SUNRISE, Fla. – At the end of Saturday’s game, as players shook hands, fans heard an important announcement. Xaivian Lee, a senior guard, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after leading Florida to an 80-70 victory against George Washington in the Orange Bowl Classic.
When asked about the MVP title, Lee chuckled, “Honestly, my first thought was, ‘They have an MVP for this?’” He earned it by scoring 24 points, hitting four 3-pointers, grabbing six rebounds, and making four assists. Lee’s shooting was impressive: 60% from the floor and an 80% free throw rate, showing how his confidence grew throughout the game.
This performance comes after a challenging start to his time at Florida, where he struggled with a shooting percentage of just 24.7% in the first eight games. Criticized early on, he’s proven he can bounce back. “I never bought into those early scouting reports,” said George Washington coach Chris Caputo. “You could see him getting more comfortable.”
Lee’s teammates believed in him all along. Thomas Haugh, a fellow player and friend from their Pennsylvania prep school days, said, “We’ve always known what he can do. Never a doubt.”
In addition to Lee, Haugh also shined, scoring 19 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Fellow players Boogie Fland and Alex Condon contributed to the win, with Condon recording nine boards and seven assists, helping Florida break a two-game losing streak.
Head coach Todd Golden acknowledged the team’s victory but emphasized the need for improvement. His concerns included careless turnovers and allowing the opposing team to score too easily in the last moments of the game. Despite a solid lead, he felt they should have maintained a stronger performance. “We can’t be content being up 20,” he said. “We’ve set high standards for ourselves.”
Golden pointed out the contrast in the team’s first and second half. In the first half, Florida struggled, shooting just 36.7%. However, they rebounded by shooting 67% in the second half, required for success in upcoming SEC play.
As Lee puts it, “I always try to keep my confidence high, despite whatever is going on. But it’s been tested the last couple weeks.” His journey serves as a reminder that patience and hard work can lead to turnaround moments in sports. This gradual improvement reflects broader trends in college athletics, where resilience is often key to success.
For more insights on basketball performance trends, visit the NCAA’s official report on player development.
