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SAN FRANCISCO – Florida head coach Todd Golden hopes his return to familiar territory is just a brief stop as the Gators aim to reestablish themselves as a powerhouse in college basketball. Meanwhile, Maryland standout Derik Queen arrives on the West Coast with a chance to elevate his national profile.
These two storylines converge Thursday night when top-seeded Florida (32-4) takes on No. 4 seed Maryland (27-8) in the NCAA Tournament West Region semifinal at Chase Center.
Golden, who coached at the University of San Francisco from 2019 to 2022, led the Dons to 22 wins and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 24 years during his final season.
“It’s a nice bonus to return,” Golden told the Gainesville Sun, adding that reconnecting with friends and family, while gaining local support for the Gators, makes the trip even more special.
Of course, the ultimate goal is a pair of wins that would send Florida to its first Final Four since 2014. The program has not endured a longer absence from the tournament’s final weekend since making its debut in 1994.
“The time was right for us to take this next step,” Golden said after Florida’s dramatic 77-75 second-round victory over two-time defending champion UConn in Raleigh, N.C. “Reaching the Sweet 16 is a great milestone.”
To advance, the Gators will rely on Walter Clayton Jr., their leading scorer (17.9 ppg) and top playmaker (4.2 assists per game). Clayton played a crucial role in the UConn win, scoring 23 points, including 13 in the final eight minutes. He also sank two critical three-pointers down the stretch.
“My teammates trust me with the ball in key moments,” Clayton said.
On the other side, Maryland has full confidence in Queen, a true freshman and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year who is projected as an NBA lottery pick. His reputation only grew after he demanded the ball in the final seconds of Sunday’s second-round matchup against No. 12 Colorado State and drained a tough, contested fadeaway bank shot to secure a 72-71 victory.
Terrapins head coach Kevin Willard values Queen’s leadership and personality just as much as his impressive stats—16.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, both team highs.
“He has an infectious energy,” Willard told The Athletic. “He’s always smiling, always in a great mood. You walk away from him thinking, ‘That’s the best kid in the world.’ You just want to give him a hug.”
Maryland is chasing its first Elite Eight appearance since 2002, the year of its lone national championship. The Terrapins last reached the Sweet 16 in 2016.
“It’s rare these days, with all the pressure these kids face, to find someone like him,” Willard continued. “He’s a generational talent and an incredible teammate—you don’t see that combination very often.”
Despite his upbeat nature, Queen is also intensely competitive. In the huddle before Maryland’s final possession against Colorado State, he made his intentions clear to Willard, demanding, “Give me the [expletive] ball.”
Willard has other weapons, too. Maryland’s starting five, known as the “Crab Five” (a nod to Michigan’s “Fab Five” and the state’s famous seafood), has been intact since Nov. 19. Each starter—Queen, Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.6 ppg), Rodney Rice (13.9), Julian Reese (13.3), and Selton Miguel (12.0)—averages double-digit scoring.
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