Russell Report: As Florida college basketball seasons end, fans celebrate the progress made for both the Gator men’s and women’s teams
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Sadly, the seasons are over for both the Florida men’s and women’s basketball teams. But progress has been made. Coach Todd Golden hit the transfer portal and came up aces with guys like Zyon Pullin and Walter Clayton Jr. and some young players up front made quite the impact as well. The brand of basketball was fun to watch, and it got the gators into the NCAA tournament. But with the portal nowadays you just don’t know who is going to come back or leave and you never know how new players acquired from the portal will fit in and next year’s group could look much different. And one would hope that as exciting as the offense was that the defense next year will be improved. Still, the arrow definitely is pointing in the right direction for this program, and it was fun to see this program get back to the NCAA tournament.
The Gator women finished the year right at the break-even mark and injuries derailed them early when they lost key inside player Ra Shaya Kyle to injury. But it was great watching veteran players like Aliyah Matharu and Lelani Correa do their thing as scorers and help is on the way via some five-star incoming talent. Hitting the portal could also be vital to the overall success of this team and next year more will be expected of coach Kelly Rae Finley’s program.
And let’s give a shout out to the Florida women’s swimming and diving team that finishes third in the nation after the just completed NCAA championships. That third-place finish was Florida’s best showing since 2010 and the job coach Anthony Nesty has done with both the women’s and men’s programs has vastly improved both squads. Freshman Bella sims was outstanding at the NCAA’s, winning a national championship in the 500 free and the 200 free while racking up All-American honors in seven events to lead the way for the Gators. Florida’s men will compete in the NCAA’s next, and we’ll see how well that group will perform.
NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will continue later this week with the madness certainly creating its share of great games and upsets, especially on the men’s side. If there is a men’s cinderella it’s probably NC State who continues its improbable run by making it to the sweet 16 after not winning more than four games in a row all season long. And then there’s Gonzaga, making it at least to the sweet 16 for the ninth straight time, an incredible mark of consistency for the Zags.
On the women’s side, it was more chalk, especially on the first day of competition but you can see why viewership is up for women’s college basketball. Star players like Iowa’s Kaitlin Clark, Juju Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo have really elevated the women’s game and that’s great to see and you can see more second round action today. I’m Steve Russell, that’s the Russell Report!
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