Kentucky’s fightback isn’t the issue, and that was on display again as Florida handled the Cats in Nashville. The problem is that "playing hard" doesn't count for points on the scoreboard when you allow yourself to keep falling behind by 15 or more. Kentucky got down double digits early, made a massive run to tie it at 20, and then completely fell apart.
Between the end of that run and the final minutes, Florida outscored Kentucky 29-12 over a 15-minute stretch. While the defense kept them in screaming distance, the offense was, to put it bluntly, terrible.
The bingo card offense
The Cats got open look after open look all night long and just could not convert very many of them.
- Andrija Jelavic: 0-4
- Denzel Aberdeen & Collin Chandler: Combined 3-7
- The Surprise: Your leading 3-point shooter was Mo Dioubate (2-3). If you had that on your bingo card, go buy a lottery ticket right now. After you finish reading this, of course.
When your best shooters are clanking open looks and your bench energy guy is your only threat from deep, you aren't winning in March.
Elite defense, poor glass coverage
Kentucky’s first-shot defense was actually elite. They forced 17 Florida turnovers and held a team that usually scores in the 80s to just 38% shooting. Florida even went on a near 10-minute drought in the second half. And still they couldn't get it closer than 5.
The backbreaker? The Glass. Florida missed 36 shots and collected 17 offensive rebounds. You can’t play "smothering" defense if you don’t finish the possession with a rebound. Those second chances allowed Thomas Haugh to hit a killer turnaround with 1:40 left that really hurt.
A Denzel Aberdeen 3 was cancelled out by a Xaivian Lee 3 to put the Gators back up 8 with just 50 seconds to go. And that was really the end of the battle. Kentucky fought, but once again, the offense was offensive.
The zero second reality
If Kentucky had just made their open shots, they beat these Gators. Instead, Kentucky has played Florida three times this season, and they have never been ahead for a single second. Not one lead. Not one moment of being in the driver's seat. Now the Gators own a 3-game sweep of Kentucky for just the 2nd time in history, completing the Triple Crown sweep.
Final Score: Florida 71, Kentucky 63
Now, Kentucky moves to its final and most important phase: The NCAA Tournament. Mark Pope’s team is definitely battle-tested and defensively sound, but if they don't find their rhythm on the offensive end, it’s going to be a very short stay in the Big Dance.