Florida frontcourt overwhelms Bediako, routs Alabama in SEC showcase

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s frontcourt nullified Alabama’s controversial 7-footer Charles Bediako and continued to dominate the Crimson Tide, making a statement entering the heart of SEC play — and backing up coach Todd Golden’s guarantee.

With Dick Vitale courtside, a national TV audience tuned in on ABC and 10 NBA scouts on hand, the No. 19 Gators (16-6, 7-2 SEC) turned in one of their most complete performances this season during a 100-77 rout of No. 23 Alabama (14-7- 4-4).

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Florida’s fifth straight win against Nate Oats’ team came on the heels of Bediako’s return after two seasons in the NBA’s G-League, a move drawing criticism across the college sports landscape and a bold prediction from Golden.

“We’re going to beat ’em anyways,” he said during a Jan. 22 appearance on UF’s weekly “Gator Talk” radio show.

The Gators backed up their 40-year-old coach with another rout of Bama, losers by an 17.3 points during the streak. Golden reluctantly took a victory lap.

“I was thinking about that a lot last night, actually,” he said. “This was a big, one-off ABC game; they were going to try to find different ways to stir it up. With that being said, yeah, absolutely to come out and impose our will the way we did.”

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Expected to bolster the Crimson Tide’s front court, Bediako did little slow down one of the nation’s top front courts before fouling out after totaling six points and seven rebounds.

The Gators outscored the Crimson Tide 72-26 in the paint behind a SEC season-best 25 points by power forward Alex Condon and finished with a 44-33 rebounding advantage. Once again, Rueben Chinyelu led the way, finishing with 14 points and 17 boards — his 13th double-double and 16th time the 6-foot-11, 265-pound junior has led the Gators on the glass.

Chinyelu, Condon and Thomas Haugh, who scored 22 points, did not have to shoulder the load Sunday before a sellout crowd of 10,627 in the O’Dome.

Sophomore point guard Boogie…

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Publish date : 2026-02-01 22:11:00

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