By PATRICK WALSH
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — In 2014, now Florida Men’s Basketball Head Coach Todd Golden was a member of Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl’s staff, his first Power Five assistant coaching opportunity.
Now the two will duel it out on Saturday, with a spot in the NCAA National Championship on the line.
“Someone you care a lot about, someone that has been so impactful to my life, both basketball-wise and off the court, someone that I worked with over 10 years ago,” Golden said. “To now kind of full circle, opportunity to be head coach at an incredible place like Florida, now competing against your mentor and one of your best friends, for a trip to go to the national championship game, it’s pretty special.”
Where the two coaches differ, are the approaches to coaching. Golden is an avid supporter of analytics, looking to use it whenever he can.
“The way I try to describe it is from a macro perspective, we try to view everything we do through an analytical lens. We gather as much data as we possibly can on whatever decision we’re trying to make, then letting that data kind of point us in the right direction.”
Analytics-based approaches have become more common in sports management over the past decade, the most notable instance being Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics in 2002.
On the court, the Gators look as poised as can be, not afraid of any situation. Their resume proves that with a comeback win over the two-time defending National Champion UConn. The next game, Florida defeated Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, ending the game on a 18-4 run that saw untraditional methods, such as fouling with more than a minute to go.
“The instance against Texas Tech, the fouling at the end of the game, that’s something unique that a lot of teams wouldn’t do or wouldn’t think to do,” Golden said. “That’s just one example. It’s really more of a macro perspective.”
An added benefit is having a Wooden Award Finalist on the squad in Walter Clayton Jr. The senior guard is averaging 18.1 points per game, alongside 4.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds. Clayton Jr. dropped 30 points against Texas Tech, converting 13-of-14 at the charity stripe.
“It’s special seeing how poised he is in those moments, how comfortable he is taking big shots,” Golden said. “Goes back to who he is. I feel like we have seen it since he got in here, his work ethic, how much he puts into the game. It’s good to see him go out there and show everybody else what we already know.”
Coach Golden and his analytical approach will be put to the test against Auburn on Saturday. Tip off is slated for 9 p.m. EDT.
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