The college basketball season is truly back and we now have two weeks of games to prove it. The early weeks of the season don’t typical make or break a season, but we have seen some critical moments already, including upsets and wild buzzer beaters across the nation.
We’re still weeks away from conference game and still not into holiday tournaments and it’s understandably not the most exciting part of the college basketball calendar. Regardless, there were a few massive matchups between ranked teams and some unforgettable late shots in close games, giving us a March feeling at times already here in November.
With two weeks of games in mind, we’re giving the next update to our weekly Top 25 rankings. In some cases we may be overreacting or underreacting to early performances, but we’ve done our best to carefully rank the best of the best in a sensible way, especially with two of the Top 3 teams losing this past week.
25. Texas A&M (4-0)
We’re at that early point in the season where a lot of teams could legitimately be included in the rankings, but we’re riding with Texas A&M in this spot. Bucky McMillan had a fantastic debut season leading the Aggies last year and has a team that could be even better moving forward. His Aggies look to compete at a high level in the SEC and proved that with their play this week.
It’s a week that began with another big win, earning a 108-67 triumph over Louisiana Monroe on Monday. Star scorer PJ Haggerty led the way with 22 points while Jordan Pope added 19 points of his own. Their efforts on Thursday got them ranked, as Texas A&M won 88-69 over a solid Oklahoma State team. Haggerty put up 22 points again while Josh Irving had a double-double off the bench in their best win yet.
Texas A&M chose a great time against the Cowboys for their best long-range shooting effort of the young season. Beyond that, the defense has been fierce and Haggerty has been as advertised as a high level scorer for the Aggies. We’ll see how things continue to come together in tougher environments, beginning this upcoming Thursday with a tough one at TCU.
24. Nebraska (3-0)
Coming off the best basketball season in program history, Nebraska is looking to make noise once again. Fred Hoiberg’s team certainly has the talent to be a game changer in the Big Ten and this nice start to the season is proof of that. The Cornhuskers got a great win out east over Providence and have made it look effortless otherwise in the earlygoing.
There was only one shot to see the Cornhuskers in these last seven days and they didn’t waste the opportunity. Nebraska played great early in a 94-60 home win over Lindenwood, including a 61-point opening half. Pryce Sandfort continued in a starring role with 22 points and 8 rebounds while Damon Wilkinson had 19 points off the bench.
Nothing was falling for Nebraska from long-range in that win over the Friars and they still got the job done. Their defense has been stellar in the early weeks of the season while Sandfort looks like an All-Big Ten player and a real leader in this lineup. They’ll face another intriguing challenge against Boise State on Sunday before hosting South Dakota in what should be another easier matchup later in the week.
23. Michigan (2-1)
Suffice to say, Michigan did not exactly look super impressive in the opening week of the season. The defending champions look quite different this year, struggling early against Oakland before falling against UConn in an exciting title game rematch. New head coach Mike Boynton knows that one week does not determine a season, though we’ll see just what the future holds for the Wolverines.
Michigan did what they needed to do in their lone contest this week, coming away with an 84-70 home win against Marquette. J. P. Estrella had 18 points and 8 rebounds while Elliot Cadeau was phenomenal with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists, flirting with a double-double against the Golden Eagles.
This double-digit win over a Big East program was certainly Michigan’s best showing among their first three contests. It was always going to take time for the new pieces in this lineup to gel, though Estrella looked great and Cadeau just keeps doing his thing after his success in last year’s title run. We’ll see another significant Big East challenge for the Wolverines as they head to Villanova on Saturday.
22. Gonzaga (2-1)
We have another new edition of Gonzaga basketball this season, though more than a few things are different. Sure, the Bulldogs are leaning heavily on Davis Fogle and Braden Huff and some new pieces, but the program also became new members of the Pac-12. Their conference schedule will be a little bit tougher than their years in the WCC, but clearly they get plenty of tests in nonconference too.
We say that because Gonzaga dropped quite the shocker on Saturday afternoon. Losing wasn’t some major upset, but falling 81-80 at home against LSU on a last-second shot was certainly unsettling in Spokane. Huff had 18 points and 13 rebounds while Fogle added 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a loss where the Tigers just outshot the Bulldogs.
One tough loss like this won’t sound the alarms in Spokane, though it is cause for early concern. Newcomer Xaivian Lee had early struggles at Florida last year and has been far from perfect in these first few games with Gonzaga, while Massamba Diop is still finding his groove in this lineup. Regardless, it’s an easier slate next week with just Montana State coming to town as Mark Few hopes his team figures things out.
21. LSU (4-0)
An absurd headline of the offseason was Will Wade’s return to LSU, though his Tigers seemed to dominate the headlines as the months went along. Wade kept adding players to his roster with questionable eligibility and many wondered if he could even field a team by the time the season began. LSU brought some great pieces into Baton Rouge and secured two blowouts in the opening week, but did even better this past weekend.
That breakthrough didn’t come on Monday, but the Tigers did deliver in a 90-50 blowout win over Louisiana Tech. Michael Ruzic had 18 points off the bench while Abdi Bashir Jr. added 16 as the Tigers continued dominating their opponents inside the arc. The script was completely flipped around in a stunning 81-80 upset win at Gonzaga on Saturday afternoon. LSU made 46% of their 3-pointers, struggled inside the arc, and won thanks to Donovan Dent (23 points, 10 assists), and his game-winning shot in the final seconds.
Wade pieced this thing together, doesn’t have some of the players he may have expected, but is still getting heroics from Dent and great play from other pieces like Skyy Clark as well. You can say what you want about LSU’s choices but the Tigers have hit the right chords in the opening of this season and it cannot be ignored after that game-winner. They come back home and face Louisiana Monroe and Queens next week, with 6-0 on the horizon.
20. BYU (4-0)
We’ve seen very solid early returns from a BYU squad that should be far more balanced this season. Bruce Branch III is a blue chip prospect hoping to have the same immediately impact that AJ Dybantsa had last year, but a big opening night win over Ohio State showed that he’s already prepared for his moment. Beyond him, there’s a lot to like about the Cougars and they kept that rolling into week two.
BYU did what they needed on Tuesday by getting a 98-82 win over Queens. Robert Wright III put up 21 points and 6 assists while Branch and Jaxon Kohler added 15 points apiece. Things went pretty similarly a few days later with the Cougars winning 86-71 against Montana State for win number four. Wright led again with 22 points and 7 assists while Branch added 17 points for a team that shot 58% from the floor.
We know that BYU has great talent and we’ve already seen efficient play from an offense that has been dynamite in the paint and successful beyond the arc. Kevin Young knows that things came apart a bit late last season, though injuries played a role, and he’s looking to push this year’s Cougars and prevent that disappointment. No major challenge approaches this week, as this team hosts Northern Colorado in a few days.
19. Miami (3-1)
The Hurricanes entered the season with significant momentum and great expectations but drew a tough matchup on opening night. Miami fell against in-state rival Florida, the top-ranked team in the country, but that slow start doesn’t dull the potential for this team. Jai Lucas has been one of the great recruiters in this sport in recent years and he has a lineup that can do some serious damage in the ACC and beyond.
They were on track again on Monday, winning 89-51 in an easy outing against North Florida. Malik Reneau led a crew of five double-digit scorers with his 16-point affair, though the Hurricanes struggled again from beyond the arc. That struggle was turned on its head on Friday, as Miami beat North Alabama 94-52 thanks to twenty made 3-pointers. Most of that damage came from Brent Bland (26 points) and Nick Dorn (18 points) off the bench, while Shelton Henderson added a double-double.
It’s almost hard to believe that Miami could make such a splash from downtown after making just 14 of 63 from beyond the arc in their first three games combined. This will be something to keep an eye on for a team that’s playing great defense as long as they don’t live or die by the long-range shot. That hasn’t been a problem yet despite those struggles, though we’ll see if they can rev things up again with Rider and Manhattan in town.
18. Arkansas (3-1)
The early returns have been far from perfect, but Arkansas should be right there in contention once again this season. John Calipari has built another team full of young talent that likely will need some time to mesh, though he’s got at least a little more time before the most important games start happening.
They did falter back on Sunday in their first big matchup, losing 91-72 against Virginia despite 19 points from Jordan Smith Jr. The Razorbacks bounced back nicely after that Top 10 loss, winning 76-53 over Robert Morris, getting a double-double from Cooper Bowser and 16 points from Billy Richmond III. Arkansas did just what they needed again Friday, finishing their week with a 79-66 victory over Central Arkansas that included a 21-point, 9-rebound game from Richmond.
The way this lineup comes together is still an unknown in many ways with all these young pieces, though it’s a junior in Richmond who’s taken the mantle in these recent games. Time will tell just what the ceiling can be here, especially as the Razorbacks still try to fill Darius Acuff Jr.’s shoes. You’ll next see them in action in a notable matchup with Indiana on Monday.
17. Vanderbilt (4-0)
When the Commodores were searching for a new head coach, they seemed to have struck a gold mine by bringing Mark Byington to Nashville. After recent struggles for the program, he’s had Vanderbilt dancing in each of his first two seasons and has a team that looks like it can make noise once again. Obviously, a lot of that noise and excitement is because of their star Tyler Tanner, though he’s far from the only notable Commodore.
Vanderbilt showed up on Tuesday night, getting a great 105-81 win over a Memphis team that started the season hot. Ace Glass starred with 23 points while Tanner added 17 points in the Commodores’ win. There was significantly less drama on Friday, as a huge first half helped Vanderbilt put away Prairie View A&M for an 89-62 victory. Glass again led the scoring with 19 points and success from outside the arc.
While Tanner is the leader, Glass has settled into an impressive role in this backcourt as well. If he continues to develop into a reliable scorer and shooter, Vanderbilt might boast one of the best 1-2 punches in the SEC. This team has aced their early tests at home and won’t leave this week either, hosting Eastern Illinois and UCF in the coming days.
16. St. John’s (3-0)
Whatever the notions or hopes were when St. John’s hired Rick Pitino three years ago he’s lived up to expectations and has the Red Storm looking great again this season. They did impressive work in the Big East last season and have now put together a talented and experienced lineup that Pitino hopes can come away with another conference crown, though were weeks away from those types of conversations.
For now, the Red Storm have been taking care of their own business, including Sunday’s 104-68 blowout win over Iona. Tounde Yessoufou had 23 points and 7 rebounds while Ian Jackson added 17 points in the big win. A similar story would unfold on Wednesday night, with St. John’s emerging victorious 90-59 against Colgate. Five different players scored in double-figures, led by 17-point efforts from both Jackson and Keyshawn Hall.
After a closer than expected first game last week, St. John’s put the hammer down against their two opponents this week. Yessoufou looks impressive while Jackson is taking another step forward as a junior and Pitino should be excited about the other talent in this lineup as well. Many eyes will be on their matchup against Syracuse this Sunday, though they won’t leave home until the following week in Las Vegas.
15. Alabama (4-0)
Recent years have seen Alabama’s rise into national prominence as well as seemingly boasting one of the top offenses on an annual basis. There are a few new names pushing the ball up and down the floor this year in Tuscaloosa, though the returns of Amari Allen and Aden Holloway among others certainly helps Nate Oats sleep well at night.
That impactful offense was on display Monday night, with the Crimson Tide scoring a 109-68 win against Oakland. London Jemison led the scoring with 20 points as Alabama shot 63% from the floor as a team. They faced their most significant opponent Friday, but came away with a similar result, winning 82-76 over Seton Hall. Allen starred this time with 24 points while Holloway added 18 points in the win.
This Crimson Tide team is the sum of some very talented parts and the early returns have been just what we expected. The offense averaged over 100 points in their first three games before doing just enough against a Big East foe in the Pirates, though we’re far from celebrating here. It’s another easy week ahead with Kennesaw State coming to town, but the schedule becomes quite brutal over the next three weeks.
14. Tennessee (3-0)
Coming off a third straight trip to the Elite Eight, Tennessee is looking to make even more noise this season. Rick Barnes and his staff once again spent the offseason putting this program in the best position possible, landing quite the haul from the transfer portal. It takes time for these new and returning pieces to mesh and there may be some question marks despite an unbeaten start.
The outside shooting wasn’t great, but the Volunteers put together a 70-47 win over Radford to start the week. Terrence Hill Jr. scored 18 points while DeWayne Brown II grabbed 12 boards to topple the Highlanders. More concerns arose on Friday, with Tennessee surviving for an 83-78 victory against Tennessee State. Hill led with 19 points while Jalen Haralson had 15 points off the bench as the Volunteers did just enough.
Wins are wins and they all count the same at the end of the day, but do we have reasons for concern in Knoxville. The shots weren’t falling early in the week, though this defense really shut down Radford before a less impressive effort against Tennessee State that likely had Barnes pulling a few hairs out. Now is not the time for doubts, as the Volunteers host a very talented Michigan State team on Tuesday.
13. Louisville (2-0)
Many have long since forgotten the Kenny Payne era at Louisville, as the Cardinals really sunk to tremendous lows earlier this decade under his leadership. This program was really fighting to find itself still years after Rick Pitino’s firing, but Pat Kelsey has come to town and stabilized this program, establishing them finally as an ACC power.
Oddly enough, Louisville didn’t have a single game in the last week, still reveling over last week’s 50-point blowout over Morehead State. They’ll have their fair share of chances to prove themselves in the coming weeks, though it’s been a solid start for newcomers like Flory Bidunga in this lineup.
With just those two home wins over mid-majors, it’s hard to really know what we can expect from these Cardinals but we’ll get our chance very soon. With rising stars like Jackson Shelstad hoping to make a major impact, Louisville is back in action on Sunday at Memphis for their first road test.
12. Texas Tech (4-0)
Defense wins championships and that was surely the case when Texas Tech watched Virginia clinch the national title against them in 2019. A lot has changed in Lubbock since then, but Grant McCasland’s team thrives on the defensive end with a talented lineup that’s playing great even with JT Toppin still out for much of the year.
That drive was on full display on Tuesday night, as the Red Raiders got a Top 5 win in an 84-78 home victory against Illinois. Texas Tech built a huge halftime lead and held on late, getting 20 points and 5 assists from Cruz Davis. Far less drama was experienced on Saturday, with Texas Tech leading an 88-37 romp over Stonehill. DaKari Spear had 22 points off the bench while Amari Barrett and Jamichael Stillwell both had double-doubles.
Four impressive performances on the defensive end of the ball showcase what this Texas Tech team can be in the months to come. Holding Illinois to 78 points is very impressive with the way that offense plays, and the Red Raiders are doing it with a shorthanded lineup where contributions are coming from everywhere. They still won’t hit the road yet next week, though more difficult matchups are looming around Thanksgiving.
11. Arizona (3-1)
The Wildcats were clearly disappointed by how this season started, falling in that big matchup against UCLA on opening night. Before Arizona could even raise their Final Four banner they already had a major opportunity slip through their fingers. However, Tommy Lloyd has spent half a decade ensuring that a night like that isn’t going to topple this team’s potential.
They were on track again on Tuesday, winning 90-59 in an easy game against Northern Arizona. Ivan Kharchenkov had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists while Caleb Holt added 17 points over the Lumberjacks. Friday’s action was far more impressive, with the Wildcats getting a true road win, holding on for an 80-69 win at Auburn. Those same two stood out again, with Holt putting up 24 points while Kharchenkov added 19 points and Motiejus Krivas had a double-double.
The 3-pointers were not falling against the Bruins, but the offense as a whole has looked better and more balanced since then. We entered this season knowing the Wildcats had some great weapons in this frontcourt, though it’ll be interesting to see how Holt and the rest of this talent further develops. Another major opportunity looms, with UConn coming to town on Wednesday night for one of the sport’s biggest games of the week.
10. UCLA (3-0)
It’s honestly pretty hard for much more to have gone right for the Bruins during the opening week of the season. UCLA got an incredible win over former conference rival Arizona, and a Top 5 win on opening night is both resume currency and something to build on across the season. Mick Cronin knows that his team is just getting started and they’ve really showed their potential in these recent games.
A few days after dropping 114 points over North Florida, UCLA authored another impressive blowout in their only game on Wednesday. This time they victimized Arkansas Pine Bluff, winning 106-37 in a laugher on their home court. Nikola Kusturica led the scoring with 17 points while Trent Perry impressed with an 11-point, 11-assist performance.
Two blowouts and a Top 5 win put the Bruins on the right track in the early part of this season, but this is just the start. That win over Arizona should look fantastic all year long, but UCLA has to keep stockpiling impressive performances. However, they won’t exactly get that opportunity this week, as they’ll be hosting Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton, hoping for two more blowouts.
9. Kansas (3-0)
The last few seasons haven’t really seen the same dominance that we’ve been used to seeing out of Kansas basketball. Changes in the sport and in the Big 12 have seen a few other teams take charge, but let’s not ignore these Jayhawks this season. Kansas has a really talented roster, both with young prospects and experienced pieces and that was all on display this week.
After sprinting out to two easy wins in the opening week, Kansas conquered a significant challenge on Tuesday, winning 89-69 over a ranked Kentucky squad at the Champions Classic. Their impressive performance in Chicago was highlighted by a 30-point performance from Tre White, while freshman Tyran Stokes added 23 points and 10 rebounds against those Wildcats.
Much like we said, a freshman and a veteran both played exceptionally and the Jayhawks really ran away from Kentucky in the second half of that game. We didn’t even mention Trey Kaufman-Renn and his fine performance nor other star freshman Taylen Kinney, who had 8 assists in that win. This team is already showing that they’re for real and we’ll keep seeing that as they play UNLV next week to begin the Players Era Festival.
8. Illinois (3-1)
With the returning talent and new faces in Champaign, there were many reasons why Illinois entered this season with high expectations. Getting so much back from last year’s Final Four was one thing but Brad Underwood and his staff grabbed addition talent from the transfer portal and their tireless recruiting and entered the year as a Big Ten favorite.
Unfortunately, the Illini really faltered in their first real challenge, falling 84-78 at Texas Tech on Tuesday night. Freshman Quentin Coleman led the scoring with an efficient 19 points but the Illini couldn’t climb out of a 20-point halftime hole on the road. Friday wasn’t exactly the get-right game many expected, though Illinois pulled away late 108-86 over Sam Houston. Tomislav Ivisic had 28 points and Andrej Stojakovic added 26 points, with both making ten field goals in the win.
We’re far from making excuses for the Illini, but let’s remember that preseason All-American David Mirkovic has not been on the floor to this point. Illinois is a better team with Mirkovic in the lineup and they did look dominant in week one of the season, though time is short for them to lick their wounds. They have a massive matchup at Duke next week, though it’s smooth sailing for the rest of November afterwards.
7. Texas (3-0)
A rather weak schedule has opened the season for the Longhorns, though we’re all pretty sure that this team is going to do major damage this year. Sean Miller’s first year in Austin was an up and down affair that came together when it mattered most. Following up on that Sweet Sixteen run, he’s added significant talent and earned a pair of blowout wins to begin the season.
The story was largely similar in their lone matchup this week, with Texas triumphant 93-62 over Grambling back on Monday night. Matas Vokietaitis had 26 points and 9 rebounds while the defense played pretty solid basketball once again.
Honestly, three big wins doesn’t really tell the story we want to tell about the Longhorns. We’ll need to see them in more competitive action, though Vokietaitis looks good and there’s a ton of other talent like David Punch and Isaiah Johnson that’ll get their moments to shine. We actually get that first bit of competition for the Longhorns on Sunday against Baylor and we’ll see how they handle a former Big 12 rival.
6. Houston (3-0)
The years pass by and the names on the jerseys change, but Kelvin Sampson keeps finding a way to build elite lineups with the Cougars. Houston has built a reputation of elite defense thanks largely to these impressive guards over the last few years. Sampson thinks he has the next great one in Dedan Thomas Jr. and he showcased that this past week.
Way back on Sunday we saw the Cougars in action at Lake Tahoe, downing Cal 86-68 in the process. Thomas led the charge with 20 points and 8 assists while defensive menace Joseph Tugler had 16 points and 4 blocks. There really wasn’t much of a contest on Wednesday, with Houston victorious 92-46 in a blowout over Jacksonville State. Thomas led again with 17 points and 7 assists while Mercy Miller played well with 15 points.
It’s hard to find much to complain about in Houston’s first three outings and that perfect record is exactly what we expected. They made quick work of an ACC opponent and blew out a pair of competitive mid-majors over the first two weeks of the season, but the tough work starts now. Tuesday sees them begin the Players Era Festival with a matchup against Rutgers, though some tough teams could be looming later in the week.
5. Duke (3-1)
Thanks to the sensational talent on this roster, Duke entered another season with sky high expectations. The Blue Devils not only add a few freshman superstars but bring back some great pieces from last year and also nabbed a few key transfers like John Blackwell from Wisconsin. Jon Scheyer and his staff did impressive work in the offseason again, though the early returns don’t quite back that up.
They came up short in their first big test, falling 79-73 to Michigan State at the Champions Classic. The shooting was disastrous at just 33% from the field, though Blackwell’s 17-point performance kept them in the game late. Fortunately the Blue Devils got the bounce back they needed on Friday, topping SIU Edwardsville 90-47. Six different Duke players hit double-figures with decent shooting figures as a team.
What really stands out four games into this season isn’t necessarily that loss to the Spartans but how it happened. Duke’s offense just hasn’t been at the level we expected even if their defense has been largely otherworldly. The 3-point shooting needs to step up in the weeks ahead, especially with a high-powered offense coming to Durham next week. They’ll host Illinois on Tuesday and face Washington State over the weekend.
4. Virginia (5-0)
A lot has changed in the sport and the world since Virginia won the national championship back in 2019, but Ryan Odom truly believes that he can make significant noise in his second year with the Cavaliers. Year one was a solid success with a 30-win campaign and his team is already well on their way thanks to a fast start to this season.
Sunday saw them get one of the season’s impressive early wins, knocking out Arkansas 91-72 in Washington DC. All five starters were in double-figures, including 16 points and 10 rebounds from Thijs De Ridder. Virginia excelled on Tuesday in a 95-61 win against Bucknell, led by 16 points and 6 assists from Chance Mallory. Despite trailing by 11 points at the half, the Cavaliers got a true road win on Friday, rallying to beat Maryland 87-83 thanks largely to Sam Lewis (28 points, 7 rebounds) and De Ridder (20 points).
Picking up two likely Quad 1 wins in one week is already great news for the Cavaliers but the way they did it really stood out. They took control and played an impressive game on offense against Arkansas before digging deep with that stunning rally in Maryland. You could argue that they shouldn’t have dug that deep hole, but a win is a win, and they’ll likely get two more next week, hosting Old Dominion and Loyola-Maryland.
3. Connecticut (4-0)
The Huskies fell short in the national title game last year, but marching all the way to that point was surely an impressive feat. Dan Hurley’s squad did not fall short in the rematch this year, getting that nice win over Michigan to really jump start what could be another special season. Alex Karaban and others might be gone, but these Huskies look like the real deal again.
This week’s action began with a laugher on Monday, as UConn won 83-41 against Wagner. They destroyed Hurley’s former school with double-digit efforts from all five starters, including 18 points from Silas Demary Jr. On Friday, the Huskies used a strong second half to put away Ohio State in an 84-68 win in Hartford. Braylon Mullins had 22 points, Na’jai Hines had 20 points, and the Huskies shot the ball quite well against the Buckeyes.
While also beating up on some mid-major competition, the Huskies earned a pair of really solid Big Ten wins on the first two Friday nights of the season. This early work from UConn has been impressive in these marquee matchups, but we’re not even scratching the surface on this nonconference slate. They’ll head on the road to take on a really strong Arizona team on Wednesday, with four more highly-ranked foes waiting before Christmas.
2. Michigan State (4-0)
The notable figure for Michigan State entering this season is clearly Jeremy Fears Jr., who is probably the best point guard in the entire nation. His return alone gave the Spartans a significant boost but let’s not ignore the rest of the talent on this roster. After all, the Spartans really showed what they’re made of in their first real opportunity this week.
Michigan State scored a massive win on Tuesday night, beating Duke 79-73 at the Champions Classic in Chicago. The Spartans contained a strong Blue Devils lineup while getting 18 points and 11 assists from Fears in the victory. There was significantly less intensity on Friday in a 106-72 win against Northern Iowa back in East Lansing. Fears starred again with 24 points and 9 assists while Jasiah Jervis added 20 points himself.
Fears is on pace to lead the nation in assists again and looks the part not just of a facilitator but a shot maker and leader for this team. You’re not going to see these other Spartans in a starring role on a nightly basis, but Coen Carr and Jordan Scott and others are going to be just as vital to Michigan State’s long-term success. Looking ahead, the first true road test is a doozy as the Spartans head to Tennessee next week.
1. Florida (4-0)
Perhaps it shouldn’t really be a surprise to see Florida still hanging onto the top spot, and we’re not just talking about their games to date. The Gators entered the season with immense returning talent, boasting the best frontcourt in the country and a lineup full of national champions. Todd Golden’s squad didn’t make another deep run last March but this crew looks ready for another memorable campaign.
These Gators handled their first true road test on Tuesday night, winning 81-72 at rival Florida State down in Tallahassee. Thomas Haugh excelled with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Boogie Fland added 14 points in the win. The great start to the season continued in an 83-54 victory over Merrimack on Friday. All three members of that frontcourt played well, led by Alex Condon’s 16-point effort.
Say what you want about the talent and experience in this lineup, it’s also hard to ignore a double-digit neutral-site win over Miami and a nice performance at Florida State. The Gators showed their value against two in-state rivals and have been hitting on all cylinders in the early season. Whether or not that continues, we’ll next see them on Tuesday night against Notre Dame to start the Players Era Festival.
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