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Florida Gators men's basketball team honored with rally to celebrate NCAA championship

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Published  April 8, 2025 1:51pm EDT
Florida
FOX 35 Orlando

Thousands gather at UF to greet the NCAA Champions

FOX 35's Manny Martinez is live from the University of Florida after thousands gathered for the homecoming of the men's basketball team after they won the NCAA Championship game Monday night.

The Brief

    • The Florida Gators men's basketball returned to Gainesville as 2025 NCAA champions on Tuesday for a welcome-back rally.
    • The Gators secured a thrilling 65-63 victory over Houston on Monday night to claim the NCAA national championship.

The Florida Gators men's basketball team, the 2025 NCAA national champions, returned to Gainesville for a welcome-back rally at the University of Florida on Tuesday afternoon.

Both fans and students were invited to celebrate the Gators' big win at UF's Flavet Field.

What we know:

The rally was held to celebrate Florida's 65-63 nail-biting victory over Houston, which secured the NCAA national championship Monday night. The victory marked the Gators’ third national title – and their first since 2007 – capping a remarkable postseason run.

The team was introduced at the bandshell, and UF Head Coach Todd Golden shared a few words.

FOX 35 News streamed the event live on our YouTube channel:

The backstory:

Florida entered the tournament as a surprise contender, having been picked to finish sixth in the SEC. Behind the steady leadership of third-year head coach Todd Golden and the emergence of Clayton as a star, the Gators surged through March Madness.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 07: Alex Condon #21 of the Florida Gators shoots the ball during the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game at Alamodome on April 07, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Image

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Houston, led by veteran coach Kelvin Sampson, had its eyes on a first-ever national title and brought a trademark smothering defense. The Cougars had not lost since early February and had erased a 14-point deficit in the semifinal to reach the final stage.

Big picture view:

For Florida, the win reestablishes the program’s place among the elite in college basketball. It shows that a fast rebuild under Golden has paid off, and it gives fans a new hero in Clayton—known as much for his defense Monday night as for his scoring earlier in the tournament.

For Houston, it’s a missed opportunity to capture its first NCAA crown after decades of near-misses, including the Phi Slama Jama era and a Final Four appearance in 2021. The heartbreak continues for a program that’s been knocking at the door.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Gators on April 7 and previous reporting by the Associated Press.

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