It's Kentucky, It's Florida, It's Gator Stompin Time
By Paul Jordan
Throughout the years Kentucky and Florida have never liked each other. Technicals galore, stepping on players and even game winning 3’s have set the tone for this hated rivalry. If it’s not extremely bad receding hair-lines or having drunks for a coach, it’s definitely the thrill of destroying each other. And this all comes to a TV near you, (unless of course you live in Europe) today!
The past 5 games between the two schools has been much to the liking of the Wildcats. Winning 4 out of the last 5 games, Kentucky has put the gator chomping in their back pocket, and use it till football season. The oldest of the last 5 games was won by Kentucky by a score of 75-70 in 2008. In 2009 Kentucky would win the first match up at Rupp, 68-65. But the next meeting Florida would take the “W” 60-53. Then there was last year, 2010, Kentucky won both meetings. The first, 89-77 and then senior day it was 74-66.
Me just giving you the scores does not justify how they went down. So, lets look at each game individually, starting with the oldest.
March 9th, 2008 – Rupp Arena, W 75-70
This game was played in the Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley era (you just gotta feel bad for those two). Also, Nick ‘ “I will move to Greece and become irrelevant” ‘ Calathes was a gator this year. Though those were the star players for each team, Perry Stevenson was actually the star of the game. Stevenson had 18 points and 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 5 blocks, all of which he lead the team in that game. Maruice Speights was the best player for Florida with 20 points and 8 rebounds, both of which he lead his team in.
Kentucky at one point had a 27-11 advantage, then a 60-44 point advantage only to see it dwindle to 73-70. But Kentucky would hold off the Gators to win 75-70.
Here are some highlights from the game:
February 10th, 2009 – Rupp Arena, W 68-65
It was a late night in Lexington, also Gameday was there, when Kentucky played Florida. Crawford and Bradley gone, in comes the emergence of Jodie Meeks. I was out and about so I was privileged to listen to Mr. Tom Leach. The best player for Kentucky was Jodie Meeks, with 23 points. Nick Calathes was Floridas best player where he recorded 33 points and 7 rebounds.
This game was close throughout and it seemed like it was going to come down the last second, which it did. Jodie Meeks got the inbounds pass, ran to the left side of the court, stepped back and drained the 3. That shot put Kentucky up 68-65. But when Calathes went to shoot his desperation 3, he was fouled by Kevin Galloway. Calathes would go on to miss all of his free-throws giving the Cats a victory.
Here are some highlights of that game:
March 7th, 2009 – Stephen C. O’Connell Center, L 53-60
When this game tipped off, it was all Florida from the start. Kentucky did not look like they brought their basketball talents with them from the hotel. They (UK) did make it only a 7 point win for Florida, but it really was all Florida from the start. This was the only loss in the past five games for Kentucky. The leading scorer for the Cats was Patrick Patterson with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Walter Hodge was Florida’s top performer with 18 points and 3 steals.
Here are some highlights from that game:
January 12th, 2010 – Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, W 89-77
This year feature virtually a brand new team for UK. Three freshman started for Kentucky, not to mention we are now in the Calipari era. (side note – UK coaches follow a pattern… Great, Good, Drunk… Rupp=Great, Hall=Good, Sutton=Drunk, Pitino=Great, Tubby=Good, Gillispie=Drunk, we are back to Great=Calipari). This game was very bad at the beginning for Kentucky. Kentucky overcame the bad start and finally came around to take a 7 point lead into the half. UK would balloon the lead to 15, BUT… let them back in. Key free throws form the Cats would seal the deal for the win. Eric Bledsoe was UK’s top performer with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Erving Walker was Florida;s top performer with 20 points and 4 assists.
Here are some highlights from the game:
March 7th, 2010 – Rupp Arena, W 74-66
This day was Senior Day, and since PPatt, and all the freshman (except Hood) were all expected to go the draft, so it was sorta a senior/freshman day. This game was mostly dominated by Kentucky. At one point in the first half of opended up a 18 point lead, but as we all noticed last year, leads did not last very long. the top performers in this game were Patrick Patterson with 13 points and Vernin Macklin with 8 points.
Here are some highlights of the game:
Today should be filled with excitement like five before it. Prediction: UK 75 – Florida 72. Whelp there you have it.
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