Florida entered another ranked matchup with their usual starting five. That quickly changed just 30 seconds into the game when Alex Condon went down.
The Florida Gators rank sixth in the nation in rebounding, averaging 45.6 per game. Alex Condon leads the team with 7.8 boards per game.
His injury will certainly be a big loss to their team in the rebounding department. On a positive note, with Florida averaging just over 45 rebounds a game, Condon isn’t the only one contributing on the glass.
There has been an update on Alex Condon’s injury. He has suffered a low right ankle sprain. That will sideline him for at least the few games. Fortunately, Florida’s upcoming opponents are not good on the glass. The highest ranking team in rebounding among their next four opponents is LSU, which sits at 70th nationally, averaging 41.4 rebounds per game. This is a key opportunity for Florida to build some momentum without Alex Condon and before they play three ranked games.
If Condon is out for an extended period, it could certainly hurt Florida. In their final three games of the season, they are playing eighth-ranked Texas A&M, second-ranked Alabama, and nineteenth-ranked Ole Miss. Texas A&M and Alabama are fifth and first in rebounding respectively. In those games against A&M and Alabama, losing Condon, their leading rebounder could be key if the game is close.
Hopefully, Alex Condon can return before those games. Though it will likely be close, as the average recovery time depends on the severity of the injury. Fortunately, X-rays were negative, so he should be back sooner rather than later.
Although Florida will be cautious about not rushing Alex Condon back too soon. Unless Condon recovers quickly, the Gators need to prepare for the possibility of being without him for the rest of the season. While that would be a tough pill to swallow, this is a resilient team that is battle-tested. Florida will have to adjust without their top rebounder if they decide to hold him out till tournament time.
With Alex Condon out for the foreseeable future, the Gators will have to collectively step up their rebounding game. In addition to his rebounding, he also provides a decent scoring punch, averaging 10.6 points per game. Florida does have another strong rebounder in center Rueben Chinyelu, who averages 6.5 rebounds per game. He could help them offset the loss of Condon.
Florida has played very well all year and even if they struggle to secure rebounds, they can still win games. Star players like Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard are capable of putting up points in bunches.
With the “weaker” part of the schedule ahead, they don’t necessarily need to play their best to secure wins. Losing Condon likely won’t affect them too much in how they approach games. They will need to pick up the slack in terms of rebounds but that certainly won’t derail their game plan.
With the Gators playing at such a high level, they should be able to roll with the punches as they know injuries are part of the game. This truly is a ‘next man up’ situation, and Florida will need others to step up in Condon’s absence. Hopefully, the Gators won’t lose any more players while Condon is out, as they have big games coming up in March.
The Gators are one of the best teams in the nation. Losing Alex Condon will definitely impact their rebounding ability, but they should be able to recover and adjust. Hopefully Condon will be able to return by the time the tournament starts. Although by then, Florida should be well-adjusted to playing without him.
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