The NCAA basketball pundits have a laundry list of reasons Florida basketball is a national title contender, but perhaps one rises above the rest: Rebounding, especially offensive.

When pundits talk about Florida basketball entering March Madness, a laundry list of compliments appear.

Its depth, its connectiveness, the play of guards Walter Clayton Jr. , Alijah Martin and Will Richard, and so much more.

But there's one strength that comes out of the talking heads' mouths more than any other. It’s one that may very well lift the Gators to San Antonio: Rebounding… especially offensive rebounding.

The Gators average 42.8 rebounds per game, outrebounding their opponents by a margin of 8.2. Nationally, UF ranks third in the country in rebounding behind just Alabama and Illinois. However, Florida made quick work of the Crimson Tide in their two games together, with a margin of plus-15 in their regular-season showdown and plus-five in the SEC Tournament.

UF gets a remarkable 13.8 offensive rebounds per game, which is third among high seeds in the NCAA Tournament behind Texas A&M (16.2) and St. John’s (14.5). When the Gators faced the Aggies on March 1, TAMU’s advantage on the offensive boards was just one.

'It won us the SEC'

The idea is simple: Florida will curtail an opponent’s rebounding advantage and dominate the boards in the process. Florida head coach Todd Golden knows that. He said rebounding helped win Florida the SEC Tournament.

“It’s a huge part of our program. It raises our floor. It makes sure that we, even when we have off nights, it gives ourselves second-chance opportunities,” Golden said. “Anytime you get a second chance offensively, your efficiency goes up, and it's a core value of our program.”

The coach pointed out that most stats vs. Tennessee in the SEC Tournament final were the same. Field goal and three point percentage were within three points. The same number of free throws were made. The same number of turnovers.

Rebounding was the exception. UF held an advantage of 14. As a result, second-chance points also favored Florida 12-7. The disparity grew considerably in the second half, where the Gators' 20 rebounds — eight offensive — helped hold off the Volunteers.

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes called Florida’s front line the best in college basketball.

“You look at their depth. Not many teams have that. They've used it well,” Barnes said. “I think those guys really understand what they need to do, how they need to play. They've got experience. They're big. They're mobile, agile. They do their jobs.”

On this week’s Swampcast, Duke and North Carolina basketball beat reporter Rodd Baxley, from the Fayetteville Observer, said the Gators' rebounding reminds him of the Roy Williams teams of old. Let’s not forget that Williams won three national titles in Chapel Hill.

For that reason, Golden said UF needs to keep that momentum into the NCAA Tournament. He knows that the squad will be playing in unfamiliar, NBA arenas, where off-shooting nights could be more prevalent.

“You got to create multiple opportunities to get baskets, and rebounding is a big way we do that,” he said.

'We want it more'

Sophomore Thomas Haugh, one of the four UF players who create that dominant front line, said the Gators must be ready for the increased scouting that comes from the tournament. He’s not too worried, though, since the Gators just want those boards more. It comes from that underdog mentality every player has.

“Everybody's really scrappy. Nobody's afraid to go get their hands dirty down there,” Haugh said. “Some teams would be like, ‘I don't know if I want to go,’ but everybody's going full force for us.”

No UF big man exemplifies that mantra more than Micah Handlogten. The junior attracted a lot of attention for his emotional reaction to the Gators' SEC title win Sunday. One year prior, Handlogten broke his leg in gruesome fashion in the SEC Final, and Golden quietly admitted he has reason to be happier for Handlogten than most.

“Talk about the range of emotions in a year,” Golden said. “Last year on Sunday, dealing with one of the most difficult situations with his injury that a young man could go through in terms of athletics, and a year later being able to stand on the ladder and cut the nets down.”

Lost in the shuffle of Handlogten’s triumphant return was his contribution Saturday vs. Alabama. In 14 minutes, he secured 10(!) rebounds. With Rueben Chinyelu, the two combined for 20 rebounds in 30 minutes.

“Micah just brings a level of just intangibles, toughness, rebounding, offensive knowledge of how we play,” Golden said. “He's definitely made us a much more complete team with his play over the past couple weeks.”

Florida’s opponent Friday – No. 16 seed Norfolk State – averages just 34.7 RPG. If the Gators advance to Sunday’s Round of 32, their potential opponents in UConn (35.6) and Oklahoma (32.1) both struggle compared to UF.

This means Florida might just carry its upper hand on the boards past the "California dreaming" stage and full on to San Francisco.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.