From: ESPN
Florida basketball is under a renaissance. Florida is ranked 5th in the AP Poll, and already boasts wins over North Carolina in the Jumpman Invitational, and an obliteration of Tennessee. The Gators are doing this primarily on the backs of their guard trio: Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard. These three have been torching teams all year long, leading to a 15-1 record. So, how far can these three take Florida in March?
Clayton Jr., Martin, and Richard have combined for 46.4 points per game and are making just under seven threes per game. Long story short, the Gators' offense runs through the guards. Trying to gameplan for this offense is a nightmare. When throwing on the tape, you see Walter Clayton Jr. dissecting the defense at will. Maybe you want to take him out of the game. That's what Tennesee tried to do, and Alijah Martin torched them. So, let's try to neutralize both Clayton and Martin, that should work. North Carolina let Will Richard be, and he poured in 22. Moral of the story, you cannot try to take one of the guards out of the game. The other two will torch you.
When it comes to March Madness, great guard play wins. Looking at the previous champions, players like Kyle Guy, Tristen Newton, and Dajuan Harris have led their teams to rings. This bodes well for the Gators, as I clearly have stressed how dangerous their guard play is. This Florida team is for real, and they can legitimately win a national championship. They meet all of the statistical profiles, and have the high end talent to win. 2025 is shaping up to be the best year of Gator basketball since 2007.
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