Tyrese Samuel wants to erase March Madness heartbreak in first year with Florida basketball

Tyrese Samuel brought NCAA Tournament experience to Florida basketball when he transferred from Seton Hall before the start of the 2023-24 season.

But all Samuel has known is heartbreak in March Madness. Two NCAA Tournament trips resulted in two quick exits for Samuel when he played for the Pirates. In 2019, when Samuel was a freshman, Seton Hall was bounced in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by Wofford (84-68). In 2022, Samuel's junior year, Seton Hall lost in the first round to TCU, 69-42.

Samuel is looking to write a different chapter to the end of his college basketball career when the 7-seed Florida Gators open the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the 10-seed winner of Colorado and Boise State on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

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“To get my first win in March Madness would mean everything," Samuel said. "I lost in the first round before, just to get past that little hump and get a little extra confidence going into the second game.”

What Tyrese Samuel has meant to Florida basketball

The 6-foot-10, 239-pound Samuel has emerged as Florida's most consistent frontcourt player in the 2023-24 season, averaging 14.0 points and 7.6 rebounds to earn AP second-team, All-SEC honors. His 11 double-doubles on the season lead the team and are the most for a UF player since Al Horford posted 16 double-doubles for the Gators in 2006-07.

"When Tyrese's motor is running, he is one of the best frontcourt players in the SEC," Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said.

Samuel has done much of his damage playing alongside 7-foot-1 frontcourt mate Micah Handlogten. But with Handlogten going down with a leg fracture in Sunday's SEC Tournament finals against Auburn, Samuel will start the game alongside 6-11 freshman forward Alex Condon, who will make his first career start.

It also will shorten UF's frontcourt rotation from four or three players, as 6-9 freshman Thomas Haugh will now elevate to Condon's role as the first frontcourt player off the bench. Florida could also turn to 6-10 forward Alex Szymczyk in a pinch. Szymczyk suffered a broken foot in September and hasn't played all season but is fully healthy.

"We’ve just got to go out there and play smart, play without fouling, know when to give a good foul and when not to," Samuel said. "But I think we’re ready, we have the depth, and it showed all season long. One man went down but we’ve still got plenty left with Tommy, Condon, maybe even Schimmy (Alex Szymczyk) might get in there. I think we’ll be alright.”

Samuel said he will use his past experience in NCAA Tournament games to help let UF's younger frontcourt payers know what to expect.

"It’s going to be physical," Samuel said. "We’ve just got to be out there and play calm; you know there’s going to be different refs from different leagues so it’s not going to be the same type of calling as SEC refs so just kind of play with poise and expect the unexpected.”