Gators HC Todd Golden reveals the key to victory over UConn in NCAA Tournament

College Basketball is facing one of its most important events of the year, and the teams are definitely not disappointing. Todd Golden‘s Florida Gators made it clear why they don’t want to be just supporting players, as they eliminated the UConn Huskies in a thrilling game.

After the game, where the Gators ultimately defeated the defending two-time champions 77-75, Coach Golden spoke with the press. Pleased with the final result, he provided a brief analysis, clearly outlining what he believed was the key to the victory.

“We just stayed the course. Obviously it didn’t go our way for a large portion of that game after a good start,” Golden said. “Our team is tough. We have great senior leadership, we just wanted to continue to be ourselves and do it a little bit better, and in the last six minutes of the game we did that very well.”

Led by Walter Clayton Jr.’s 23 points, the Gators pushed a great team like Dan Hurley’s to their limits. Huskies fought hard until the very end, but ultimately, they were left empty-handed.

Walter Clayton Jr. #1 and Will Richard #5 of the Florida Gators celebrate in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lenovo Center on March 23, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Golden expressed his admiration for Clayton Jr.

While the Florida team displayed great collective effort and had several standout moments throughout the game, it’s worth highlighting Clayton Jr.’s performance, as he ended up being one of the key figures of the matchup.

If there’s anyone within the program who couldn’t stop praising his star player, it’s Coach Golden. Once the Gators secured their spot in the next round, he shared his thoughts on the performance of the senior point guard.

“Incredible leader, great player, teammates believe in him,” the HC said. “Great to have the ball in his hands when you need somebody to step up and make a big shot. His teammates stepped up for him today, helped us get this win, and he stepped up closing this victory out for us.”

What’s next for the Gators?

March Madness has been a tournament complicated for the Gators in recent years, but at this stage of the competition, they’ve already surpassed their performance from last year, when they were eliminated in the first round.

Awaiting what will happen in the Sweet 16, Golden’s squad will face the winner of the matchup between Colorado State and Maryland, with the hope of continuing their journey in the NCAA Tournament.