates hugging them while thousands of fans rise to their feet to cheer is enough to make even a fearless competitor a bit misty.
That’s precisely what happened when UF’s dynamic backcourt trio stepped off the Stephen C. O’Connell Center hardwood one last time after defeating Ole Miss in Gainesville on March 8. However, when senior guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard were asked after the game who was more emotional during their senior night curtain call, they jokingly bantered back-and-forth.
“He’s talking about you,” Richard said. To which, with little hesitation, fellow senior guard Clayton Jr. responded, “I ain’t shed no tears.”
Regardless of who may have cried, the Gators will have their hands full as postseason play begins. Various media outlets have already slated Florida as a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament. However, if UF can notch a win or two in the SEC tournament, the Gators would likely solidify a spot along the top-seed line in The Big Dance.
“We have a lot of work left to do and a lot of things left to still accomplish,” Florida head coach Todd Golden said. “We'll get back together on Monday, have a great week of practice and get ready to play next Friday in Nashville."
Florida had claimed a top-4 seed in its conference tournament prior to its 19-point beat down over the Rebels on senior night. Though, when the calendar turns to March, it’s pivotal for teams with national championship aspirations to play their best basketball.
It’s difficult to tell if the Gators are peaking at the perfect time, largely because of how dominant they’ve been all season. UF has three wins over top 10 teams, with two of those coming against the No. 1 team in the nation.
“Obviously a great regular season,” Golden said. “Twenty-seven wins. To go 14-4 in the league and to finish the regular season the way we did today, just can't say enough about the job our players did this year.”
The Gators are a 2-seed, and with a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, await either Missouri or the winner of Mississippi State and LSU for their matchup in the quarterfinals.
One of UF’s four losses this season came at the hands of Missouri on Jan. 14, marking the only time the Gators lost a game on their home court this season. If it comes down to a rematch with the Tigers, Golden knows his team can’t take them lightly.
“They played harder than us,” he said. “They were more ready to play than we were, obviously jumped on us in the first half and we were not ready for it. And obviously it starts with me. I need to do a better job making sure that we're ready to go and making sure that we understand what's in front of us.”
Perhaps Missouri has flown under the radar in the SEC this season, entering the conference tournament as the No. 7 seed. However, UM’s No. 15 ranking in the AP Poll proves how tough of an opponent the Tigers could be in the postseason.
Moreover, Missouri is anything but top-heavy, with three players averaging double-digit scoring marks and eight who average at least five points per game. Junior guard Mark Mitchell and graduate student guard Caleb Grill lead the way with 14.3 and 14.2 points per game, respectively. Mitchell also averages nearly five rebounds per contest, while Grill scored a team-high 22 points with six 3-pointers in Missouri’s road win at the O’Dome.
"I would say the lack of urgency and effort [was the difference] in the first half,” Richard said. “We can't let that happen in this [league]. I feel like we should have been ready to go from the jump."
Florida senior guard Alijah Martin has been invaluable to its prolific backcourt this season alongside Richard and Clayton Jr. The FAU transfer was a starter in the 2023 Men’s Final Four and has the experience and skills needed for a deep run in March.
Martin has always wanted to compete in the SEC. He even said he’s loved performing in front of chaotic road environments with opposing fans heckling him.
But with SEC play in the rearview mirror, Martin will now have the opportunity to guide a Power 4 program to a place of prominence, much like he’s always dreamed about. Amid all the talk from national media regarding the Gators being one of the favorites to cut down the nets in San Antonio, Martin knows being awarded a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament doesn’t make the dream a guarantee.
“It’s not the finish line,” Martin said. “You still got to get there and perform and you [have to] perform with your best abilities because it could be anybody’s night. So we just can’t overlook anybody when we go there.”
Contact Max Tucker at mtucker@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Max_Tuckr1.
Max Tucker is a senior transfer student at UF. After obtaining his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023, he chose to further his education at Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Max is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports and media. He enjoys golfing and going to the beach with his friends in his free time.
