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Kentucky vs. Florida : TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Predictions

Published

11 months ago

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Antonio Reeves celebrates after a score.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

It’s 2024, and the Kentucky Wildcats will start the new year by opening SEC play against the Florida Gators in their first true road game of the season in Gainesville this Saturday.

The Wildcats enter conference play with a 10-2 record, while Florida enters with a 10-3 record. It’s not just the records that are similar between the two teams, as they play a similar pace and style.

Kentucky is 21st in possessions per game, averaging nearly 77 per contest, while Florida is just one spot behind in 22nd.

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Additionally, both move the ball extremely well, ranking in the top 30 in the country, and both rank 50th (UK) and 57th (UF) in KenPom defensive efficiency. That said, there are some differences as Kentucky attempts three more 3s per game and Florida attempts to create more contact and averages more than seven more free throws per game.

Let’s take a look at the matchup.

Rebounding

Florida is the best rebounding team in the country, averaging more than 45 per game while outrebounding their opponents by an average of 11 per game. While Kentucky’s efforts have improved since adding 7-footers Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso back to the lineup, they have yet to reach the 40 mark in a single game.

That said, in their most recent game the Wildcats won by 26 against Illinois State, but they were also outrebounded and allowed 24 offensive rebounds, the most of the John Calipari era. In the performance, Bradshaw and Onyenso combined for just three rebounds, the same amount 6-foot-1 Rob Dillingham collected.

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It is worth noting that Adou Thiero missed the game vs. Illinois State due to soreness but is expected to play this week. Thiero is second on the team in rebounding at 5.6 per contest, so having him back will be a big boost in that department.

While Florida’s rebounding efforts are led by big man Tyrese Samuel, each player is disciplined and is looking to grab the rebound. The Wildcats have been working on rebounding drills since the Illinois State game, as John Calipari has made it a big emphasis during Camp Cal.

Hopefully, a difference can be seen in the week since, highlighted by Bradshaw and Onyenso stepping up in a bigger way.

Hit Outside Shots

Kentucky’s defense has not been great this season, but neither have the Gators. Florida’s biggest vulnerability is the 3-point shot, which is fortunate given that is where the Wildcats get more than a third of their points from.

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The Gators allow their opponents to shoot over 34% from deep. This Wildcat team is making its case for the best shooting team of the Calipari era, as they take the second-best 3-point shooting percentage in the country into conference play, 41.6%.

In both of Kentucky’s losses, they have shot less than 32% from 3. Against a team that gives up the three, in a difficult environment, the Wildcats must convert on their opportunities.

Create Turnovers

Florida is 11th in the country in points, but their offensive efficiency is hurt by their inability to take care of the call, turning the ball over more as the second-most rate in the SEC, more than 13.5 times per game.

In comparison, Kentucky has only turned the ball over more than 13 times once, 14 times in a 34-point win against Stonehill.

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Florida guards Walter Clayton Jr and Riley Kugel account for nearly half of the team’s turnovers, so look for the Kentucky backcourt to be aggressive.

Opposing Players to Watch

G Walter Clayton Jr, 6-2, 195 lbs

  • 15.2 PPG (11th in SEC)
  • 3.8 RPG
  • 3.3 APG
  • 45.7% FG

F Tyrese Samuel, 6-10, 239 lbs

  • 14.3 PPG
  • 8.8 RPG (3rd in SEC)
  • 64.6% FG (leads SEC)

G Zyon Pullin, 6-4, 206 lbs

  • 14.1 PPG
  • 5.0 APG (leads SEC)
  • 3.5 RPG
  • 42.9% 3P (T-12th SEC)

Kentucky Wildcats Basketball vs. Florida Gators

  • Date: January 6th, 2024
  • Time: 12:30 pm ET
  • Location: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Announcers: Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas
  • Online Stream: WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
  • Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the UK radio call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
  • Replay: WatchESPN and the SEC Network (check local listings).
  • Rosters: UK | FLA
  • Stats to Know: UK | FLA
  • KenPom: UK | FLA
  • Odds: DraftKings has Kentucky favored by a point as of Friday afternoon. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Cats a 38.3% chance to win. Bart Torvik has it at 41%, while EvanMiya has the game as a tossup, 50.1%-49.9%. KenPom is at 52%. Kentucky is currently 7-3 against the spread, while Florida is 5-4-1.
  • Predictions: Bart Torvik and Haslametrics both have Kentucky losing, 88-86 and 89-88, respectively. EvanMiya couldn’t predict a winner with an 83.2-83.2 projection. KenPom is projecting an 86-85 victory, Kentucky!
  • Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Players Say They Think About Winning National Championship “Every Second”

Published

3 days ago

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November 18, 2024

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Kentucky basketball players celebrate after their big over Duke.
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The expectations at Kentucky are the highest of any school in the country, and there is good reason why. The winningest college program ever. Eight national titles, under five different coaches. Seventeen Final Four appearances. You get it, a lot of success.

Fans want the players to have those same expectations. Despite not having the elite talent or preseason hype of great Kentucky teams past, this year’s team still has their eyes set on doing something “people will remember forever”, winning a national championship.

Asked on social media, if hanging banner #9 was all the players thought about “every second”, Ansley Almonor had a response.

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“We do.”

It takes a lot to win a national championship, including some luck, but this team is certainly going to be loved for their desire to live out their dream of playing at Kentucky and their unselfishness. Those two things can take them a long way this season .

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart Seemingly Takes Shot at John Calipari, “Anybody Can Recruit”

Published

5 days ago

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November 16, 2024

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Mitch Barnhart sitting next to basketball coach John Calipari.
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John Calipari and Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart had their differences over fifteen years, but success can hide a lot of things. Not that they hated each other, but they each had vastly different personalities. As that success weaned towards the end of Calipari’s tenure, those issues started to be noticed publically.

If you need evidence of that, despite their efforts to dispute it, there is the infamous press conference where Barnhart talked about “entitled” coaches, shortly after Calipari publicly called for a new practice facility. Then, there were multiple times when Calipari expressed that the administration was not on the same page and that he was facing “headwinds”.

That said, Calipari is now at Arkansas, but those differences and some disdain remain. During an interview on the Kentucky Football pregame show, Barnhart seemingly took a shot at Calipari when asked about Mark Pope’s recruiting philosophy and prioritizing fit.

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“I tell people all the time, ‘Anybody can recruit, not everybody can evaluate,’” Barnhart said. “You can recruit. You can be phenomenal at bringing people to your program. But if it does not fit you, it’s really not helpful.”

Of course, Calipari is one of the best, if not the best, recruiters in college basketball history. At times, he prioritized talent and athleticism over fit.

Quite the coincidence.

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Men's Basketball

ESPN’s Jay Williams Gives Message to Kentucky Fans, “You’re Not Going to Like It…”

Published

6 days ago

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November 15, 2024

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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams gives a message to Kentucky fans after the Wildcats win over Duke. "You won't like it."
ESPN

Back in April, opposing fanbases like Duke, told Kentucky fans to “cope with Pope” following the hire of Mark Pope and the corresponding initial shock. On Tuesday, those same fanbases had to watch as Mark Pope outcoached Jon Scheyer and Duke in the final minutes of the Champion’s Classic to get his first marque win in just his third game at Kentucky.

Of course, shortly after the game, Duke fans began to rationalize the loss by highlighting their team’s youth. While true, it sounded like an echo chamber of what Kentucky fans said for years under John Calipari. One notable example was former Blue Devil Jay Williams.

At halftime, while Duke was leading 46-37, Williams called this year’s Duke team the most talented since the 2001 team that he was a part of at halftime. To his credit, he complimented Kentucky on the comeback victory, specifically on their offense and maturity, but then 36 hours later he posted a message to Kentucky fans on social media.

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“Let me put you on to something,” Williams started. “Whether you like it or not, networks are going to sell Cooper Flagg. He’s going to be the number one pick in the draft. You’re going to talk about whether he won the or whether he lost the game, regardless of the outcome.”

“You’re not going to like it. There should be more kudos to Mark Pope and Kentucky,” Williams continued. “Regardless of whether you won the game or not, they’re still going to sell Cooper Flagg because he is selling the sport. Sorry.”

William’s statement is true. That said, it comes off as ‘sour grapes’ about losing. Cooper Flagg is a great talent and will likely be the first pick in the NBA Draft, but most Kentucky fans would say they would much rather have the win than the marketing.

Futhermore, Kentucky and its ‘brand’ has raised the level of multiple players and coaches, and will continue to do so. A deeper impact than Cooper Flagg will have on Duke in just one season.

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