Todd Golden is someone who has always shown immense pride on the defensive end whether that be back in his days as a player, an assistant coach, and most notably–as a head coach. For that reason, Florida’s effort on that side of the floor last year was a constant source of frustration, even when the Gators were winning games due to their turbocharged point production.
Fast forward to the spring, and the coaching staff made it a priority to improve their defensive infrastructure. Florida Atlantic’s Alijah Martin was the first piece, providing a stopper in the backcourt that could take the opposing team’s best guard, insulating Walter Clayton from difficult matchups.