If you watched that game in Gainesville and then listened to Todd Golden afterward, you probably felt the same thing I did.
Not surprise.
Not respect.
Just annoyance.
Golden has that demeanor that grates on you the longer you watch. He is constantly working the refs, the constant smirk, the self-satisfaction, the vibe of someone who enjoys poking more than explaining. And look, he’s a good coach. He’s earned plenty of praise. But after that game, of all moments, he decided to troll. Trolls going to troll, I guess.
That’s what made it so irritating.
The $22 million jab
We’ve all heard the number by now. Kentucky’s reported $22 million roster has been national talking-point material since the offseason, especially after the Wildcats landed Denzel Aberdeen out of Gainesville.
During the ABC broadcast, Jimmy Dykes went so far as to suggest Aberdeen didn’t really want to leave Florida, that Kentucky simply offered more money, and the Gators couldn’t (or wouldn’t) match it.
That hurts, because Aberdeen was one of the most inefficient players on the court. He scored a team high 19, but it took him 21 shots to get there. He spent more time jumping into Florida's big men and trying to draw fouls than finding open teammates. Tough to have that from your PG1, on the road against a top 25 team that desperately wanted to win.
After Florida barely survives at home, what does Golden do in the postgame press conference?
He goes straight to the money.
“They’re talented, obviously, it’s a $22 million roster,” Golden said. “They’re physical. They’re big. I expect them to do well the rest of the year; they’re a really good team.”
On the surface, it sounds complimentary. Anyone paying attention knows better. It's the kind of backhanded compliment you make when you feel superior.
That was a jab. And Golden knew exactly what he was doing. But his team won, and if Kentucky doesn't want to hear it again, they need to win the rematch.
A win that felt way too comfortable
Here’s the part that makes the comment land wrong.
Florida didn’t dominate Kentucky. They didn’t impose their will until well after the refs swallowed their whistles. They didn’t prove anything definitive. Kentucky handed them the game and still nearly walked out of the O’Dome with a comeback win.
Fourteen turnovers with many sparking easy Gator points combined with way too many blown assignments made life easier for Florida. Had Kentucky simply not turned it over, they win this game.
Kentucky was missing key pieces, played sloppy basketball, and still had Florida hanging on late. That’s not a night to puff your chest out and talk payroll.
And yet, instead of owning his own team’s shaky execution, Golden chose to lean into the easiest national narrative available.
This Is why Florida is so easy to root against
Nobody’s denying Florida’s talent; they can't shoot outside of Urban Klavzar, but they're good. Nobody’s pretending Golden can’t coach; he won a title just last year. But comments like that make it harder to respect the program, especially when they come after a game that could’ve swung the other way with a few cleaner possessions.
Kentucky fans aren’t mad because of the number, they’re mad because of the dismissive tone. There’s a difference between confidence and condescension, Todd Golden crossed it.
Here’s the part Golden might want to keep in the back of his mind.
Florida still has to come to Lexington.
And when Rupp Arena is full, loud, and locked in, that $22 million roster he joked about tends to look a lot more dangerous, especially when it isn’t busy throwing the ball away.
Saturday may have gone down as a Florida win. Good for you Gator fans.
But Golden's smarmy attitude will make the Rupp Arena beatdown coming even sweeter. See ya in 3 weeks.