Florida assistant jabs back at haters after huge win vs. Alabama

It’s been a trying few years for major athletics at Florida, with the Gators enduring three straight losing seasons in football and not having an NCAA Tournament appearance in basketball since 2020-21.

That will change this season, with the Florida basketball team putting together a really respectable season.

The team’s resume got one of its biggest notches yet on Tuesday night, when Florida knocked off No. 16 Alabama 105-87 to move to 21-9 overall and 11-6 in SEC play. And one man was ready to praise his guys for their hard work, putting the doubters in the corner.

“This group never ceases to amaze!” assistant coach Carlin Hartman wrote on Twitter. “We saw all the comments regarding the team photo earlier this year. The NITodd chants were loud. That’s ok, we come to work as a staff everyday knowing the character of our players! Thank you Gator believers! We appreciate you!”

As far as the team photo goes, some were critical because Florida looked a little thin and possibly unathletic off the cuff. Some of the comments under the team photo will give you the gist of it. But the team certainly hasn’t played that way.

In fact, Florida’s four-deep rotation in the frontcourt is one of the major reasons the Gators have been so successful this year.

As for the NITodd comments, that’s an obvious reference to a coach who failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in his first season that fans think might not be cut out for the job.

After Tuesday night against Alabama, though, it’s hard to doubt Florida coach Todd Golden. He pushed all the right buttons against the Crimson Tide, stifling their strong 3-point shooting and getting them out of rhythm right from the jump.

Golden attested to that at halftime.

“I thought we did a really good job defending the three-point line,” Golden said during a mid-game interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith. “Obviously, their first make came with about a minute to go. Saw we were defending with a lot of toughness, both physically and mentally.

“Doing a great job on the scout, not letting their shooters get them up, and doing a great job keeping (Mark) Sears and (Aaron) Estrada to their right hand, for the most part.”

Florida executed the gameplan to perfection and came away with a huge win. Better, Golden has begun to win over many of the doubters who weren’t sold on him after his first season in charge.

The Gators are projected to be an eight seed or better, depending on the prognosticator.

So, yeah, take a bow, Carlin Hartman and company. It’s hard to knock the job being done down in Gainesville right now.