Florida Gators start men's basketball season ranked No. 1 in preseason AP poll

The Florida Gators men's basketball team begins the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando reported. The team received 47 of the 59 first-place votes from a national media panel, marking the first time coach Todd Golden's team has held the top spot since the final poll in 2025, after winning the national championship.

Coach Golden noted that while the ranking is positive, the program aims to maintain a high standard each season, reflecting their national championship expectations. Last season, the Gators started ranked No. 3 but fell out of the poll by early January, though they later won the Southeastern Conference regular-season title.

The Gators have several experienced players returning, including Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, and Denzel Aberdeen, who all played on the national title team. Aberdeen returned after a year at Kentucky and was granted an additional season of eligibility by the courts.

Golden expressed confidence that the team is better prepared for early-season expectations this year, using last season's experience as a learning opportunity amid ongoing roster uncertainties in college basketball.

According to WKMG, the Gators' motivation is fueled by their desire to improve on last year's finish, with players recalling past struggles to push through challenging moments in training.