It’s been a strong season for the Florida Gators (22-3, 9-3 SEC). They were one of the last remaining unbeaten teams after going unbeaten in the non-conference while being tied for third place in the SEC standings. They’ve had great contributions from leading scorer Walter Clayton (17.2 ppg and 4.3 apg), along with FAU transfer Alijah Martin (15.1 ppg).
One other strength for the Gators has been the frontcourt. Sophomore forwards Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh have taken leaps in their second years. Plus, transfers Sam Alexis and Rueben Chinyelu have given them great depth. But they’ve been without a starter from last season in Micah Handlogten, a 7’1 center who produced 5.3 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 32 starts at nearly 20 mpg.
In the SEC Tournament last season, Handlogten suffered a brutal broken leg injury, sidelining him for months. There was a chance he’d just miss all of the 2024-25 campaign, but this past weekend, he returned to face South Carolina. He played 20 minutes off the bench in Florida’s 88-67 victory, producing two points, three rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals.
It’s important for the Gators that Handlogten has returned, as they were without both Alexis and Condon and will remain without them for a couple more weeks. Having a 7’1 big man who defends at a high level can only help Florida, especially when dealing with other SEC teams with frontcourt depth, such as Alabama and Auburn.
This past weekend, Florida was given a 1 seed in the early bracket top 16 reveal for the NCAA Tournament. So, as long as they don’t suffer too many bad losses in the next month, they’ll likely have a 1 seed by Selection Sunday. And with Handlgten back into the fold, they’ll have a good chance to win their respective region and make it to San Antonio for the Final Four.
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