The Florida Gators’ quest to relive their mid-2000s glory days hit an early bump in the road Monday night, as No. 13 Arizona spoiled the defending national champions’ season debut with a statement 93–87 victory at T-Mobile Arena.
Eighteen years after Florida last pulled off the rare feat of back-to-back national championships, the 2025–26 Gators entered the season hoping to repeat history. But just one game into their title defense, they were reminded of how much tougher it is to sustain dominance in college basketball’s modern era.
While much of the pregame attention was on Florida’s title defense, the night belonged to Arizona’s five-star freshman Koa Peat, who delivered a debut for the ages. The 6-foot-8 forward erupted for 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, powering the Wildcats past the Gators with a mature, all-around performance that instantly justified his hype.
Peat’s energy and versatility turned the tide after Florida’s hot start. The Gators built a 12-point lead midway through the first half, but Arizona stormed back behind its relentless offense, seizing control before halftime and never relinquishing it.
“Once we started to find our rhythm offensively, I thought our pace and decision-making really set the tone,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said postgame. “Koa was special tonight not just scoring, but making plays on both ends.”
Florida’s loss marked the first time since Syracuse in 2003 that a defending national champion dropped its season opener. And while it’s only November, the game underscored the challenges that come with trying to reload after a championship run in today’s transfer-driven landscape.
Coach Todd Golden entered the season with optimism thanks to his returning frontcourt trio Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, and Thomas Haugh all pivotal in last year’s title campaign. But the departures of guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard, who combined for 46 points per game, left a glaring void.
Golden’s new-look backcourt featuring Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland and Princeton standout Xaivian Lee showed flashes of potential but struggled to keep pace with Arizona’s tempo.
Haugh, now the team’s emotional and statistical anchor, led Florida with 27 points, attacking the rim with confidence and keeping the Gators within striking distance late. Lee added 14 points on an inefficient 5-for-17 shooting night, while Fland finished with just nine, going quiet in the second half.
“It’s going to take some time for our group to gel,” Golden admitted. “We’ve got new guys learning how to play together at this level, and Arizona exposed some of our growing pains. But that’s what these early-season tests are for.”
The defeat serves as a stark reminder of how dramatically college basketball has evolved since Florida’s famed 2006–07 repeat run led by Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Corey Brewer an era when teams could retain key stars for multiple seasons.
Today, with the transfer portal, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) dynamics, and the constant pull of the NBA Draft, sustained success has become a moving target. Connecticut managed to defend its 2024 title with continuity and experience, but replicating that formula has become increasingly difficult.
Florida’s brutal schedule ahead featuring dates with Arizona, Duke, and Connecticut, not to mention the grind of SEC play offers little room for error.
Despite the early stumble, the Gators’ season is far from derailed. There’s ample time for Golden’s roster to find its chemistry and regain championship form before March.
“This group is still learning what it takes to carry that championship pressure,” Golden said. “But I believe in their character. This loss doesn’t define us it teaches us.”
If anything, Monday’s defeat in Las Vegas served as an early, humbling reminder: repeating as national champions may still be possible, but in 2025, it’s a mountain that requires far more than talent alone.