“We still have that DNA,” Hurley said. When Dan Hurley looks at Florida, he doesn’t just see a top seed—he sees a team built like his championship-winning squads. The two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies will attempt on Sunday afternoon to continue their quest for a three-peat, something that hasn’t been done since the NCAA Tournament bracket expanded. But to keep the dream alive, UConn must take down one of the tournament’s top teams, No. 1 seed Florida, a Gators squad that looks oddly familiar to Hurley.
“They’ve got bigs that remind me of what we had with Sanogo, Clingan, and Samson Johnson,” Hurley said. “They just keep trotting out skilled, tenacious two-way players that dominate the glass. Their depth on the perimeter stands out too, and they’re old, experienced.“
Yet, Hurley and the squad will have to tread cautiously as their journey to this point hasn’t exactly been smooth. Finishing the regular season at 23-10, they earned an 8-seed. Their first-round win over No. 9 Oklahoma was a 67-59, which honestly came after a hard set of efforts. “Somebody is going to have to put us down in this tournament for us to go away,” coach Dan Hurley said postgame. But that doesn’t dispel the concerns surrounding his star player Alex Karaban who had a slug-fest for most of the game. That somebody might very well be Florida though.
Florida has been relentless. The Gators crushed No. 16 Norfolk State 95-69 in Round 1, making a point for their No. 1-ranked offense (85.7 points per game) and an equally impressive defense allowing opponents 69.2 points. “We’re playing with surgical precision,” coach Todd Golden said after the win. And no fans are sounding off against their star player, Walter Clayton Jr., who is averaging 17.7 points and led with 23 against Norfolk State.
So, it looks like a matchup between Florida’s up-tempo and UConn’s methods.
UConn vs Florida Lineups: Who’s in and out?
Florida’s starting five is built to score. Walter Clayton Jr. is the guy, with an average of 4.3 assists while shooting 38% from deep. Alijah Martin and Will Richard bring even more firepower in the backcourt. This squad is deep and experienced, thanks to some smart transfer portal moves.
Florida:
Walter Clayton Jr.
Alijah Martin
Will Richard
Alex Condon
Rueben Chinyelu
UConn? They’ve got pieces, but they’re still figuring things out. Karaban is the lone holdover from last year’s title team. McNeeley is a high-upside freshman, and Reed Jr., a Michigan transfer, has a tough battle ahead against Florida’s size.
UConn:
Solomon Ball
Alex Karaban
Liam McNeeley
Samson Johnson
Hassan Diarra
Injuries? UConn’s clean. Florida’s got forward S. Alexis listed as questionable, and big man Olivier Rioux is out for the season after redshirting.
The matchup between UConn and Florida tips off at 2:30 PM ET on Sunday, airing live on CBS. Fans can also stream the game on March Madness Live or Paramount+. The Gators, fresh off their SEC title run, are the No. 1 seed, while UConn, the defending champions, are looking to keep their tournament streak alive.
UConn’s Chances Against Florida
Hurley praised Florida’s roster construction, noting that Todd Golden and his staff built a squad similar to the ones that won UConn’s last two championships. The Gators’ mix of transfers and homegrown talent mirrors what worked for the Huskies in the past.
Florida has been rolling, fresh off an SEC title and a dominant first-round win over Norfolk State, 95-69. UConn had to grind out a 67-59 win over Oklahoma. Still, Hurley knows his team isn’t favored, but he’s embracing the underdog role. “There’s honor in fighting,” he said, adding that he wants his team to go down swinging if this is the end of their tournament run.
Hurley often leans on boxing metaphors, and right now, UConn is the defending champ holding the belt. But Florida is a heavyweight challenger looking for a knockout.
Oddsmakers have Florida as a clear favorite, with an implied final score of 80-71 in favor of the Gators. Based on the money line, Florida has an 84.3% chance to win, while UConn sits at just 20%. The Huskies have been underdogs seven times this season and have won four of those matchups, giving them a 57.1% success rate when not favored. On the other hand, Florida has thrived as a favorite, going 15-1 when given a money line of -535 or shorter, which equates to a 93.8% win rate. UConn hasn’t entered a game this season with longer odds than +400, making this an uphill battle.
Florida comes in as the clear favorite, and their size, depth, and experience make them a tough matchup. UConn has the championship DNA, but their lack of depth could be an issue against a Gators team that thrives on wearing opponents down.
Prediction: Florida wins in a tight battle, 80-70.
If UConn can control the pace and get a dominant performance from Clingan, they have a shot. But Florida has looked like the better team, and unless the Huskies find another gear, the Gators could be the ones advancing.
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