Chance McMillian, a standout shooter from Texas Tech, made his return to the court during the Red Raiders’ Elite Eight matchup against Florida. He had been sidelined for the last four games due to an oblique injury but was eager to play in front of friends and family in his home state of California.
Entering the game at the 15:22 mark in the first half, McMillian faced a tough start when his initial shot attempt was blocked. However, he quickly regrouped and scored a jumper shortly after. The team had previously stated he would be available to play, and his participation in warm-ups indicated he was ready to contribute.
This season, McMillian has shown impressive skills, leading the Red Raiders with 69 three-pointers and boasting a remarkable shooting percentage of 43.4% from beyond the arc. He is a significant contributor to the team, averaging 14.2 points per game.
Coach Grant McCasland had anticipated that McMillian would return for the Sweet 16 game against Arkansas, but the senior guard decided to hold back, still focusing on recovery during an earlier shootaround.
On the other side, Florida forward Alex Condon was back in the starting lineup after sitting out some time due to a sprained right ankle. He had a notable return in the second half of their Sweet 16 victory against Maryland. Standing at 6-foot-11, Condon is a key player for the Gators, leading the team in rebounds with an average of 7.7 per game and contributing 10.9 points per game as well. Despite his injury, Condon remained an essential asset for his team as they aimed for a deep tournament run.
