G Will Richard retains Gators on monitor coming into Georgia go to

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GAINESVILLE — Florida guard Will Richard’s game-winner at South Carolina was a very long time coming.

The 22-year-old had to return to at the least center college to recall his final one.

“It’s been a minute,” he mentioned Friday. “I can’t bear in mind the final game-winner, to be sincere.”

Florida coach Todd Golden’s crew is 9-1 at house this season, successful by a median of 29 factors. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Richard’s driving left-handed shot excessive off the backboard accomplished a second-half comeback to maintain No. 5 UF (17-2, 4-2 SEC) on monitor coming into Saturday’s go to from former coach Mike White’s Georgia rock-solid squad (14-5, 2-4).

“It was an NBA play,” Golden gushed two days later. “It was a ridiculous end, and he made us appear to be an excellent teaching employees down the stretch Wednesday evening.”

The hassle additionally thrust Richard into the highlight and out of the shadows from backcourt mates Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin, UF’s high two scorers and clutch performers.

Richard has had his share of moments since he transferred from Belmont in 2022 to hitch incoming coach Golden, however none was larger than his clutch basket at South Carolina.

The play culminated a second-half surge spearheaded by Richard as UF erased a 14-point deficit throughout the closing 12 minutes.

“I couldn’t consider what number of successful performs he made throughout that stretch,” Golden mentioned. “It appeared like each time one thing went our approach. He was part of it.

“He simply refused to allow us to lose.”

The 6-foot-5, 206-pound senior spearheaded the Gators’ stress protection, which flustered the Gamecocks and yielded 13 steals by Florida — three by Richard, whose team-leading 39 are two beneath his career-high in 33 video games as a Belmont freshman.

As Richard explored his skilled choices after the 2023-24 season, he was advised throughout exercises with a number of NBA groups to shore up his protection to spherical out a recreation constructed on 3-point taking pictures and robust rebounding from his place.

“It’s undoubtedly one thing I keyed in loads on as simply being on the scout, being in the correct place,” Richard mentioned. “It’s undoubtedly helped me loads to get steals, get deflections and take my defensive recreation to a different stage.”

Florida player Will Richard (5) passes during the Texas at Florida NCAA basketball game at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida participant Will Richard (5) passes throughout the Gators’ 84-60 win in opposition to Texas Jan. 18 in Gainesville. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Golden’s Gators have reached one other stage underneath Richard, Clayton and Martin, a trio averaging 47.4 factors, 13.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 4.9 steals.

“We don’t care who will get the credit score, who will get to shine,” Richard mentioned. “As lengthy we’re successful video games, we’re high-quality with that.”

The Gators are 17-2 for the primary time because the 2013-14 Remaining 4 squad and maintain their highest rating since December 2017 underneath White, whose Bulldogs are progressing in his third season.

White is 0-2 with Georgia in Gainesville, together with a wild 102-98 additional time loss in 2024.

“Coming again, I assume, might be a little bit unusual,” Golden mentioned. “However on the identical time, life goes on, and he’s doing an important job at Georgia. He’s going to attempt to knock us out.”

It is going to be a giant ask on the O’Connell Heart, the place UF is 9-1 and successful by a median of 29 factors, and in opposition to a Florida squad that includes proficient, decided veterans like Richard.

4 possessions previous to the game-winning shot, Richard missed a straightforward layup, additionally utilizing his left hand. The reminiscence had pale by the point the Gators wanted him most.

“Fast reminiscence,” he mentioned. “You’re attempting to win a recreation and, so simply attempting to remain aggressive — it doesn’t matter what the circumstances.”

Edgar Thompson will be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up subsequent …

Georgia at No. 5 Florida

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., O’Connell Heart

TV: SEC Community

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