Five takeaways from Florida’s SEC-opening loss vs Kentucky Wildcats
There is a long way to go and a lot of Southeastern Conference games to play, but Florida’s first SEC game of the season will be remembered as one that got away from them in the end.
The Gators lost to the Kentucky Wildcats, 87-85, in a game that Todd Golden’s team led for way too much time to have ended up losing.
Some weaknesses showed up and one came out of nowhere. Either way, Florida did enough to lose a game that would have done wonders for UF’s NCAA Tournament hopes.
But, again, there is a long way to go. Here are five takeaways from the game.
Actually, there were two problems
One was that Florida, which has been erratic at the free throw line, missed 11 of 29 attempts in this game. And that included Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin making 9 of 11.
The other issue was Florida not being able to stay with Kentucky’s guards and giving up too many baskets at the rim.
But that is a problem that is not going away
Players don’t get quicker during a season. If anything, they get slower.
Let’s face it — this is going to be the way it is in almost every game this season where it comes down to the last five minutes because Florida is too good on offense to get blown out and too bad on defense to blow good teams out.
Saturday was the perfect example
Even on a day when Will Richard – who came in red-hot – went 0-for-8 from the field, Florida still managed to score 85 points. Pullin and Clayton each scored 23 points.
But, as Pullin said, “We can’t be giving up 87 points.”
No, that is not a good formula for winning in this conference.
Oh, and the thing that went away
That would be the rebounding, which has been a staple of Florida’s success this year. Even with Micah Handlogten getting 12 boards, Florida only had a 43-40 advantage and only scored 16 second-chance points.
Give Kentucky credit
Because the O-Dome crowd did everything it could, even with a ton of Kentucky fans there. The game that turned into a free throw contest in the final 10 minutes. And a lot of it was Florida grabbing on defense.
“We had too many blown assignments,” said Clayton. Kentucky made it tough on the Gators by ramping up the three-point defense in the second half.
“We gave them so many good looks and they are going to make some,” John Calipari said. “In the second half, we wanted to show that’s not who we are.”
Florida was 1-of-11 from three after going 8-for-20 in the first half.
Bonus quote
“What kills me is 1-for-11 on threes,” Golden said after the game. “A turnover here, a missed shot there was the difference. This was a game I expected to win.”
Next up
Florida next travels for its first road game of the 2024 portion of the schedule with a matchup against the Ole Miss Rebels on Wednesday, Jan. 10, in Oxford, Mississippi. Tipoff is slated for a late 9 p.m. ET start and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Read more
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida basketball’s loss vs Kentucky
Florida basketball goes undefeated in December, but voteless in AP poll
Florida voteless in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll heading into SEC play
Florida slips a seed in ESPN’s bracketology ahead of SEC play
Gators stand pat in first CBS Sports bracketology update of 2024
Where Florida basketball landed in The Athletic’s latest bracket watch
Follow
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
