No. 1 Florida opened the 2026-27 college basketball season with a 77-67 victory over No. 14 Miami on Monday at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. Senior forward Thomas Haugh, a national player of the year candidate who returned for his final season, led the Gators with 19 points and 10 rebounds while hitting four of eight three-pointers, matching his career best from the 2025 Elite Eight against Texas Tech.
Haugh Sparks Player of the Year Case
Haugh's performance bolstered his early claim for national player of the year honors, an award that preseason favorite Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State currently holds. "We were out there playing and it just felt like everything was moving how we knew it was going to move," Haugh said. "Nothing surprised us. We were able to stay on their tendencies." Coach Todd Golden praised his team's composure: "I thought we did a great job. Really proud of my team. We competed the right way... We have to play smart as well. I thought we did a better job putting those two things together tonight."
Returning Core Seeks Second Title in Three Years
Seven months after a shocking second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa in the same arena, Florida returned its core — Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Urban Klavžar, and Denzel Aberdeen, who regained a fifth year of eligibility. In a preseason interview, Chinyelu expressed unwavering confidence that the Gators would win a second national championship in three seasons.
Florida's Frontline Overwhelms Miami
The trio of Haugh, Chinyelu, and Condon dominated the interior, creating second-chance opportunities and disrupting Miami's offense even against a sizable Hurricanes frontcourt featuring Henderson, Caleb Gaskins, and Malik Reneau. Klavžar provided a change of pace off the bench, giving Florida a versatile lineup that figures to challenge opponents all season.
Lewis Emerges as Miami's Offensive Leader
For Miami, Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis scored a game-high 24 points and looked poised to become the Hurricanes' primary scorer in his second year under coach Jai Lucas. Miami's nonconference schedule eases after this test, with upcoming games against Alabama and Texas before an ACC opener against NC State near New Year's Eve. The loss could serve as a valuable lesson for a team expected to contend in March.
