2023–24 Florida Gators men's basketball team

2023–24 Florida Gators men's basketball
NCAA tournament, first round
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record24–12 (11–7 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaO'Connell Center
Seasons
2023–24 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 5 Tennessee 14 – 4   .778 27 – 9   .750
No. 20 Kentucky 13 – 5   .722 23 – 10   .697
No. 3т Alabama 13 – 5   .722 25 – 12   .676
No. 18 Auburn † 13 – 5   .722 27 – 8   .771
No. 24 South Carolina 13 – 5   .722 26 – 8   .765
Florida 11 – 7   .611 24 – 12   .667
Texas A&M 9 – 9   .500 21 – 15   .583
LSU 9 – 9   .500 17 – 16   .515
Mississippi State 8 – 10   .444 21 – 14   .600
Ole Miss 7 – 11   .389 20 – 12   .625
Georgia 6 – 12   .333 20 – 17   .541
Arkansas 6 – 12   .333 16 – 17   .485
Vanderbilt 4 – 14   .222 9 – 23   .281
Missouri 0 – 18   .000 8 – 24   .250
† 2024 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2023–24 Florida Gators men's basketball team represented the University of Florida during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gators, led by second-year head coach Todd Golden, played their home games at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Previous season

The Gators finished the 2022–23 season 16–17, 9–9 in SEC play, to finish in eighth place. They lost in the first round of the NIT to UCF.[1]

Offseason

Departures

Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Ref.
Myreon Jones 0 G 6' 3" 177 Graduate student Birmingham, AL Graduated
CJ Felder 1 F 6' 7" 240 Senior Sumter, SC Transferred to McNeese [2]
Trey Bonham 2 G 6' 0" 170 Junior Mobile, AL Transferred to Chattanooga [3]
Alex Fudge 3 F 6' 9" 200 Sophomore Jacksonville, FL Undrafted free agent; signed with Los Angeles Lakers [4]
Niels Lane 4 G 6' 5" 215 Junior Freehold, NJ Transferred to Delaware [5]
Kyle Lofton 11 G 6' 3" 188 Graduate student Hillside, NJ Graduated
Colin Castleton 12 F 6' 11" 250 Senior DeLand, FL Undrafted free agent; signed with Los Angeles Lakers [6]
Kowacie Reeves 14 G 6' 6" 192 Sophomore Macon, GA Transferred to Georgia Tech [7]
Jason Jitoboh 33 C 6' 11" 300 Senior Abuja, Nigeria Transferred to Tennessee State [8]

Incoming transfers

Incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school Ref.
Zyon Pullin 0 G 6' 4" 205 Graduate student Pleasant Hill, CA UC Riverside
Walter Clayton Jr. 1 G 6' 3" 195 Junior Lake Wales, FL Iona [9]
Micah Handlogten 3 C 7' 1" 227 Sophomore Huntersville, NC Marshall
Tyrese Samuel 4 F 6' 10" 235 Graduate Student Montreal, QC Seton Hall
EJ Jarvis 15 F 6' 8" 220 Graduate Student Washington, D.C. Yale
Julian Rishwain 23 G 6' 5" 190 Graduate Student Los Angeles, CA San Francisco

2023 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Alex Condon
F 		Perth, Australia NBA Global Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Feb 2, 2023 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports:3/5 stars
Thomas Haugh
F 		New Oxford, PA Perkiomen School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jun 29, 2022 
Star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 79
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Florida 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.

Roster

2023–24 Florida Gators men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Zyon Pullin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 206 lb (93 kg) GS College Park HS
UC Riverside 		Pleasant Hill, CA
G 1 Walter Clayton Jr. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Bartow HS
Iona 		Lake Wales, FL
G 2 Riley Kugel 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) So Dr. Phillips HS Orlando, FL
C 3 Micah Handlogten 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) So SouthLake Christian Academy
Marshall 		Lake Norman, NC
F 4 Tyrese Samuel 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 239 lb (108 kg) GS Orangeville Prep
Seton Hall 		Montreal, QC
G 5 Will Richard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 206 lb (93 kg) Jr Woodward Academy
Belmont 		Fairburn, GA
F 10 Thomas Haugh 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Perkiomen School New Oxford, PA
G 11 Denzel Aberdeen 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Dr. Phillips HS Orlando, FL
G 12 Alex Klatsky (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 206 lb (93 kg) RS Sr Ranney School Colts Neck, NJ
F 13 Aleks Szymczyk 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) So Gymnasium München Nord Frankfurt, Germany
G 20 Jack May (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Jr Saint Andrew's School Boca Raton, FL
F/C 21 Alex Condon 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr NBA Global Academy Perth, Australia
G 22 Bennett Andersen (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Jesuit HS Tampa, FL
G 23 Julian Rishwain 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) GS Notre Dame HS
San Francisco 		Los Angeles, CA
G 30 Kajus Kublickas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 171 lb (78 kg) Fr Zalgiris II Kaunas, Lithuania
G 33 Cooper Josefsberg (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Riviera Prep Miami, FL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: April 2, 2024

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
8:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Loyola (MD) W 93–73  1–0
  23 – Kugel   8 – tied   5 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (7,023)
Gainesville, FL
November 10, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ACCN 		vs. Virginia
Hall of Fame Series 		L 70–73  1–1
  16 – Richard   14 – Handlogten   5 – Clayton Jr.  Spectrum Center (6,783)
Charlotte, NC
November 14, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Florida A&M W 89–68  2–1
  20 – Richard   8 – Samuel   5 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (6,675)
Gainesville, FL
November 17, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN 		Florida State
Rivalry 		W 89–68  3–1
  19 – Clayton Jr.   10 – Haugh   5 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (10,031)
Gainesville, FL
November 22, 2023*
9:30 p.m., ESPN2 		vs. Pittsburgh
NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals 		W 86–71  4–1
  28 – Clayton Jr.   10 – Samuel   8 – Pullin  Barclays Center (1,873)
Brooklyn, NY
November 24, 2023*
5:30 p.m., ESPN 		vs. No. 13 Baylor
NIT Season Tip-Off championship 		L 91–95  4–2
  25 – Kugel   9 – Kugel   5 – Pullin  Barclays Center (1,620)
Brooklyn, NY
November 29, 2023*
7:15 p.m., ESPNU 		at Wake Forest
ACC–SEC Challenge 		L 71–82  4–3
  24 – Kugel   8 – Samuel   5 – Pullin  LJVM Coliseum (8,165)
Winston-Salem, NC
December 5, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Merrimack W 77–57  5–3
  26 – Clayton Jr.   16 – Condon   3 – tied  O'Connell Center (6,813)
Gainesville, FL
December 9, 2023*
4:00 p.m., SECN 		vs. Richmond
Orange Bowl Classic 		W 87–76  6–3
  21 – Richard   14 – Samuel   6 – Clayton Jr.  Amerant Bank Arena (8,162)
Sunrise, FL
December 14, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN 		vs. East Carolina
Florida Tipoff 		W 70–65  7–3
  22 – Clayton Jr.   12 – Condon   4 – tied  RP Funding Center (3,073)
Lakeland, FL
December 19, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN 		vs. Michigan
Jumpman Invitational 		W 106–101 2OT 8–3
  22 – Pullin   11 – Samuel   5 – Pullin  Spectrum Center (7,027)
Charlotte, NC
December 22, 2023*
4:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Grambling State W 96–57  9–3
  17 – Richard   10 – Samuel   6 – Pullin  O'Connell Center (8,023)
Gainesville, FL
December 30, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPNU 		Quinnipiac W 97–72  10–3
  22 – Richard   9 – tied   3 – tied  O'Connell Center (9,869)
Gainesville, FL
SEC regular season
January 6, 2024
12:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 6 Kentucky
Rivalry 		L 85–87  10–4
(0–1) 		 23 – tied   12 – Handlogten   3 – tied  O'Connell Center (10,106)
Gainesville, FL
January 10, 2024
9:00 p.m., SECN 		at Ole Miss L 85–103  10–5
(0–2) 		 23 – Clayton Jr.   15 – Condon   3 – tied  SJB Pavilion (7,570)
Oxford, MS
January 13, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN 		Arkansas W 90–68  11–5
(1–2) 		 20 – Kugel   11 – Samuel   8 – Pullin  O'Connell Center (10,445)
Gainesville, FL
January 16, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at No. 6 Tennessee L 66–85  11–6
(1–3) 		 16 – Clayton Jr.   11 – Samuel   4 – Pullin  Thompson–Boling Arena (17,332)
Knoxville, TN
January 20, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPNU 		at Missouri W 79–67  12–6
(2–3) 		 17 – Samuel   12 – Handlogten   3 – tied  Mizzou Arena (11,489)
Columbia, MO
January 24, 2024
8:30 p.m., SECN 		Mississippi State W 79–70  13–6
(3–3) 		 23 – Richard   9 – Richard   3 – Pullin  O'Connell Center (8,484)
Gainesville, FL
January 27, 2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN2 		Georgia W 102–98 OT 14–6
(4–3) 		 23 – Handlogten   17 – Handlogten   8 – Pullin  O'Connell Center (10,045)
Gainesville, FL
January 31, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		at No. 10 Kentucky
Rivalry 		W 94–91 OT 15–6
(5–3) 		 23 – Clayton Jr.   13 – Samuel   7 – Pullin  Rupp Arena (20,068)
Lexington, KY
February 3, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at Texas A&M L 66–67  15–7
(5–4) 		 18 – Pullin   11 – Condon   8 – Pullin  Reed Arena (11,793)
College Station, TX
February 10, 2024
3:30 p.m., SECN 		No. 12 Auburn W 81–65  16–7
(6–4) 		 22 – Kugel   9 – Handlogten   3 – Pullin  O'Connell Center (10,808)
Gainesville, FL
February 13, 2024
8:00 p.m., SECN 		LSU W 82–80  17–7
(7–4) 		 21 – Clayton Jr.   7 – tied   3 – tied  O'Connell Center (9,007)
Gainesville, FL
February 17, 2024
1:00 p.m., SECN 		at Georgia W 88–82  18–7
(8–4) 		 21 – Clayton Jr.   7 – tied   5 – Pullin  Stegeman Coliseum (10,523)
Athens, GA
February 21, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 24 at No. 13 Alabama L 93–98 OT 18–8
(8–5) 		 27 – Clayton Jr.   13 – Handlogten   6 – Pullin  Coleman Coliseum (11,077)
Tuscaloosa, AL
February 24, 2024
1:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 24 Vanderbilt W 77–64  19–8
(9–5) 		 21 – Richard   9 – Condon   6 – Pullin  O'Connell Center (10,358)
Gainesville, FL
February 28, 2024
6:30 p.m., SECN 		No. 24 Missouri W 83–74  20–8
(10–5) 		 28 – Samuel   12 – Handlogten   5 – Clayton Jr.  O'Connell Center (9,072)
Gainesville, FL
March 2, 2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 24 at No. 18 South Carolina L 76–81  20–9
(10–6) 		 20 – Clayton Jr.   6 – Haugh   7 – Pullin  Colonial Life Arena (16,978)
Columbia, SC
March 5, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 16 Alabama W 105–87  21–9
(11–6) 		 23 – Richard   7 – Haugh   3 – tied  O'Connell Center (11,009)
Gainesville, FL
March 9, 2024
4:30 p.m., SECN 		at Vanderbilt L 78–79  21–10
(11–7) 		 20 – Pullin   8 – Condon   8 – Pullin  Memorial Gymnasium (6,442)
Nashville, TN
SEC tournament
March 14, 2024
9:30 p.m., SECN 		(6) vs. (11) Georgia
Second round 		W 85–80  22–10
  22 – Clayton Jr.   15 – Samuel   8 – Pullin  Bridgestone Arena (13,771)
Nashville, TN
March 15, 2024
9:30 p.m., SECN 		(6) vs. (3) No. 19 Alabama
Quarterfinals 		W 102–88  23–10
  23 – Clayton Jr.   9 – Haugh   4 – Clayton Jr.  Bridgestone Arena (18,244)
Nashville, TN
March 16, 2024
3:30 p.m., ESPN 		(6) vs. (7) Texas A&M
Semifinals 		W 95–90  24–10
  20 – Aberdeen   9 – Condon   5 – tied  Bridgestone Arena (16,499)
Nashville, TN
March 17, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN 		(6) vs. (4) No. 12 Auburn
Championship 		L 67–86  24–11
  15 – Pullin   7 – tied   13 – Clayton Jr.  Bridgestone Arena (18,532)
Nashville, TN
NCAA tournament
March 22, 2024
4:30 p.m., TBS 		(7 S) vs. (10 S) Colorado
First round 		L 100–102  24–12
  33 – Clayton Jr.   9 – Aberdeen   6 – Condon  Gainbridge Fieldhouse (16,702)
Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South region.
All times are in Eastern.

Source:[10]

Rankings

See also: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
APRV————————————RVRV2424RVRVRVRV
CoachesRV—RVRV—————RV———RVRVRV2425RV23RV

References

  1. ^ Harry, Chris (March 15, 2023). "Knights Rout Gators Out of NIT". Florida Gators. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Flaherty, Kevin (April 14, 2023). "Florida basketball transfer CJ Felder signs with Will Wade, McNeese State". 247sports.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  3. ^ @punkinUSN (April 20, 2023). "@GoMocsMBB @JGoldHoops @theflockcha @Cole_Winning" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Abolverdi, Zach (June 23, 2023). "Los Angeles Lakers signing Florida forward Alex Fudge". on3.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Tresolini, Kevin (April 26, 2023). "For these basketball transfers, coming to Delaware provides a welcomed reunion". delawareonline.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Peralta, Matt (July 12, 2023). "Colin Castleton Explains Why He Chose To Sign With Lakers As Undrafted Free Agent Over Getting Drafted". lakersnation.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "Transfer Kowacie Reeves Signs Grant-In-Aid With Tech". ramblinwreck.com. April 18, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  8. ^ @JasonJitoboh (April 9, 2023). "Watch this 🙏🏾 #GoTigers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Parler, Denver (June 9, 2023). "Florida Inks Grad Transfer Julian Rishwain". floridagators.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Florida Gators. Retrieved April 2, 2024.