Florida Gators land in Jay Bilas' 2026-27 college basketball rankings
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Florida Gators land in Jay Bilas' 2026-27 college basketball rankings
Michael Trim Jr, Gators Wire·Gators Wire
·
2 min read
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Floridabasketball enters the 2026-27 season with national championship expectations, and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas believes theGatorshave the personnel to compete for another title.
In his latest edition of theBilas Index, which ranks the nation's top men's college basketball teams, Bilas ranked Florida No. 2 nationally, just behind the Duke Blue Devils, who Florida will welcome on Dec. 1.
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Todd Golden's squad returns a stout trio in Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, all of whom logged significant minutes in Florida's national championship run two seasons ago, with their size, experience, and productivity giving the Gators a known advantage in the paint and on the glass.
Through two games, Florida's frontcourt has already demonstrated why it is considered among the nation's best. The Gators opened their season with a 77-67 victory over No. 14 Miami, led by Haugh's 19-point, 10-rebound performance. Chinyelu added 14 rebounds, while Condon contributed 11 points and seven boards.
Florida followed that performance with an 88-57 victory over Jacksonville in its home opener. Chinyelu led the way with a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds, while Condon nearly recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Haugh added 14 points and seven rebounds as the Gators dominated the glass, outrebounding the Dolphins 52-25.
Bilas praised Florida's frontcourt, calling the group "awesome," while identifying the backcourt as a question mark in the team's championship aspirations.
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With Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar and Denzel Aberdeen leading the guard rotation, Florida has the talent to compete with the nation's best. However, Bilas suggested that the Gators' ability to make another deep postseason run will depend on their guards' efficiency.
The backcourt has shown encouraging signs early in the season. Fland recorded 12 points, four assists, and four steals against Miami, while Aberdeen and Klavzar each contributed 12 points in the victory over Jacksonville.
Florida has also shown its perimeter shooting, connecting on 11 3-pointers in each of its first two games.
While Florida's championship-winning backcourt previously drove its success, Bilas expects the current roster to rely more on its interior presence and rebounding.
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The Gators have lived up to expectations early into the season. With an experienced roster and solid depth, Florida remains positioned among the nation's elite as it pursues another championship.
Florida returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 10, when it travels to Tallahassee to face rival Florida State.
Florida Boogie Fland (0) shoots against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Urban Klavzar (7) drives on Jacksonville Evan Sterck (34) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Urban Klavzar (7) gets shoved by Jacksonville Evan Sterck (34) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Boogie Fland (0) drives against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Rueben Chinyelu (9) dunks against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Boogie Fland (0) shoots against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Rueben Chinyelu (9) celebrates a dunk against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Boogie Fland (0) drives against Jacksonville Sam Mbingazo (35) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Florida Alex Condon (21) dunks against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Boogie Fland (0) shoots against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Boogie Fland (0) shoots against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
2/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Urban Klavzar (7) drives on Jacksonville Evan Sterck (34) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
3/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Urban Klavzar (7) gets shoved by Jacksonville Evan Sterck (34) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
4/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Boogie Fland (0) drives against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
5/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Rueben Chinyelu (9) dunks against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
6/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Boogie Fland (0) shoots against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
7/9
Final score, recap, highlights from Florida's win over Jacksonville
Florida Rueben Chinyelu (9) celebrates a dunk against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
8/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Boogie Fland (0) drives against Jacksonville Sam Mbingazo (35) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
9/9
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida's home opener vs Jacksonville
Florida Alex Condon (21) dunks against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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