CHAMPIONS!!! Kentucky Wildcats blast Florida Gators 70-54 to take 27th SEC Title
By Paul Jordan
The frustrating road losses? Forget them.
Worrying about a short bench? Forget that too.
In just six games, the Kentucky Wildcats have taken a season of frustration and worry, turned it around, and now are a legitimate darkhorse candidate for the Final Four? Don’t believe me? Just ask Florida Gator coach Billy Donovan who watched Kentucky whup his 12th ranked Gators twice in the span of sixteen days. Today, the Wildcats handed the Gators a 70-54 beatdown.
As with yesterday’s game against Alabama, Kentucky took it to Florida early, outhustling and playing tenacious defense. A DeAndre Liggins three pointer put Kentucky up 9-3 barely three minutes into the game. Terrence Jones set the defensive pace with two early blocks and sent a message. The Gators are too good a team to lie down though, and the Gators tallied, fueled by two three pointers by Scottie Wilbiekin. A Patric Young jumper gave the Gator’s a 24-21 lead midway through the opening stanza. The game was taking on the look of a classic battle, but as fate would have it, that was the Gator’s last hurrah.
Former Gator Eloy Vargas got into the game and provided the emotional spark the Wildcats needed while Doron Lamb, he of the “doubtful status” provided offensive fireworks. Kentucky went on a 10-0 run to go up 31-24 with 3:36 remaining. The Gators got to within three later in the half but a Doron Lamb jumper sent the Wildcats in at halftime with a 34-29 lead.
Darius Miller scored the first five points of the second period and a Brandon Knight jumper put Kentucky up 41-29 sending the blueclad Georgia Dome crowd into a frenzy. At this point, it got sloppy and intense, but fortunately it was sloppy on both sides. Terrence Jones gave Kentucky a 45-33 lead at the 17:11 mark and no one scored again until Vernon Macklin did at 12:06. The Kentucky scoring drought continued as Patrick Young brought the Gators with single digits. Not to worry, Darius Miller answered with a three pointer at the 11:00 mark to give UK a 48-37 lead. You could feel the Georgia Dome exhale with relief when that shot went through as they averted a possible meltdown. the Wildcats scored just once in 6:11 and just lost one point on the scoreboard.
Miller hit another trey and the Wildcat defense went from uncomfortable pressure to suffocating. Florida could not conver and UK withstood a nearly 10:00 cold spell with their defence as a Josh Harrellson layup put Kentucky up 53-40 with 7:07 remaining. The Gators would rally to within eight, but as if on cue, a Terrence Jones three pointer put the Wildcats up 56-45 with 5:28 remaining.
At that point, the Gators tried to bomb from deep range and foul the Wildcats to get back into the game. Kentucky then went a cool 11-12 from the line during clutch time and did not get another FG until a Brandon Knight dunk made the score 69-55 with :50 left. Knight added a final free score for the final margin.
So Wildcat fans, what else were we worried about seven games ago?
Choking in the clutch? These Wildcats OWN clutch time.
Erratic FT shooting? Forget about it.
Folks, this was a very good Florida team that Kentucky has rolled over twice in the last three weeks. And they were playing very good basketball headed into this game, but Kentucky harassed them into 38.6% shooting and forced 14 turnovers, while turning the ball over six times. I know it may sound sacrilegious, but this team may be more tournament ready than last year’s edition.
Once again. when Kentucky gets balanced scoring from four or more players and not just the freshmen, they are very hard to beat. Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones led the way with 17 and 16 points, but Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins added 15 and 10. And it was Darius Miller, not one of the freshmen that took home the SEC Tournament MVP.
Not a lot more to say about today’s game, but it’s time to sit and wait for the Tournament seedings, which will be announced in a couple of hours. Look for the Wildcats to get a #3 seed and hopefully be playing their first two games in Tampa. See you there, BBN.
For complete game stats, go here.
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