The Tip-Off
* Florida returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 and for the first time under second-year head coach Todd Golden, who becomes the fifth head coach in Florida history to lead the Gators to an NCAA berth. The Gators will face Colorado or Boise State, which will be the first meeting ever vs. either opponent.
* First-team All-SEC honoree Zyon Pullin ranks third in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.76) and is on pace to post the SEC’s best single-season A/TO number of the 2000s. Pullin is one of four active players with 1,800 career points, 550 rebounds and 550 assists, along with Baylor Scheierman, Tristen Newton and RayJ Dennis.
* Second-team All-SEC guard Walter Clayton Jr. has the #6 scoring season (600) and tied for #8 most 3-point field goals (89) in a season in Florida history. Clayton also enters the NCAA Tournament with 33 straight free throws made, matching Florida’s third-longest streak (42 by Canyon Barry, 37 by Taurean Green). Clayton has hit 42 of his last 43 from the charity stripe.
* In the frontcourt, Florida has gotten 11 double-doubles from AP second-team All-SEC forward Tyrese Samuel, the most by a Gator since Al Horford’s 16 in 2006-07. However, the Gators will be without 7-footer Micah Handlogten (leg), whose 17.8% offensive rebounding percentage ranks fifth in the nation. SEC All-Freshman big man Alex Condon leads the SEC’s freshmen in rebounding (6.3) and blocked shots (43).
* Clayton (600 points), Pullin (499) and Samuel (489) seek to become the first trio in Florida history to all net 500 points in a season.
* Florida’s first NCAA championship (2006) and first NCAA championship game appearance (2000) both occurred in Indianapolis.
2023-24 Highlights
* The Gators made a run to the SEC Tournament championship game for the first time since 2014, playing four games in a 65-hour span. In three wins vs. Georgia, #18 Alabama and Texas A&M, the Gators averaged 94.0 points and shot .429 from 3-point range with five double-figure scorers in all three wins, including five with 15+ points vs. Texas A&M.
* Florida lit the scoreboard for 105 points in the home win vs. 16th-ranked Alabama, the Gators’ most all-time in regulation vs. a ranked opponent. Will Richard led the attack with 23 points and Walter Clayton Jr. added 22, while Zyon Pullin and Tyrese Samuel scored 19 points each.
* Tyrese Samuel’s career-high 28 points led the Gators in the win vs. Missouri. Samuel (10 rebounds) and Micah Handlogten (12 points/12 rebounds) both posted double-doubles, while Zyon Pullin added 21 points.
* Florida’s win vs. #12 Auburn marked the Gators’ 15th in a row at home vs. the Tigers. Riley Kugel’s 22 points led the Gators, along with 20 points from Walter Clayton Jr. and 19 by Zyon Pullin.
* The Gators win at 10th-ranked Kentucky featured a trio of 20-point scorers in Walter Clayton Jr. (23), Tyrese Samuel (22) and Zyon Pullin (21). Clayton’s 3-pointer with 3.0 seconds left in regulation forced overtime.
* Micah Handlogten posted 23 points and 17 rebounds in the home win vs. Georgia, while Zyon Pullin scored seven of his 20 points in the overtime period. The Gators won at Georgia behind 21 points from Walter Clayton Jr. and 17 by Thomas Haugh, then downed UGA in Nashville to make it 11 straight wins against the Bulldogs.
* Will Richard led the Gators with 23 points and nine rebounds in the win vs. Mississippi State as Florida committed just seven turnovers. Zyon Pullin and Walter Clayton Jr. each added 15 points.
* Zyon Pullin scored 22 and Tyrese Samuel posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in the Gators’ double-overtime victory vs. Michigan in Charlotte. Pullin’s 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds remaining in OT forced the final session.
* The Gators topped Pitt in the first game of the NIT Season Tip-Off behind 28 points from Walter Clayton Jr., a 20-point, 10-rebound performance from Tyrese Samuel and a 24-to-8 assist-to-turnover showing as a team.
