Latest news with #ToddGolden
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florda basketball: Portrait of a champion.
Florida basketball coach Todd Golden reacts to a national championship portrait painted by artist and former Florida football standout James Bates that will hang at Spurrier Gridiron Grill's Championship Room.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN: Florida basketball has the roster to repeat as national champions in 2025-26
If you're wondering whether Florida basketball can run it back in 2025-26, ESPN just gave Gator Nation its answer: absolutely. According to ESPN's Jeff Borzello, the Gators have the pieces to become the program's first back-to-back champions since Billy Donovan's 2006-07 squads. Florida head coach Todd Golden received praise for his offseason roster moves, especially the return of Alex Condon, who withdrew from the NBA draft, and the additions of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee via the transfer portal. Golden, fresh off Florida's first national title in nearly two decades, now has a team that is capable of sustaining the success they garnered a season ago. The Gators' strength lies in how the puzzle fits. Condon and Thomas Haugh bring frontcourt versatility. Reuben Chinyelu defends the rim. Fland and Lee provide a dynamic, athletic backcourt with shot creation and tempo control. Add in Golden's offensive schemes and returning championship DNA, and it's no surprise ESPN slotted the Gators as a team that can make another run for the title. Here is everything Borzello wrote about the Gators and why they have the talent to make another championship run. What ESPN said about Florida basketball "Florida has the talent to make another title run. Before UConn won the national championships in 2023 and 2024, men's college basketball hadn't seen a repeat title winner since Florida in 2006 and 2007 -- but Todd Golden's Gators have the players to make it a trend. Alex Condon withdrew from the NBA draft to return to Florida; Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh are also back; and top transfers Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee were added in the portal." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Florida football's wild plan to use world's tallest teenager revealed
The Florida Gators recently organized a workout for seven-foot, nine-inch basketball star Olivier Rioux in the hope that his giant wingspan could help them block more field goals and extra points. Rioux is the world's tallest teenager and he currently plays for Florida's basketball team and the Under-19 Canada national team. But the center was recently put through his paces with the Gators special teams. He put on an orange helmet and took snaps on the practice field. Florida assistant coaches were hoping the seven-foot, nine-inch teen might be a difference maker for field goals and extra-point attempts. Unfortunately the 305-pound Rioux has an 11-inch vertical, so even with his extra-long reach, he was unable to block any kicks during the workout. 'I like the idea,' Gators basketball coach Todd Golden said. 'I give them credit for trying it... they were a little disappointed.' After the failed experiment, Rioux will return to his day job. After redshirting as a true freshman last season, the teen is expected to get on the court in limited capacity this fall. He is unlikely to play much considering the defending national champions return their entire frontcourt, but he should at least get on the court in garbage time. Golden already has considered using him to guard inbound passes, something Rioux did to perfection just before halftime against the United States in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland earlier this month. Rioux forced an errant pass that led to a turnover and a 3-pointer just before halftime. Rioux's unusual height landed him in the Guinness World Records a few years ago and he has become a walking viral video at Florida. While coaches and teammates climbed a ladder to cut pieces of the nets after the Gators won the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Rioux was able to do it while standing flat-footed.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Florida PG Boogie Fland (hernia) out after surgery
July 25 - Florida point guard Boogie Fland is sidelined while recovering from a recent sports hernia procedure. Gators coach Todd Golden said Fland had the surgery on July 3 and missed the last three weeks of summer workouts. "He'll be back when school starts," Golden told reporters. "He could have played through it, but it made more sense to get it taken care of so he didn't have to worry about it during the season." Fland is a transfer from Arkansas and was in the midst of a strong freshman campaign before he sustained a right thumb surgery in January. He underwent surgery and missed two months. He entered both the NBA draft and the transfer portal after a season when he averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in 21 games (18 starts). Fland, a former five-star recruit, fills a need after the Gators lost star point guard Walter Clayton Jr. to the NBA after winning the national title. Fland was a McDonald's All-American in high school who committed to Kentucky while John Calipari was head coach. When Calipari departed the Wildcats for the Arkansas gig, Fland requested his release from Kentucky and later committed to Calipari and the Razorbacks. --Field Level Media
National Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
World's tallest teen, 7-foot-9 Canadian gives football a try at Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The world's tallest teenager is trying his hand — his reach, really — at football. Article content Florida basketball player Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 centre who played for the Under-19 Canadian national team this summer, recently worked out for the Gators' football team. Article content Article content Rioux, from Terrebonne, Que., donned an orange helmet and took snaps on special teams, with Florida assistant coaches hoping his massive wingspan might be a difference maker when it comes to blocking field goals and extra points. Article content Article content 'I like the idea,' Gators basketball coach Todd Golden said during a booster event Thursday evening. 'I give them credit for trying it.' Article content There was one issue: The 305-pound Rioux has an 11-inch vertical, so even with his extra-long reach, he was unable to block any kicks during the workout. Article content 'They were a little disappointed,' Golden said. Article content No worries. Rioux can simply stick to his full-time gig with the hoops team. Article content After redshirting as a true freshman last season, he's expected to get on the court in limited capacity this fall. He's unlikely to play much considering the defending national champions return their entire frontcourt, but he should at least get on the court in garbage time. Article content Golden already has considered using him to guard inbound passes, something Rioux did to perfection just before halftime against the United States in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland earlier this month. Rioux forced an errant pass that led to a turnover and a 3-pointer just before halftime. Article content Rioux's unusual height landed him in the Guinness World Records a few years ago, and he has become a walking viral video at Florida. While coaches and teammates climbed a ladder to cut pieces of the nets after the Gators won the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Rioux was able to do it while standing flat-footed. Article content
