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Kentucky Wildcats Demolish Florida Gators to Top Off Undefeated Regular Season

By Brian True

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It was Senior Day at Rupp Arena, where the three senior walk-ons were recognized in front of 24,000 friends and family. In typical Kentucky Wildcats fashion, those three seniors were also given the starting nod as a recognition of their dedication to the program. So, with a starting lineup of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Harrison, Tod Lanter, Brian Long, and Sam Malone, the Kentucky Wildcats began their quest for their 31st win and an end to an undefeated regular season. It could not have been a more fitting start to a game that would end in a blowout, as these seniors deserved more than anyone to see their Rupp Arena careers end on a high note after all they’d seen.

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After playing the first offensive possession, the walk-ons were pulled after a foul. The normal rotation then came in to begin the heavyweight fight that was the first half. After racing out to a quick 5-0 lead, the Kentucky Wildcats hit a wall and seemed out of sorts in every way possible. It was a back and forth game for much of the first half, the Florida Gators holding their largest lead at four points, leading 21-17 after a Chris Walker layup with 5:54 left in the half. From there, however, the Kentucky Wildcats would flex their muscles a bit, outscoring the Gators 13-6 to end the first half. Despite being outplayed for much of the first half, the Kentucky Wildcats would once again take the lead into halftime, leading 30-27.

The second half saw much of the same for the first ten minutes. The Kentucky Wildcats lead hovered right around the five point range, as it seemed they could not pull away from the Florida Gators. That is, until they began flexing their muscles and showing their depth. An exhausted Florida team failed to keep up their high level of play, succumbing to the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats. The lead hit double digits for the first time at the 8:12 mark. They would never look back at that point. At it largest, the Kentucky Wildcats held a 18 point lead. In the end, the lead settled at 17 and the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Florida Gators by a final of 67-50.

Next up on the #1 Kentucky Wildcats schedule is the SEC tournament, where they will be the #1 seed and will face the winner of the #8/#9 matchup this coming Friday.

Next: Matthew Mitchell and the Kentucky Wildcats Hoops Deserve Some Respect

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