Fight for 5: Chinyelu vs. Handlogten for Florida Basketball’s Starting Role
The starting spot is up in the air for Florida men’s basketball team centers Micah Handlogten and Rueben Chinyelu.
While Chinyelu will most likely get the starting nod on Nov. 3 against Arizona in the season opener, Handlogten is still fighting for the starting role he had in the 2023-2024 season. That season, he started 32 out of 33 games before suffering a leg injury in the SEC Championship Game against Auburn.
Handlogten originally planned to redshirt the 2024-2025 season, but chose to forgo his decision later in the season to help bring a national championship to Gainesville. That is exactly what he did.
“To put my faith in God and have it all come out to be what it ended up being [winning the championship], it means the world and I can’t really put it into words,” Handlogten said.
After Handlogten’s injury, Chinyelu was given Handlogten’s starting job, transferring from Washington State. Chinyelu started in all 40 games last year, cementing himself as one of the best centers in the SEC with his rim protection and soft touch around the basket.
Florida has the benefit of possessing two centers who would start on about every team in America. Handlogten is weighing in around 260 pounds, and says he is in the best shape of his life. While Chinyelu brings his trademarked energy competing against Handlogten each day in practice.
“We [Handlogten and Chinyelu] go at it each day knowing that it’s nothing personal,” Chinyelu said. “Whenever we are on the court it’s business … what happens on the court stays on the court.”
While the two centers are competing for minutes, Handlogten believes playing against Chinyelu is only pushing his game forward.
“You have someone that is an All-SEC caliber big, that you go against every day in practice,” Handlogten said. “Iron sharpens iron. We both make each other better and it’s going to be better for the season.”
In the 16 games Handlogten played last year, he only averaged 2.6 points per game, but made his impact on the offensive and defensive glass with 4.9 rebounds per game. A more aggressive, score-first Handlogten could really benefit Todd Golden’s squad, especially after losing an 18.3 points per game scorer in Walter Clayton Jr.
Beautiful no-look pass from Boogie Fland to Micah Handlogten. pic.twitter.com/Fc6z8fSK37
— Nick Marcinko (@marcinko_nick) September 30, 2025
On the defensive side of things, Handlogten and Chinyelu are both elite defenders with their length and agility. Paired with Thomas Haugh on the wing and Alex Condon at power forward, the Gators could have a lineup of 6-foot-9 (Haugh), 6-11 (Condon and Chinyelu) and up to 7-1 (Handlogten). While that could be seen as a mismatch for teams with shiftier forwards, Handlogten emphasized how the front court has been working on moving their feet and closing out on shooters.
Front Court Leadership
The senior guard trio of Clayton, Will Richard and Alijah Martin were not only the primary scorers of last season’s championship team, but also the vocal leaders of the team. With them gone, the torch has been tossed to the front court of Haugh, Handlogten, Chinyelu and Condon. All four will have three plus years of college basketball experience and a national championship under their belt.
“Pressure is beautiful. It’s a gift.”— Rueben Chinyelu on the pressure of being national champions pic.twitter.com/k3qpxREZIG
— Florida Basketball Hour (@FloridaBBHour) September 30, 2025
“Someone had to step up,” Handlogten said. “We [Haugh, Handlogten, Chinyelu and Condon] all kind of took it upon ourselves as the returners to take that step.”
It is virtually unheard of in this era of college basketball for a team to retain four key pieces of a national championship roster like Florida did. Regardless of who receives the starting nod, Golden has a experienced and dependable pieces down low.
Category: Basketball, College Basketball, Feature Sports News, Gators Men's Basketball, NCAA
