Florida overwhelms the Kentucky basketball team; Cats lose 67-80

The Kentucky basketball team mounted a second half comeback, but never got closer than 9 points. UK lost to the Gators 67-80.

The Kentucky basketball team played selfish basketball, and it showed against the Florida Gators on Saturday afternoon. Kentucky had only 6 assists in what can best be described as a horrendous loss.UK lost the game 67-80. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Cats with points.

Kentucky was outhustled, struggled on both ends of the court, and the Gators shot the light out in the first half. Florida led 48-33 at halftime. The Gators knocked down 10 triples and hit 41% from downtown. The 13-point margin of defeat is their largest of the season. The Gators earned a season sweep over the Cats and snagged the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament.

First Half

Kevin Knox got the scoring started for the Cats with a three-pointer and then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a mid-range jumper to put Kentucky on top early 5-4. Coach Cal quickly pulled Nick Richards and Wenyen Gabriel in favor of PJ Washington and Jarred Vanderbilt. The Gators squeaked in front at the first TV timeout 6-5.

Jalen Hudson of Florida was fouled attempting a three-pointer and converted the 3 free throws to put the Gators up by 4 early. After some back and forth buckets, Quade Green nailed a triple to tie the game at 14 a piece. Florida ripped off 6 straight points to take a 20-14 lead, before Knox converted an and-1 in the lane to narrow Florida’s lead to 3.

The Gators led at the under-8 minute timeout, as Florida appeared to get under the skin of the Kentucky basketball team. Vanderbilt and Washington picked up 2 fouls in the first half, forcing Cal to sub in Richards. He got lost on a screen and Florida drained a triple to increase their lead to 11 points.

Sacha Killeya-Jones was subbed in and immediately converted an alley oop from Shai. Green knocked down another triple to close the gap to 8. A free throw line-jumper and a three-pointer from the Gators boosted their lead to 13. Gilgeous-Alexander did his best to keep the Cats in the game with 10 first half points. However, Florida dominated the Wildcats at the end of the half and led UK 48-33 at halftime.

Second Half

Kentucky went inside early to start the second half. Vanderbilt hit a spinning shot in the paint and Washington got to the free throw line where he hit 1-of-2. A cheap foul on Vanderbilt tagged him with 3 early in the second half. Washington picked up his 3rd closing out on defense. Florida took a 17-point lead on a fast break lob from Chris Chiozza to Hudson. The Gators led 56-39 at that point.

Florida went on a 10-0 run to open up a 23-point lead. Gabriel finally stopped the bleeding with a triple. Florida still held a commanding 62-42 lead. Vanderbilt picked up his 4th foul with 14:00 left in the game. By the under-12 minute timeout Kentucky put a dent in Florida’s lead and trailed 48-64.

Florida missed 8 straight shots and the Kentucky basketball team mounted a little comeback. The Cats went on a 14-3 run and trailed 53-65 with 8:36 left in the game. Kevin Knox cut the Florida lead to 11 going 1-of-2 at the free throw line. SGA scored a second-chance basket and trimmed the Gators’ lead to 9, the closest the Cats had been since 4:53 in the first half.

With 6:17 left in the game, the Gators led 68-56. Florida regained their swagger and took a 72-56 lead after a slam dunk by Keith Stone. The Cats never got close down the stretch and lost the season series to the Gators.