Florida enters the 2026-27 season with the kind of roster continuity that usually stands out in NCAA basketball rankings. After finishing 27-8, winning the SEC and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season, the Gators are bringing back 81.8% of their scoring.
That return rate is a major reason Florida should open the season with high preseason expectations. In a sport where top teams often lose key production to the NBA Draft or graduation, bringing back that much offense gives Todd Golden a strong starting point before the season even begins.
Three returning players draw national attention
The headline names are Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. Those three players are already generating serious national attention, and their return gives Florida something very few high-major programs can match: proven production and an established core.
Florida's frontcourt should be especially important again. Alex Condon, listed at 6-foot-9, was one of the team's most important players last season, finishing with 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while earning consensus second-team All-American honors. With him back alongside Haugh and Chinyelu, Florida has real size, experience and lineup stability.
Why it matters for Florida
The Gators' run last season ended in a 73-72 loss to Iowa in the second round, but the broader story was how quickly Florida established itself as one of the country's best teams. Returning 81.8% of its scoring makes that success feel sustainable rather than temporary.
For Todd Golden, the challenge now is turning continuity into another deep run. Florida does not just have familiarity; it has star power, size and a proven winning baseline. That combination is why the Gators should remain a team to watch near the top of the NCAA basketball rankings before the season begins.
