“Run it Back.”
Florida men’s basketball fans have been hearing that a lot lately.
As of this moment, the confirmed returners include guards Urban Klavzar, Boogie Fland and Isaiah Brown. Forward Alex Condon recently confirmed his return as well, and fellow forward Thomas Haugh is now rumored to come back after recent meetings with UF leadership. National Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu is strongly believed to be returning for another year, too. And all of that doesn’t even include guard Denzel Aberdeen’s return after leaving Florida for Kentucky last year.
Essentially, there’s no expected need for any real change in Florida’s lineup. The question has to be asked, though. Is that really the best thing for Florida’s future?
Florida’s 3-point shooting percentages were low last season, even in spite of the fact that the Gators earned a No. 1 seed in the South in the NCAA Tournament.
Maintaining high shooting percentages is undeniably a key piece of winning a national championship. Michigan, this year, had seven players with 3-point shooting percentages exceeding 32.6. The national champions of 2025, Florida, had five players with rates higher than 32.6, which was Thomas Haugh’s 3-point percentage last season — Florida’s best starter from deep. In fact, he was one of the five in 2025 before regressing last year.
To that point, perhaps Klavzar could start next season. He held a 40.6% clip last season, but that may be too good to be true. He’s not a strong defender. He also only had 1.5 rebounds per game — essentially remaining nonexistent as a contributor when he’s not shooting — and when you put that next to Chinyelu’s 11.2 rebounds, that number just looks sad.
Perhaps Denzel Aberdeen will be the answer. At Kentucky, Aberdeen had a strong 36.3% and grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game. Again, that’s probably too good to be true. Even if he maintains his rate from a year ago, Florida’d only have one strong shooter — recall Michigan had seven this season.
If Haugh returns to Florida, it’ll be to improve his skill set, including his shooting, to enhance his opportunity in the NBA draft. Significant improvement in one player, however, isn’t something a contender should rely on for the outcome of a season still months away. Not to mention, Florida would need a number to make sizable leaps. Condon would need even more help than Haugh with a measly shooting percentage of 17.
That’s not to say it’s all doom and gloom. Florida still projects as an undeniably strong team next year. Assuming Aberdeen plays to his capacity, and Klavzar starts pushing himself defensively, the Gators will still be competitive next spring. But shouldn’t Florida strive for more than just being competitive? In truth, the Gators should be within striking distance of a title most campaigns, especially with this baseline of a returning core.
So the best chance might just be found in the transfer portal, where a number of players with 3-point percentages in the high 30s currently reside. One to look out for could be Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic, who hit an unbelievable 48.7%, and that’s only one example. The point is, Florida should not confine itself into a set dynamic. The Gators might want to consider looking into the transfer portal to expand their offensive diversity, even more than “running it back.”. They should specifically scout shooters that will improve their ability to hit from deep
But either way, Florida has a stacked roster. Haugh averaged 17.1 points per game, and Fland and Condon were not far behind. Chinyelu is one of the best defensive players in the country, and Klavzar was SEC Sixth Man of the Year.
Unfortunately, there’s a difference between a national championship team and a good team. For Florida, that difference might be found in the transfer portal.
