In a candid podcast appearance, the Gators coach took a veiled shot at Kentucky and the "free agency" of college basketball after losing his championship guard to the portal.
The rivalry between Kentucky and Florida just got a fresh dose of gasoline, thanks to Gators head coach Todd Golden.
Speaking on Jon Rothstein's podcast, Golden was asked about facing his former guard, Denzel Aberdeen, who transferred to Kentucky this offseason after helping lead Florida to a national championship. His response was dripping with tension.
"It's going to be different," Golden began, before taking a jab at the current state of college athletics. "Denzel's a great young man... [He] took advantage of the new world of college basketball and free agency and had a program like Kentucky, you know, that was able to come in here and take advantage..." he trailed off with a smile, correcting himself. "...give him an opportunity, both from a basketball standpoint and financially, that was probably too good for him to turn down."
The message was clear. But Golden saved his most pointed comment for last, issuing a direct warning to his former player.
"He's going to have to come back into the O-Dome and get received by our fans," he said, a thinly veiled promise of a hostile reception. Someone seems a little salty.
Aberdeen was a key player on the rise for Florida, seeing his role expand dramatically last season. He improved from 9.7 minutes and 3.3 points per game as a sophomore to 19.7 minutes and 7.7 points during their championship run.
Now, he brings that experience to Lexington, where Coach Mark Pope has a history of elevating transfer guards to new heights. Just last season, Pope helped Lamont Butler achieve career-highs across the board. If Pope can unlock another level for Aberdeen, it will be the ultimate validation of the guard's decision to trade orange and blue for blue and white—no matter how sour Todd Golden and the Florida faithful feel about it.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. #UpTheAlbion