Florida Gators Fall Short Against Arizona in Season Opener

The Florida Gators suffered a disappointing start to their 2025-26 season, losing to the Arizona Wildcats 93-87 in a tightly contested game on November 3, 2025. Despite a remarkable performance from forward Thomas Haugh, who scored a career-high 27 points, the third-ranked Gators could not secure a win against the 13th-ranked Wildcats, largely due to a combined 57 points from freshman Koa Peat and senior Jaden Bradley.

Florida initially took control of the game, building a double-digit lead early on. However, the Gators struggled to maintain their momentum. Head coach Todd Golden acknowledged the team’s shortcomings while also finding a silver lining in the defeat. “We wanted to be tested early and kind of see what we were excelling at and what some of our warts were,” he said. Golden noted that last season, the team did not face a competitive opponent like Arizona until January, highlighting the importance of this early challenge.

Despite Golden’s optimism, the Gators’ performance fell short of expectations. The guard duo of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, who were making their debuts for the team, struggled significantly, shooting just 8-for-26 from the field and missing crucial three-point attempts late in the game. Additionally, starting big men Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon faced difficulties on defense, both eventually fouling out, with Condon leading all players with six turnovers.

Golden pointed out that some players performed below their capabilities, attributing this to “first-night jitters.” He expressed confidence that Chinyelu and Condon would improve as the season progresses. “I know our guys are great players, so I’m not worried about that,” he stated.

Florida’s defensive performance was particularly troubling. After taking a 32-20 lead in the first half, the Gators allowed Arizona to mount a significant comeback, tying the game at 39-39 before taking a 50-46 lead into halftime. Florida managed to tie the game twice in the second half but could not regain the lead. Golden emphasized that the team’s poor shot selection and lack of organization on offense contributed to their defeat, stating, “We were a little bit disorganized offensively.”

Despite the loss, Golden remains optimistic about the season ahead. He believes the issues faced by the Gators are “correctable errors.” “You have to turn it into a positive,” he said, reflecting on the opportunities for improvement. With 30 more games remaining in the season, he noted that this early setback could pave the way for growth and development.

The Gators will look to bounce back in their home opener against North Florida on November 5, 2025, at 20:00.