With Clayton and Richard back, No. 21 Florida eyes a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament

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FILE - Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) gets by Alabama guard Rylan Griffen (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood, File)

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FILE - Florida head coach Todd Golden, left, and Florida guard Will Richard (5) protest a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood, File)

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FILE - Florida guard Will Richard (5) and guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) steal the ball from Vanderbilt forward Ven-Allen Lubin (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood, File)

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Florida (24-12, 11-7 SEC)

The 21st-ranked Gators return three starters and six of their top nine scorers from last season’s team that lost to Colorado 102-100 in one of the more exciting first-round games of the NCAA Tournament. Most notably, guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard are back along with big men Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh. Improved defense, including forcing turnovers, is the primary goal for third-year Florida coach Todd Golden. Florida gave up nearly 80 points a game last season and ranked 94th nationally in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.

Players to watch

The offense runs through Clayton (senior, G, 6-3, 17.6 ppg), who flirted with the NBA before returning to Florida. He moves from shooting guard to point guard – replacing Zyon Pullin — and needs to improve his 3-point shooting as well as his assist-to-turnover ratio for Florida to remain stout at the position. Condon (sophomore, F, 6-11, 7.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg) looks to make a significant jump while stepping in for Tyrese Samuel.

Departures and arrivals

Golden added guard Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic) and big men Rueben Chinyelu (Washington State) and Sam Alexis (Chattanooga) from the transfer portal. Martin and Chinyelu are plug-and-play starters who should bolster the defense. Martin, a graduate transfer, averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Owls last season and has Final Four experience. Chinyelu averaged 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots as a freshman. Staying out of foul trouble will be key for him.

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Top games

The Gators open against USF in Jacksonville on Nov. 4. They should get a better feel during a three-game stretch against Virginia, Arizona State and No. 9 North Carolina in early December. Their SEC schedule starts with No. 23 Kentucky, No. 12 Tennessee, No. 16 Arkansas, Missouri and No. 19 Texas.

Facts and figures

At 7 feet, 9 inches, Canadian walk-on Olivier Rioux is very likely the world’s tallest teenager. He’s sure to be a fan favorite and could get late-game minutes. If so, he would surpass 7-foot-7 center Kenny George of UNC Asheville as the tallest player in college basketball history. … The Gators have their most international players: Chinyelu (Nigeria), Condon (Australia), Urban Klavzar (Slovenia), Kajus Kublickas (Lithuania), Viktor Mikic (Serbia) and Rioux. … This is Florida’s highest ranking under Golden. ... Florida center Micah Handlogten, who broke his left leg during the SEC tournament in March, is redshirting this season.

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