The University of Arizona men’s basketball team will take on the No. 3 University of Florida on Monday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. in Las Vegas for its first official game of the season and first game in the Hall of Fame series. Arizona has competed in two exhibition matchups so far, securing victories in both.
The Florida Gators saw a national title in the 2024-2025 season, knocking out all teams in March Madness. This was their third sweep, the first titles coming in back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007.
History vs. Florida
The Wildcats stand 2-2 against the Gators with their history dating back to 2001. That match took place in New York, earning Arizona its first win in the series, 75-71. Florida secured the next two wins in 2003 and 2011. The two programs’ most recent meeting was in 2013, giving the Wildcats their second victory in a 65-64 win. Notably, the winning margin was never more than six points across all four games.
Gators to watch
Florida is led by head coach Todd Golden in his fourth season at the helm. A national title says much about Golden’s coaching and recruiting skills, earning the third in program history. He played at Saint Mary’s College in the early 2000s, being named second in the nation at the time as a senior point guard. Additionally, he led the West Coast Conference with a 57.4 shooting percentage from the 3-point line. Golden’s playing and coaching experiences make him an exceptional leader for the Gators.
A 6-foot-11 forward and center from Australia will be a major presence on the court for Florida this season. Alex Condon made his way into the starting lineup during the National Tournament for the Gators, collecting 668 points and 508 rebounds in his two seasons with the team. He averaged 10.6 points per game and 7.5 boards. At just below 7-feet, Condon makes for an easy target beneath the hoop to put in easy points for Florida.
Florida’s sixth man last season, Thomas Haugh, will do numbers for the team this season. As a junior forward, Haugh was the only player to score in all 40 games on Florida’s National team last season. He averaged 9.8 points per game, 6.1 rebounds and had 30 blocks on the season. Haugh was a key substitute for the Gators and is likely filling a spot in the starting lineup this season.
Boogie Fland, a sophomore guard, entered the Florida roster as a transfer from the University of Arkansas. As a Razorback, he averaged 13.5 points per game, 5.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds, an all-around contributor to the team. He is presumed to be another player stepping into the roles of those who left the Gators’ team last season. Despite suffering a two month long injury, Fland led his team into the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament, making an impressive recovery.
Wildcats to watch
Tommy Lloyd enters his fifth season as head coach for the Arizona program this year. Aside from impressing recruits and finding young talent, Lloyd is able to mix and match players on the court to create chemistry both offensively and defensively. He values easy points in free throws and lay-ins as well as rebounding, making for a dynamic program. Lloyd was named Coach of the Year on several different accounts in his 2022 season.
Tobe Awaka, a senior forward, will be huge for the Wildcats on the board. In their last exhibition game against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Awaka led the game in both points and rebounding, tallying 18 points and 14 boards. These grabs created second possessions for the Wildcats, something that could make or break the game against the Gators.
Freshman Ivan Kharchenkov is a new asset to the Wildcat team this season. After playing in Germany for FC Bayern Munich, the 6-foot-7 forward found his way to Tucson. Similar to Awaka, he put up impressive efforts against Embry-Riddle with 17 points, two steals and four rebounds. Kharchenkov had an impressive way of getting to the hoop and clutching easy points for Arizona.
Another new addition to the roster is Brayden Burries, a five-star freshman recruit from California. In high school, Burries was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of California and was one-of-three finalists for Gatorade National Player of the Year. Against Embry-Riddle, Burries was seen at the point guard and shooting guard positions, collecting 13 points and two assists.
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