What was a disappointing ending for Florida basketball may now be a blessing in disguise.
Yes, the Gators failed in their quest to defend their national title after being upset by Iowa in the Round of 32. The emotions in the postgame press conferences added to the bitterness of what seemed to be an unfortunate ending to the careers of beloved front-court players Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh.
And if this were a few years ago, it likely would have been the ending, as turning down the life-changing money from the NBA would have been hard to do. But now in the age of NIL and revenue sharing, that’s no longer the case.
Even with the financial security and lucrative deals Florida can offer now in the new era, had the Gators advanced to the Elite Eight or even Final Four, it’s safe to assume UF’s big three would be moving on with their careers. Not to mention, the reports of NBA interest for UF head coach Todd Golden would have more momentum, which Golden was quick to kill on Wednesday, April 22.
Fortunately for the Gators fan base, the Gators’ star players and coaching staff are choosing to not be defined by the unexpected loss and are all putting off lucrative futures — a refreshing change of pace in the current era of college sports.
“I’m definitely planning on coaching the Gators,” said Golden, a day after it was reported the Golden State Warriors would pursue him.
Haugh, meanwhile, told multiple outlets that the Iowa loss was the reason for his return, and Alex Condon noted in his return video that he had unfinished business.
“It didn’t end the way I wanted it to,” said Haugh on SportsCenter. “I was definitely a little mad after that. I know that wasn’t the way I wanted to go out wearing the Orange and Blue. I want to represent my school and get us back to that highest level like we did my sophomore year. After that game, it definitely lit a little fire underneath me. I just wanted to get back out there and compete with my guys. I didn’t want it to end on that term.”
And although Rueben Chinyelu is testing the NBA draft waters, he is still maintaining his college eligibility, which is a sign that it’s likely he returns – although not a guarantee.
“We hope Rueben’s back, you know, he’s going to test and check out what’s out there for him,” Golden said. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t think Tommy coming back and Condo coming back appealed to him to come back as well. Like, they’re all boys, and they all want to be together, so there are different variables out there. But yes, we’ll be prepared to pivot if Rueben stays in the Draft.”
It’s also worth noting that delaying the NBA for one more year could benefit the trio, as this year is widely considered a deep draft class, while next season’s is expected to have a significant drop-off.
Regardless, the loss to the Hawkeyes not only avoids a roster overhaul for at least a year but also brings back Denzel Aberdeen. The former key bench piece spent a year away from UF after joining Kentucky in pursuit of a larger deal. Aberdeen, who shot 36% from the 3-point line last season, should be a boost for a team that struggled to shoot.
Yes, Aberdeen will need a waiver and need to graduate this summer should he hope to play next season, but his relationships were clearly never soured with his former teammates or Golden. It’s also safe to assume that if that the trio pursued the NBA, then Aberdeen’s return would’ve been less likely.
“Denzel loves the guys on the team,” Golden said. “I think he really appreciates our staff and our program and what we have going on here. There were no hard feelings.”
Yet as important as roster retention has been, the Gators have also kept their coaching staff together, unlike a year ago when Florida lost two of its top assistant coaches. But instead, associate head coach Carlin Hartman and Dave Klatsky are staying with the program as UF held off suitors. That retention also helped keep UF’s big three, as well as the majority of the roster, who have resigned.
“I think of a staff not that much different than a roster,” Golden said. “You need to have great guys on your staff if you want to be really good. If you lose great guys, which we did two years ago, you got to figure out a way to replace them properly.”
And so now, after a disappointing ending to a season filled with expectations, the stakes are now even higher for Florida for 2026-27. The Gators are, or at least should be, the odds-on favorite for a national title next year.
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Why Florida basketball’s loss to Iowa now looks like a blessing in disguise
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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