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Gators start at No. 3 in AP basketball poll

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr10/13/25On3Keith
Thomas-Haugh-Florida-Gators
Florida forward Thomas Haugh (10) hungs head coach Todd Golden during final moments of their victory against Alabama during the second half of a Southeastern Conference tournament semifinal game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

With a loaded roster again, the Florida Gators appear to be a strong contender to win a second straight basketball national championship. Monday, the Associated Press preseason Top 25 was released and UF is at No. 3, with Purdue in the No. 1 spot followed by Houston at No. 2. The Gators beat the Cougars in last season’s NCAA title game.

Purdue received 35 first-place votes. UF got eight.

You can find the complete AP top 25 HERE.

UF went 36-4 last season and claimed the program’s third national title by beating No. 1 seeds Auburn and Houston in the Final Four. But the Gators had to replace four departing guards this offseason: All-American point guard Walter Clayton, starters Alijah Martin and Will Richard, and backup Denzel Aberdeen.

Fland, a rising sophomore listed at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, was On3’s No. 1 point guard in the class of 2024 out of Archbishop Stepinac in New York. At Arkansas last season, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 21 games (18 starts). He shot 37.9 percent from the field and 34.0 percent from three, with just 1.4 turnovers per game—strong numbers for a freshman primary ball-handler.

Lee, a rising senior from Princeton, brings poise and polish. He averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, shooting 43.9 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from three. His assist-to-turnover ratio stood at an impressive 2.5:1, and he knocked down 78.9 percent of his free throws.

Meanwhile, the Florida front court is loaded. 

Junior forward/center Alex Condon who is 6-foot-11, earned second-team All-SEC honors last season; he averaged 10.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game for the national champion Florida Gators. Condon made his presence felt on both ends, as evidenced by his 49 blocks.

Like Condon, sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu also withdrew from the NBA draft. Meanwhile, 7-foot-1 center Micah Handlogten also is back. And, Tommy Haugh, a power-forward last season who had several big games for UF, will transition to small-forward moving forward.

“There’s not a better front court to start the season than what Florida has in terms of the talent, size and depth,” ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes told Gators Online this summer. They go four or five bodies deep that you can throw out there for extended minutes that are really, really good. And Haugh at the three now is very intriguing.”

Elswhere, it’s not just Fland and Lee who’ll be expected to step up in the backcourt. Returners Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown are poised for bigger roles, Ohio transfer AJ Brownhas game, while the Gators have reloaded with two top-50 recruits in the 2025 class: CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd, both 4-star prospects who add depth and versatility to the backcourt.

UF’s season opener in Las Vegas against Arizona on Nov. 3.

Florida Gators 2025-26 Schedule (All times Eastern)

DateDayOpponentLocationTime (ET)TV
Nov. 3MondayArizona (Hall of Fame Series)Las Vegas, NV7 p.m. TNT Sports
Nov. 6ThursdayNORTH FLORIDAGAINESVILLE, FL8:00SEC+
Nov. 11TuesdayFLORIDA STATEGAINESVILLE, FL7:00SEC Net.
Nov. 16SundayMiami (Fla.)Jacksonville, FL8:30ESPN
Nov. 21FridayMERRIMACKGAINESVILLE, FL7:00SEC+
Nov. 27ThursdayTCU (Rady Children’s)San Diego, CA3:00FS1
Nov. 28FridayProvidence/Wisconsin (Rady Children’s)San Diego, CA3:00/5:30FOX
Dec. 2TuesdayDuke (ACC-SEC Challenge)Durham, NC7:30ESPN
Dec. 9TuesdayUConn (Jimmy V Classic)New York, NY9:00ESPN
Dec. 13SaturdayGeo. Washington (Orange Bowl)Sunrise, FL2:30ESPN2
Dec. 17WednesdaySAINT FRANCISGAINESVILLE, FL6:30SEC Net.
Dec. 21SundayCOLGATEGAINESVILLE, FL12:00SEC+
Dec. 29MondayDARTMOUTHGAINESVILLE, FL6:00SEC Net.
Jan. 3SaturdayMissouriColumbia, MO8:30SEC Net.
Jan. 6TuesdayGEORGIAGAINESVILLE, FL7:00SEC Net.
Jan. 10SaturdayTENNESSEEGAINESVILLE, FL12:00ESPN/2
Jan. 13TuesdayOklahomaNorman, OK9:00ESPN2/U
Jan. 17SaturdayVanderbiltNashville, TN2:00ESPN/2/U
Jan. 20TuesdayLSUGAINESVILLE, FL7:00ESPN2
Jan. 24SaturdayAUBURNGAINESVILLE, FL4/4:30ESPN/2
Jan. 28WednesdaySouth CarolinaColumbia, SC9:00SEC Net.
Feb. 1SundayALABAMAGAINESVILLE, FL1:00ABC
Feb. 7SaturdayTexas A&MCollege Station, TX8:30SEC Net.
Feb. 11WednesdayGeorgiaAthens, GA7:00ESPN2/U
Feb. 14SaturdayKENTUCKYGAINESVILLE, FL3:00ABC
Feb. 17TuesdaySOUTH CAROLINAGAINESVILLE, FL7:00SEC Net.
Feb. 21SaturdayOle MissOxford, MS12:00ESPN/2
Feb. 25WednesdayTexasAustin, TX7:00ESPN2/U
Feb. 28SaturdayARKANSASGAINESVILLE, FL8:30ESPN/2
March 3TuesdayMISSISSIPPI STATEGAINESVILLE, FL8:00SEC Net.
March 7SaturdayKentuckyLexington, KY4:00ESPN/2
March 11-15 SEC Tournament

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