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Dick Vitale recognizes Gators in weekly stars post

On3 imageby:Keith Niebuhr•12/23/24•

On3Keith

Will-Richard-Florida-Gators
Florida Gators guard Will Richard (5) reacts after making a three point basket against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. (Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

After another strong week, the unbeaten Florida Gators moved up one spot to No. 6 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 basketball ranking. And, coach Todd Golden’s team also got the attention of famed college basketball announcer Dick Vitale. In his “Dickie V weekly winners” Vitale honored Golden as his national coach of the week and senior guard Will Richard as the national player of the week.

Under Golden’s direction, the Gators beat North Carolina 90-84 last Tuesday night in the Jumpman Invitational, which was played in the Tar Heels’ home state (Charlotte), then crushed North Florida 99-45. Florida now is 12-0 entering Sunday’s game vs. Stetson.

Meanwhile, Richard was red hot in those two games. He averaged 24 points a game for the week, while making 17 of 22 shots from the field — including 9 of 13 from 3-point range. Additionally, Richard averaged 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the wins. For the season, he’s scoring 14.5 points a game and bringing down 5.3 rebounds while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor.

The Florida Gators are one of several SEC teams in the top 10

Florida is one of four SEC programs in the top six of the AP rankings. Tennessee is No. 1, Auburn No. 2 and Alabama No. 5. Also of note, the Gators are one of only four unbeaten teams left in major college basketball. The others are Tennessee, Oklahoma and Drake.

Wrote Isaac Trotter of CBSSports.com after the Gators’ win over North Carolina: “North Carolina delivered multiple second-half jabs, but Florida was able to withstand it in Tuesday’s 90-84 victory. These Gators look every bit the part of a Final Four threat. Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin are two physical, big-game guards who can create something out of nothing. But the secret sauce behind Florida’s success might be its frontcourt quartet of Alex Condon, Sam Alexis, Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu who help the Gators dominate on the glass and limit easy buckets. Opponents are shooting just 54% at the rim against Florida. 

The Gators should cruise into 2025 unbeaten, but the schedule-makers didn’t do Florida any favors. The Gators open with a road tilt against a surging Kentucky club. Florida has won in Rupp Arena in two of the past four seasons, but a new coach is prowling the Cats’ sideline now.”

After that was written, Kentucky lost to unranked Ohio State 85-65.

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