Florida Gators Use Offensive Onslaught, and Motivation, To Beat Alabama Crimson Tide
There is calling your shot, and then there is whatever Florida Head Coach Todd Golden did last week. When news broke that a judge had cleared the way for former Alabama big man Charles Bediako to return to college basketball, despite a stint in the G League, Golden didn’t offer a diplomat’s “no comment.” He didn’t complain about the chaotic state of NCAA eligibility. He simply shrugged and told the media, “We’re gonna beat ’em anyways.”
It was the kind of bulletin board material that usually comes back to haunt a coach. Instead, it turned into a prophecy. On Sunday afternoon in Gainesville, the No. 19 Florida Gators didn’t just beat No. 23 Alabama; they dismantled them. In a game that felt personal from the opening tip, Florida ran away with a 100-77 victory that wasn’t nearly as close as the 23-point margin suggests.
Florida Completely Dominated the Interior
If you like modern basketball where teams just chuck three-pointers for 40 minutes, this wasn’t the game for you. This was a masterclass in bully ball. Florida decided early on that Alabama simply wasn’t tough enough to hang with them in the paint, and they were right.
The stat sheet is almost comical. The Gators outscored the Crimson Tide 72-26 in the paint. Florida scored nearly three-quarters of their points at the rim. Alex Condon looked like an All-American, tying his season-high with 25 points. He was joined by Thomas Haugh, who dropped 22, and Rueben Chinyelu, who was an absolute monster on the glass. Chinyelu finished with a double-double, 14 points, 17 rebounds, and seemed to take every missed shot personally.
The Gators’ frontcourt trio combined for 61 points and 29 rebounds. They didn’t just win the physical battle; they broke Alabama’s spirit.
The Rowdy Reptiles vs. Charles Bediako
The narrative coming into this game was all about Bediako. The 7-footer left Alabama for the NBA Draft, played in the G League, and then sued his way back into college eligibility. The “Rowdy Reptiles” student section was ready. From the moment Bediako stepped on the floor, the O’Dome was deafening. Every time he touched the ball, the chants of “G League Dropout” rained down from the stands. It was cruel, it was loud, and it was classic college basketball atmosphere.
Bediako, for his part, looked rattled. He managed just 6 points and 7 rebounds before fouling out with two minutes left, exiting the game to a sarcastic standing ovation from the Florida faithful. His return to the SEC was supposed to be a triumphant story for Alabama; instead, he was rendered a non-factor by a Florida defense that smelled blood in the water.
Boogie Fland’s Defensive Clinic
While the big men were feasting inside, Florida Guard Boogie Fland was putting on a defensive clinic on the perimeter. Fland was a pest in the best possible way, racking up a career-high 8 steals.
To put that in perspective, Fland’s eight steals tied a program record that has stood since 1989. He completely disrupted Alabama’s flow, jumping passing lanes and stripping ball handlers before they could even set up the offense. Alabama committed 18 turnovers.
Fland wasn’t just a defensive specialist, either. He chipped in 15 points and 8 assists, thoroughly outplaying Alabama’s leading scorer, Labaron Philon, who was held well below his season average.
A Second Half Explosion
Despite Florida’s dominance, Alabama actually hung around for a while in the first half. But the wheels fell off right before the break. Florida went on a 13-2 run to take a 10-point lead into halftime, and then they came out of the locker room and threw a haymaker.
The Gators scored the first 12 points of the second half, turning a competitive game into a laugher within four minutes. Alabama missed its first four shots out of the break. By the time the under-16 media timeout rolled around, Florida led 56-36, and the party in Gainesville was officially on.
The 7-Foot-9 Cherry On Top
You know a game has gone off the rails when the walk-ons check in. You really know it’s over when the world’s tallest teenager gets buckets.
With the game well in hand, Golden emptied his bench, bringing in Olivier Rioux. The 7-foot-9 freshman is a fan favorite for obvious reasons, and his teammates were desperate to get him the ball. With 30 seconds left, Rioux caught the ball in the post, turned, and casually dropped in a hook shot to put Florida at the century mark.
The bench exploded. The crowd went berserk. It was the perfect, absurd ending to a day that went exactly how Golden said it would. Florida has now won five straight against Alabama, and after a performance like this, the rest of the SEC has to be on notice. The Gators are big, they are mean, and apparently, they call their shots.
