Florida Basketball’s Continuity Stands Out in NIL Era

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Florida’s Returning Players Offer a Rare Advantage in a Changing College Basketball Landscape

College basketball has changed dramatically, particularly among top-25 teams in the Power Four conferences. In the NIL era, many programs are effectively fielding new teams each season, leaving coaches with little continuity.

Houston and Ralph Sands, for example, have only two players returning from last year’s team. Regardless of who joins the program, many fans may be unfamiliar with the new players, although they will likely be able to play defense.

Florida stands out because Todd Golden has 11 players returning from last season. That level of continuity puts the Gators ahead of most other programs. Duke is also in that category, but many teams are starting the season with largely new rosters.

That makes the beginning of the college basketball season treacherous. Coaches often spend the period leading into conference play determining which players should be on the court and which combinations work best. In the past, only the very best players would leave after one season, while most of the roster returned.

Florida’s recent success under Golden has helped the program retain players and potentially attract transfers who want to join the Gators. The program is even bringing back a couple of players from two years ago. While it is still extremely early, Florida’s continuity is difficult to overlook.

Once college basketball begins, games can take place at unusual hours. Notre Dame opened its season the previous night, High Point played shortly after midnight, and other games were underway at 3 a.m.

Early in the season, it is important to see teams play before drawing conclusions. Many coaches are still learning what they have because there is not enough time to rebuild and re-recruit an entire roster every year. Mid-major programs may have more continuity, but their best players can still be recruited by programs such as Louisville and Kentucky.

Everything changes from year to year, including coaches moving to new jobs. The best approach early in the season is to be careful, favor teams with familiarity, and fade teams that are still trying to figure things out.