Egor Koulechov came to Florida as a graduate transfer from Rice this year and became a big part of the Gators’ offense.

He scored 13.8 points and grabbed 6.4 rebounds per night, ranking second in points and first in boards. He was a big reason the Gators made it to the NCAA Tournament, where they beat St. Bonaventure in the first round.

In the second round, though, the Gators fell to a tough Texas Tech squad, ending Koulechov’s short tenure in Gainesville. On Monday, Koulechov sent out a heartfelt thank you note to his teammates and fans:

It was a great year for Koulechov, and the Gators will certainly miss him next season. However, with some other key players returning, it’s possible the Gators return to the tourney and advance even further next year.

Wherever he is, Koulechov will be watching, rooting on his teammates.