By Joshua Miranda
Sports Capital Journalism Program
SAN ANTONIO – Underrated. Defined as “not valued highly enough” or “overlooked,” it’s a word with a dictionary meaning and a highlight reel’s worth of real-world examples. In college basketball, it’s a word that defines March Madness. The legacy of teams making storybook runs is woven into the fabric of the tournament.
But in 2025, fans have been deprived of that underdog magic. With all four No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four for only the second time in its history, NCAA bracket predictions have arguably never meant less.
Still, beneath the spotlight of four powerhouse programs, an underrated story is emerging, one that begins on the bench. Let us introduce Thomas Haugh, a Florida Gator and unexpected star of the Final Four festivities. Haugh, a 20-year-old, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, has quietly become one of the tournament’s breakout players. In two seasons with Florida, he’s played in 74 games, starting just seven. But a lack of starts hasn’t limited his impact.
This season, Haugh has averaged 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, off the bench, for the No. 1 seed in the West. It’s his elevated play on the sport’s biggest stage, though, that’s turned heads and generated NBA draft buzz. Through four March Madness games, he’s bumped his averages to 13.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block per game.
His breakout moment came in the Elite Eight against Texas Tech, a game already being called an instant classic. With Florida mounting a double-digit second-half comeback, Haugh scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, including 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. And his 3-pointers helped an 18-4 run that helped Florida rally to win.
Haugh’s favorite quote? “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” It’s a mindset he’s embraced. After starting the tournament 0-for-7 from 3-point range over two games, Haugh kept shooting. He broke through in the Elite Eight, finishing with a stellar 66.7% from deep.
“Last couple games, they’ve been going in,” Haugh said. “But sometimes they don’t go in, you know? I like that quote because it’s very true.”
While his scoring has impressed, Haugh’s hustle on the offensive glass has quietly been his calling card. The player who says his dream superpower would be the ability to fly certainly looks the part when he soars in for second-chance opportunities.
“Yeah, sometimes,” Haugh said with a grin when asked if he feels like he’s taking off on offensive rebounds. “Offensive rebounds just help so much.”
He’s averaged 3.5 offensive rebounds per game in the tournament, a stat that’s fueled Florida’s momentum and his own draft stock.
It’s not uncommon for players to boost their draft outlook with a strong tournament showing, and Haugh is reaping the benefits. Sports Illustrated projects him as a second-round NBA Draft pick, an expectation that seemed to appear out of nowhere following his performance against Arizona. But his teammates have always known. Haugh’s teammates Alex Condon, Walter Clayton Jr. and Micah Handlogten truly believe Haugh to be underrated, even though he’s been getting recent recognition for his theatrics at the Chase Center.
“He’s been flying under the radar all year,” said Handlogten. “Should’ve won Sixth Man of the Year. But he’s finally getting some recognition in the tournament.”
Despite the praise, Haugh has remained grounded, calling his entire team underrated.
Florida will take on Auburn, a familiar Southeastern Conference foe, on Saturday evening. The Gators won the regular-season matchup on February 8, defeating the eventual conference champions 90-81. Haugh played a critical role in that win with 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, a performance that’s sure to be a factor in Bruce Pearl’s game plan.
“Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar, all for the Gators, stand up and holler,” goes the iconic Florida cheer.
But maybe it’s time for a remix:
“Look at the bench, Tommy Haugh sits, call him up, call him a baller.”
