Social media reacts to Keyontae Johnson facing his former team
All eyes in Gator Nation were on Keyontae Johnson Saturday night as the former Florida forward led his new team, the Kansas State Wildcats, to victory over his former club.
It wasn’t the best showing Johnson’s put together all year, but even an off night for the former SEC Preseason Player of the Year resulted in a double-double. The pain for Florida fans is two-fold. Seeing Florida get throttled is never pleasant, even in a rebuilding year, but it becomes that much worse when the man leading the charge against you is the one your doctors wouldn’t clear.
Everyone that’s followed Gators hoops over the past few years will forever be left asking what could have been had Johnson not collapsed in that game over two years ago. Would Mike White still be coaching at Florida? Would the Gators be ranked No. 5 in the country instead of Kansas State? Closure isn’t coming anytime soon, but there’s some relief knowing that Johnson is healthy enough to play at 100%, even if it does hurt UF.
Johnson finished the game with 13 points on 5-for-16 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from the line. He also brought in notched 11 rebounds, two steals and one assist while turning the ball over just twice.
Here’s what Twitter had to say about Johnson’s reunion with his former squad.
Johnson takes the floor
#11, @Keyontae Johnson. pic.twitter.com/1SrRhrA3cL
— Tejay Cleland (@KWCHTejay) January 28, 2023
Gator Nation had mixed emotions seeing Johnson thrive
Pretty emotional seeing Keyontae Johnson on the court with the orange and blue. Tears of joy for him. The fact that it’s against a mediocre Gators team while he’s back to his all-world self with a top 5 team is insignificant in the grand scheme but it hurts, not gonna lie.
— Shawn Kopelakis (@shawn_kopelakis) January 28, 2023
It's hard not to think about what could have been
Already so much proof that this team would be so good with Keyontae Johnson.
— Ethan Budowsky (@ethanbudowsky) January 28, 2023
And Florida playing poorly didn't help
Keyontae Johnson is HOOPIN'
The Gators are not.
— Joe (@UFLORIDAJOE) January 28, 2023
Okay, it was worse than "poor"
We kinda knew we had no shot going on the road against a top 5 team in the Keyontae game.
But this is somehow worse.
— Lucas Dolengowski (@LDolengowski) January 29, 2023
Let's just focus on the good
Pretty incredible seeing Keyontae Johnson on the basketball court in a Florida Gators game again
— Will (@twentee7) January 28, 2023
What else can you do when you score 16 points in a half?
Halftime box score: KSU leads Florida, 37-16.
The only upside is getting to see @Keyontae on the court. @InsideTheGators pic.twitter.com/h04cLqFjlA
— Rafael De Los Santos (@rafdelossantos) January 28, 2023
It wasn't all perfect for Johnson, though
Colin Castleton rejects Keyontae Johnson.
Heading into the game, Castleton said of Johnson: "I’ll be really highly shocked if he doesn’t (drive at me). He’ll definitely go at me."
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall_) January 29, 2023
Fans theorized that he was forcing shots against his former squad
I feel like keyontae is forcing shots that are getting blocked cuz he wants to score against us lol
— Josiah🏈 (@RainingGamess) January 29, 2023
But even when he's bad, he's good
Keyontae about to play "awful" and go for 18
— Blazik (@Blazik) January 29, 2023
At least he didn't lay down that windmill slam
I’m gonna be honest: I wanted Keyontae to flush that windmill.
— Alligator Army (@AlligatorArmy) January 29, 2023
He did deliver a dagger, though
KSU’s Keyontae Johnson slams home a dunk with 4:56 remaining in the game and Florida calls a timeout. KSU leads Florida big, 59-36.
— Quinn Burkitt News (@QuinnBurkitt) January 29, 2023
We'll ignore the slight rim hang
HE LOVES IT#KStateMBB x @Keyontae pic.twitter.com/m77QBKP3Bg
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) January 29, 2023
And let's not get the narrative twisted
I do not think that “No wonder Keyontae left Florida” poster-holder is fully apprised of all of the facts of the story.
— Alligator Army (@AlligatorArmy) January 29, 2023
It's all love from Gator Nation
Final: Kansas State 64, Florida 50.
Keyontae Johnson continues writing his own story with a win over his beloved Gators. Florida continues to miss having a player like him to help power its offense.
— Alligator Army (@AlligatorArmy) January 29, 2023
Sportsmanship at its finest
Best. Handshake. Line. Ever. @Keyontae @KStateMBB @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/oP3kMronwX
— Rich Hollenberg (@RichOnSports) January 29, 2023
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