7. Florida (10-0)
The Gators have won every game they’ve played this season by double-digits, a resume that includes the ESPN Events Invitational title and a few other intriguing wins. We’ll really see the mettle of this Florida squad when SEC play begins in a few weeks, but it’s hard to argue that this start to the season hasn’t been brilliant for Todd Golden’s feisty squad.
Continuing that impressive start, the Gators scored that tenth double-digit win this week in Atlanta, beating Arizona State 83-66 as part of Holiday Hoopsgiving. Walter Clayton Jr. had another stellar performance with 25 points and continues to be a remarkable leader for these Gators. Alijah Martin added 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists and has really assumed a major role this year.
Perfect through ten games, Florida is doing a bit of everything to get into this position. The offense has been efficient, with solid shooting numbers, while the defense has had real flashes of brilliance in this long run of favorable results. This team has deep postseason potential if they can handle the difficulty ahead in league play, though their game this week against North Carolina might be the toughest team they’ve faced yet.