5. Florida Gators - 12-0
Regarding “dominant” teams, the Gators have quietly destroyed most of its competition, including against some high-major opponents. They got onto the map in the ESPN Events Invitational, beating Wake Forest and Wichita State by a combined 44 points during Feast Week.
Afterward, Florida easily took care of Virginia and Arizona State by a combined 35 points in games that were never in doubt. The only time they really had to sweat was against North Carolina in the Jumpman Invitational, winning 90-84. Will Richard had 22 points in that game, while Alijah Martin had 19 points and four assists.
What’s impressive for the Gators is that they won that game without star guard Walter Clayton Jr. going off, scoring 12 points on 4/15 shooting. On the season, he leads the team with 17.6 ppg and 3.5 apg. The team also has plenty of frontcourt depth even without Micah Handlogten and 7’9 redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux, as Alex Condon (11.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg) has stepped up as a freshman.
After playing Stetson to end the non-con campaign, Florida has a brutal stretch to open league play. They take on Kentucky on the road, followed by the home battle with AP No. 1 Tennessee in a potential battle of unbeatens.