When the reigning champs tipped off against Arizona, all eyes were on their roster for the right reasons. For the first ten minutes, it seemed like the team was back with the same pedigree, as they held offense and defense steady. Over the middle 20 minutes, however, defensive cracks began to surface. And in the final stretch, they lost both Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon to fouls, leaving Thomas Haugh to carry the offense alone. The struggle ended in a disappointing loss for Florida. Was this a reminder that they were paying the real price after chasing chemistry?

No, we’re not only saying this, but NCAA analyst Terrence Oglesby is. “I think, you know, the guards are going to take a little bit of time. The thing that does kind of pull me back a little bit is Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland aren’t these like big, strong, physical guards like Walter Clayton was or some of the other guys they had in that backcourt,” he shared on a recent episode of Field of 68 when asked about Florida’s defeat. And yes, there’s a reason Oglesby went straight to the Gators’ backcourt.

“Like Alijah Martin. He was jacked. He looked like a linebacker. They aren’t those kinds of guys. Those kinds of guys win in the NCAA Tournament. That’s the only reason I would not pick Florida to get to the Final Four… They do have Boogie Fland, they do have Lee – I get that. But they’re not the same in how they approach the game, if that makes sense,” the analyst added.

It does make sense. Last season, Florida relied heavily on Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard. But after their national title run, all three were drafted into the NBA, leaving a massive void in the Gators’ backcourt. That’s when the Florida side’s HC went hunting for replacements, then acquired two transfer guards, Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland, both of whom missed Florida’s exhibition game against Illinois.

Coming off a combined average of 30.4 points per game, the duo showed solid ball-handling skills. So they looked like a good fit on paper. That’s precisely why the Gators added Lee ($6 million) and Boogie ($2 million), combining for an $8 million net worth to the roster.   

“[Fland] is going to start at the point for us, but Xavian will be a second-side playmaker, and then he’ll play point when [Fland] is out of the game. I think they’re both going to have really good seasons,” Head coach Todd Golden told ESPN on October 16. 

“They’ve really kind of come into their own over the last couple of weeks. I feel like they’re getting really comfortable with the way we play, and obviously, we throw to our big guys a lot and let them be the playmakers and the hubs in the middle of the floor,” Golden had said.

And just like that, Florida got its new lineup featuring college veterans Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu, alongside transfers Boogie Fland and Xavian Lee. Now all that was left was the actual test on the court.

But guess what? It didn’t go as planned. Both guards struggled offensively, shooting about 30% combined, but missing crucial shots late in the game. Even when Florida fought back from a nine-point deficit, both guards missed big corner threes in the final minute and a half, costing them a chance to tie or win.

The duo combined for 23 points, with Lee struggling with shot selection, going 5-for-17 from the field. Therefore, it is clear that the transfers didn’t perform as expected. As Coach Golden put it, “We had some uncharacteristic turnovers and just made some plays that just weren’t winning plays.” But were only the guards who struggled?

How did Arizona expose Todd Golden’s three-big lineup?

After the game, Coach Golden reflected on the key issues the Gators faced on the court. He hinted that the guards weren’t the only problem; even the frontcourt, which was supposed to be the team’s strength, fell short. And yes, there’s a reason behind that observation. Well, Golden used a three-big starting lineup to maximize talent, with Haugh at small forward and Condon at power forward.

On paper, it sounded promising, putting the Gators’ best players on the floor. However, it didn’t work, as NCAA basketball is played at a faster pace today. Top teams rely on spacing, speed, and transition play. As a result, Florida scored just 13 of its 87 points on fast breaks. They were even out-rebounded 41–39, as Arizona’s Koa Peat dominated with 30 points and forced both Condon and Chinyelu into foul trouble.

“We could have done a better job on the glass,” Coach Golden admitted. “That’s been a calling card for us, getting all our bigs back, and we lost the battle on the glass.” This game undoubtedly served as a valuable lesson for both the coach and the players.