Will Richard closing in on career milestone with Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Two Gators have reached 1,000 career points this season, and starting junior guard Will Richard is about to become the third.

Richard stands at 988 career points, 12 away from the 1,000-point milestone. He scored 399 in one season at Belmont and has 589 as a Gator.

He can surpass that mark Saturday against No. 12 Auburn, but the personal accomplishment won’t mean much to him without his team’s victory.

“Not really,” Richard said when asked if the milestone means anything to him. “I’m just trying to win. So, if I get it and we win I’m happy with that. But if we go out and lose, I won’t be happy.”

Junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. and senior forward Tyrese Samuel both scored their 1,000th career point this season, and senior guard Zyon Pullin eclipsed 1,500 points earlier this year.

Richard is averaging 11.4 points and has four 20-point performances in 2023-24. Florida (15-7, 5-4 SEC) faces the Tigers (19-4, 8-2 SEC) at 3:30 p.m. on SEC Network.

“We have a top ranked team coming into our crib. It’s an opportunity we know we can get,” Richard said. “We know Auburn, they’re going to come in here and going to play hard.

“For us, just making sure we match that energy, play physical and stuff like that. Make sure we don’t try to feel our way into the game, and we come out and just hit first.”

Will Richard Q&A

On quote he picked for the Black History Month social media post:

Richard: “I picked that quote because I feel like it relates to me just having a dream and just knowing that you can accomplish it with a passion, just a drive and stuff like that. Work hard; you can accomplish anything. Black History Month is definitely important. I feel like it’s something that should be celebrated every month. But, for us, just showing ways to just give back to the history of Black history and stuff like that.”

On the importance of getting a week off amid the grind of SEC play:

Richard: “It was good for us for just recovery and everybody just getting back healthy. It was good for us to just start working on weaknesses as well. Even though it’s a week off, we’ve been working hard. So, it was definitely a week we needed.”

On his leadership role:

Richard: “Oh, yeah, I know what Coach Golden has wanted since being here from last year. So, for me, it’s just about making sure everybody’s on the same page and stuff like that, being a leader on and off the court, just holding guys accountable. I definitely think I’ve taken a step in that role.”

On how the home crowd can play a part:

Richard: “It definitely plays a part. I mean, every time we’re home, we feel good. The fans, they’ve been trying to rally behind us and stuff like that. So, it’s definitely a great feeling to play at home.”

On the impact of a big crowd on the road:

Richard: “For us, probably just being loud. I mean, it’s hard to hear calls and stuff like that. So, for us, just make sure we’re communicating on the court. You’re not going to hear the coaches all the time so just making sure we’re communicating together with us on the court.”

On his work ethic in practice:

Richard: “I’ve always been a hard worker. I mean, I feel like I have to work harder than everybody, just being under-recruited out of high school and all, that’s always been on my mind. Just always working hard to get myself where I want to be.”

On if he plays with a chip on shoulder coming from Belmont:

Richard: “For sure. That’s always been in my mind, seeing guys in my class who I thought I was better than going higher than me. For me, it’s keeping my head down, working hard and seeing where I want to be.”

On the SEC race:

Richard: “I definitely feel like we’re one of the top teams, if not the best team in the league. Just knowing it’s so close in that middle of the pack, finding ways to win and separating ourselves. There are a lot of good teams in this league. Just have to find ways to win and get ourselves to the top.”

On the A&M loss:

Richard: “The Texas A&M is one we felt we should have had. That one hurt because we were up by 13 at one point. That was definitely one we felt we let slip away. But (Auburn) is another opportunity. We have a top ranked team coming into our crib. It’s an opportunity we know we can get.”

On Florida finishing games:

Richard: “For us, it’s finding ways to stay aggressive when we’re up. It seems at times when we’re up we relax and let the other team get back in the game. It’s just, for us, we have to keep our foot on the pedal, keep attacking and playing hard on offense and defense.”

On if he’s following bracketology:

Richard: “Not really. Of course, we want to get in the tournament and all, but or us, it’s about focusing on the present. We’re taking it a game at a time.”

On what UF lacks when playing with the lead:

Richard: “Transition is something we stay really good at, but talking about halfcourt, attacking physically, as well. Texas A&M did that and took us out of our offense. Attacking and switching on defense, communicating, and making sure we get stops on defense.”