Latest news with #WillRichard
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida's Will Richard Invited to NBA G League Elite Camp
The Florida Gators won their first national championship in college basketball since the 2006-2007 season. On Saturday, Draft Express' Jon Chepkevich reported that guard Will Richard, a key member of Florida's national championship team, received an invite to the NBA G League Elite Camp. Advertisement Richard is ranked 92nd in the DX Top 100 and was a reliable scoring option for the Gators last season. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists for Florida in the 2024-2025 campaign. Florida beat the Houston Cougars 65-63 to win the national title. Florida head coach Todd Golden took just three years to secure the program's massive achievement. Florida Gators guard Will Richard. © Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Richard's college basketball career started at Belmont in 2021. He spent one season there before transferring to Florida in 2022. Richard averaged 12.1 points as a true freshman for Belmont. He had an instant impact at Florida in 2022, starting in 30 of his 32 games. That season, Richard averaged 10.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Advertisement Richard improved his scoring numbers in the 2023-2024 season, averaging 11.4 points per game for the Gators in 36 games. Last season, he set a career-high in points per game and started all 40 games for Florida. His efforts earned him spots on the 2025 Final Four All-Tournament Team and the 2025 All-SEC Tournament Team. In his final game with the Gators, he led the team with 18 points, had eight rebounds, and two assists. Florida's roster will look very different in the 2025-2026 season, with key losses like Walter Clayton Jr., Richard, Denzel Aberdeen and Alijah Martin. If Richard performs well enough at the NBA G League Elite Camp, which will be held from May 9-11, he will be invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. Related: Former Florida Quarterback Expected to Join Big Ten Program in Assistant Role
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida basketball's Will Richard gets invitation to the NBA G League Elite Camp
Florida basketball's Will Richard gets invitation to the NBA G League Elite Camp Invitations to the 2025 NBA draft combine were sent out on Saturday to 75 men's basketball players who are looking to make the jump into the professional ranks. However, a key contributor to Florida's championship run this season was not among those named. Gators guard Will Richard, who joined the Orange and Blue back in 2022 after spending his freshman year with the Belmont Bruins, instead got the call from the 2025 NBA G League Elite Camp. The first major transfer portal domino for Todd Golden, the 6-foot-4-inch, 206-pound swingman still has an avenue to making it to the big show, but it might require him to take a path through the NBA's de facto minor league. The news was first reported by Draft Express' director of scouting, Jon Chepkevich, on social media. Will Richard's stats with Florida basketball Over the three seasons he spent in Gainesville with the Gators, Richard amassed 1,275 points, 470 rebounds, 201 3-point field goals, 148 assists and 129 steals in 108 appearances with 105 starts. His point total represents the 33rd-best in program history; he is also Florida's all-time transfer leader in steals, while ranking second in points and 3-pointers made, third in rebounds, fifth in assists and blocked shots and seventh in free-throw percentage (83.3%) among those who arrived via the transfer portal. About the NBA G League Elite Camp NBA G League Elite Camp will take place May 9-11 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, after which a select number of standout players will be invited to the NBA draft combine. Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, all invited players are required to attend and participate in the NBA draft combine, held on May 11-18. The NBA may excuse an invited player's attendance or participation at the draft combine and require the player to complete draft combine activities at a later date. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Betting was up in men's NCAA Tournament and during women's basketball season
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts as she is helped up by teammates after scoring against South Carolina during the second half of the national championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts as she is helped up by teammates after scoring against South Carolina during the second half of the national championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a men's NCAA Tournament in which upsets were unusual and a women's field sans Caitlin Clark, betting nevertheless was up on both sides this year at BetMGM Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook. BetMGM saw an 18% increase on a men's side in which all four No. 1 seeds made the Final Four for the first time since 2008. That made for three competitive games Saturday and Monday that culminated in Florida's heart-pounding 65-63 victory over Houston for the Gators' third championship. They went back-to-back in 2006-07. Advertisement Plenty of fans put their money on the Gators, who were second to Duke at BetMGM in terms of money bet and number of tickets. The Blue Devils, like Houston in the title game, lost a double-digit lead to the Cougars in the semifinals and fell 70-67. 'Duke losing was key, as 30 of the 50 largest futures wagers on the champion were on Duke,' BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. "Florida had the second-highest handle, so many fans were happy to see the Gators chomping down the nets.' Caesars college basketball head Rich Zanco called betting at his sportsbook 'robust.' 'All No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four aided in that, and there were intriguing matchups throughout the tournament,' Zanco said. 'For example, Rick Pitino and St. John's versus John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The tournament didn't provide many glaring upsets as in years past, but sometimes the cream rises to the top.' Advertisement There wasn't as much drama in the women's Final Four, though the only No. 2 seed among the eight in both fields emerged victorious. UConn rolled to a 82-59 victory over defending champion South Carolina for the Huskies' 12th national title but first since 2016. The Huskies were led by star Paige Bueckers, who along with Southern California's JuJu Watkins became the faces of women's college basketball this season, following in the path of Clark and Angel Reese, who are now starring in the WNBA. Betting on the women's side was up 10% this season at BetMGM. The highest percentage of tickets were on the Huskies, who were second in terms of money bet. Advertisement 'This season, we saw the lasting impact of Caitlin Clark driving significant interest in sports betting on women's college basketball," BetMGM sports trader Hannah Luther said. "Some presumed that with its biggest star departing for the pros, the numbers might decline this season. The opposite turned out to be true ... .' Zanco agreed. "The Caitlin Clark effect carried over to this year and will continue to do so,' he said. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Current and former Florida athletes celebrate Gators basketball winning NCAA Tournament
Current and former Florida athletes celebrate Gators basketball winning NCAA Tournament God the Greatest !! This for y'all Gator Nation🏆🧡💙 — Will Richard (@willrxch) April 8, 2025 The Florida Gators claimed the 2025 NCAA Men's NCAA Tournament Championship on Monday night, and both current and former UF athletes quickly celebrated their university's accomplishment. Coaches and players from Florida's basketball, baseball, football and softball programs — including legends such as Tim Tebow and football head coach Billy Napier — took to social media to congratulate Todd Golden's squad on delivering the first men's basketball championship since Billy Donovan led the programs to consecutive titles in 2006 and 2007. Gators basketball players such as Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and Will Richard also chimed in. Their overall sentiment is one that Gators fans are very familiar with: it's great to be a Florida Gator. Here are some of the best reactions from Florida athletes after the big win Monday night. Gator boys stay hot!!!! Couldn't do it without gator nation, love y'all 🐊 — Alex Condon (@AlexCondonn) April 8, 2025 National Champion baby!!! Love yall Gator Nation!!! See yall in Gainesville 🏆🏆🏆 — Thomas Haugh (@ThomasHaugh4) April 8, 2025 What a game! So resilient. As always go gators 🐊 🏆 — Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) April 8, 2025 🏆🏆🏆 — Mike Miller (@MikeMiller_13) April 8, 2025 Gainesvilleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊 — Tre Mann (@tre2mann3) April 8, 2025 NATTYYY🐊🐊 — Myles Graham (@MylesGraham2_) April 8, 2025 Special coach and team that played with incredible passion and grit. What a run. Go Gators! — Bradley Riopelle (@bradleyriopelle) April 8, 2025 ITS GREAT TO BE A MF'N FLORIDA GATOR! Let's go boys !!!! — Ricky Pearsall (@S1ickSzn) April 8, 2025 ONLY SCHOOL WITH 3 BASKETBALL ANNNDDD 3 FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS! #ITSGREAT #Gators — Trey Burton (@TreyBurton8) April 8, 2025 Shoutout to Todd Golden!!! He changed this program from top to bottom! — Zach Carter (@_Zachattacks) April 8, 2025 I'm way to turnt rn !!!!!! Go gators !🐊 They — Gervon Dexter SR (@GervonDexter) April 8, 2025 LETS GO GATORS BABY!!!! — Katie Kistler (@katie_kistler07) April 8, 2025 History Repeats Itself 🐊 — Treyaun Webb (@w_treyaun) April 8, 2025 Bleed that orange & blue 💩🐊 — Keon Zipperer (@_KeonZ) April 8, 2025 Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Men's March Madness: Gator Nation reacts to Florida's 2025 NCAA Championship win v Houston
The wait is over. After 18 years, Florida basketball is back on top and March Madness has finally come to an end. Following a heart-stopping 65-63 victory over the Houston Cougars in the 2025 NCAA Tournament Finals, the Florida Gators have won their third national championship in program history. Advertisement It was gritty. It was low-scoring, but the Gators held off Houston in a game that lived up to every bit of the hype. From being down by three points at halftime to a clutch second-half surge, Todd Golden's squad showed resilience like they had all season long. Will Richard led the Gators with 18 points with four massive threes that kept Florida in striking distance. While Walter Clayton Jr. didn't have one of his usual shooting nights, he contributed with a team-high seven assists as well as a game-sealing defensive effort in the final seconds of the game. Gator Nation exploded online–and the reaction was exactly what you'd expect from a fan base starving for another taste of glory. Here are some of the top posts from X, formerly known as Twitter, after the game. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Men's March Madness: Gator Nation react to NCAA Finals win vs Houston
