Can the Gators defend their crown? KenPom’s early rankings spark a debate that’s dividing college basketball fans. Just weeks before the 2025-2026 season tips off, KenPom—the go-to analytics platform for college hoops—has dropped its updated ratings, and the Florida Gators are making waves. Fresh off a national championship win, they’re sitting pretty near the top, but here’s where it gets controversial: their defensive efficiency is raising eyebrows. But first, let’s break down what KenPom is and why it matters.
What is KenPom? Founded over two decades ago by Ken Pomeroy, KenPom (https://kenpom.com/) is the analytics powerhouse of college basketball. Unlike rankings based on subjective polls, KenPom relies purely on statistics to measure a team’s efficiency—essentially, how well they score and defend per possession. As the site explains (https://kenpom.com/blog/ratings-explanation/), it’s designed to give a snapshot of a team’s strength at any given moment, independent of injuries, momentum, or other external factors. Coaches, media, and die-hard fans swear by it—it’s the closest thing to an unbiased crystal ball in college basketball.
So, where do the Gators stand? Florida ranks second overall, just behind Houston—the very team they dethroned in last year’s championship game. Offensively, they’re a juggernaut, boasting the nation’s third-highest efficiency rating (121.3), trailing only UConn and Purdue. Defensively, however, they’re ranked sixth (91.9), behind powerhouses like Houston, Iowa State, and Kentucky. And this is the part most people miss: that gap between offense and defense is where the real questions lie.
The million-dollar question: Can Florida’s defense hold up? The Gators lost several defensive stalwarts this offseason, including Alijah Martin, Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and—in a late twist—Denzel Aberdeen. While Head Coach Todd Golden has masterfully rebuilt the offense with star additions like Xaivian Lee, Boogie Fland, and AJ Brown (yes, Isaiah Brown’s older brother), the defensive side is less certain. Lee and Brown, in particular, are unproven at this level, and Fland isn’t exactly known for locking down opponents. Replacing the grit of Richard, Clayton, and Martin was already a tall order, but Aberdeen’s departure added another layer of complexity.
KenPom still predicts an elite defensive performance, but not on par with their offense. Is that optimism warranted? We’ll get a glimpse in their secret scrimmage against Illinois on October 25th, but the real test comes when they face four of KenPom’s top ten teams early in the season.
Here’s the controversial take: What if KenPom’s defensive ranking is overly generous? Or, conversely, what if Florida’s offense is so dominant it masks any defensive weaknesses? The Gators’ repeat bid hinges on this very question. What do you think? Is KenPom spot-on, or is Florida’s defense in for a reality check? Let’s debate it in the comments—this is one conversation no college basketball fan can afford to miss.
