The last time Florida men’s basketball faced the Jacksonville Dolphins at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center was in November 2024, and things were a bit different. Florida was No. 21 in the nation, Thomas Haugh and Denzel Aberdeen were coming off the bench, and the Gators were under the radar for a national title. They would go on to beat the Dolphins 81-60, led by a perfect night from Alex Condon, who scored 23 points on 7-for-7 shooting.
Skip ahead to the 2026-27 season, and the Gators turned the O’Dome another double-digit thrashing.
After a physical 77-67 win over No. 14 Miami, the No. 1 Florida Gators (2-0) dominated the Jacksonville Dolphins (1-1) in their first home game this season, winning 88-57 Thursday. Rueben Chinyelu led the Gators with 21 points on 7-for-9 shooting.
The Dolphins, coached by former Gators assistant Jordan Mincy, dominated Trinity Jacksonville 105-61 in their opener and were led by preseason All-ASUN honoree Jamie Phillips Jr., who transferred from Stetson.
Playing an opponent like Jacksonville, a team the Gators have dominated with a 33-5 record, was an opportunity for Todd Golden’s roster to find its shooting. In the second half against Miami, the Gators shot 32% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range.
Florida’s shooting was in rhythm in the first half, as the Gators shot 55% from the field and 50% from 3. They were spacing the floor and passing the ball, heading into the half with 13 assists. Florida ended the half with a 19-2 run, holding Jacksonville scoreless for 2:32 to go up 50-28.
Prior to the game, the expectation was for the Gators to dominate the paint, and the face of that was Chinyelu. The 6-foot-10 center was in rhythm all night, dominating the interior, getting rebounds with ease and sending kisses in the air after free throws.
The Dolphins tried to match size in the second half by inserting Nehemiah Turner into the lineup, but it was no match for the Gators’ bigs, who held Jacksonville to 12 paint points on the night. Chinyelu and Condon were clearing lanes for Florida’s guards and creating shots off the pick-and-roll. The Gators finished the game with 36 points in the paint and won the rebounding battle 51-25.
Alongside Chinyelu’s dominance was Alex Condon, who came close to a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. The senior forward had a minor scare during the game that had Florida fans worried for a moment.
Golden and Florida can be pleased with the shooting, which held up in the second half at 42.3% from the field and 70% from the line. The bench began to empty about midway through the second half as Florida held a 33-point lead.
A strong start can be crucial and even foretell the future. Since arriving in Gainesville, Golden has had one season in which his team won its first 10 games, and that season ended with a national title.
Florida will head to Tallahassee to face in-state rival Florida State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Florida State is 1-0 to start the season after facing Florida A&M following the Gators’ game at the Orion 180 Tip-Off Classic.
