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The ‘Cats fell to the No. 5 Florida Gators by a score of 84-77 on Saturday afternoon in Rupp Arena. It was Senior Day for Kentucky, recognizing Seniors Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, Walker Horn, and Zach Tow. The pregame festivities included a traditional Senior Day routine along with the playing of My Old Kentucky Home. It was an emotional moment, as usual for ‘Cats fans saying goodbye to their Seniors in their last home game at Rupp Arena. The Gators got out to a lightning fast start, beginning the game on a 11-0 run. The ‘Cats then went on their own 9-0 run but the Gators led for the entirety of the 40-minutes. The largest Florida lead was 20 points but the ‘Cats clawed back within 5 points with under 2-minutes to play. Oweh led the way for Kentucky as he has consistently done for the past 2 years in a Kentucky jersey. He scored 28 points on his Senior Day, while going a perfect 8 for 8 at the free-throw line. The ‘Cats will look to bounce back from a stumbling finish to the season as they begin postseason play next week in Nashville for the SEC tournament. If the games hold, the ‘Cats will be playing on Wednesday in the SEC tournament for the fist time in program history. As far as their NCAA tournament standing goes, the ‘Cats will look to win a game or two to solidify around a 6 to 8 seed in the big dance. ‘Cats fans will be holding on for the ride as we watch this edition of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team come to an end.
Pre-Game Overview:
The starting lineup for the ‘Cats featured Denzel Aberdeen, Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, Andrija Jelavic, and Malachi Moreno
The spread for Saturday afternoon’s game was -5.5 (Florida) and the Over/Under was set at 162.5.
Game Recap:
First Half
The Gators won the toss and scored in the paint on the first possession, The ‘Cats missed a three on their first shot deep in the shot clock from Chandler. Condon scored in the paint for the Gators. Weh turned the ball over and Fland hit a three for Florida to make it 7-0. Jelavic was called for a bad foul call and sent Condon to the line. He made 1 of 2. Lee hit a step back three and forced Pope to call a timeout. The Gators led 11-0 just 2:36-minutes into the game. Jelavic finally scored the first ‘Cats points of the game 5:30-minutes into the game. The ‘Cats were called for another questionable foul call on the defensive end, this time on Oweh. The ‘Cats trailed 11-2 at the under 16-minute media timeout. The ‘Cats forced a shot clock violation out of the timeout. Dioubate drove to the rim and was fouled. He hit 1 of 2 at the line. Oweh drove and spun through contact for the score and the foul. He made the free-throw to make it 11-6 Gators. Dioubate hit a three that rolled around the rim then Haugh responded with a three. The Gators led 16-9 with 11:43-minutes to play in the half. A game of runs to this point. Florida began on a 11-0 run to which the ‘Cats responded with a 9-0 run. The Gators then went on another run at 5-0 heading into the timeout. Oweh scored at the rim for the ‘Cats on a drive. Oweh nailed a open corner three for a 16-14 Florida lead. Haugh was fouled and hit two free-throws. Oweh nailed a rhythm three for the ‘Cats but Brown drove and scored with a foul to respond once again. Garrison followed a missed shot with a slam. Johnson and Garrison handed the Gators two free buckets with careless turnovers and the Gators headed into the under 8-minute media timeout with a 24-19 lead and heading to the line. A Johnson foul was upgraded to an intentional foul and Brown made both free-throws then Condon scored at the rim to make it 28-19 Gators. Haugh nailed a three for Florida. Aberdeen turned the ball over and Fland dunked it in for a 33-19 Florida lead to cap a 13-0 run. Lee scored on an up-and-under layup. Oweh hit his third three of the game. The Gators led 39-23, continuing a 19-4 run. Florida led 41-25 with 2:53-minutes to play in the half. Aberdeen made two free-throws. Oweh answered a Haugh three with a three of his own. Aberdeen hit a layup but Klavzar nailed a deep three. The ‘Cats continued to be careless with the ball and take questionable shots that regularly led to fast break opportunities as the Gators led by a score of 49-32 at the half.
It was a half of runs in the game, with Gators going as much as a 13-0 run and the ‘Cats with as large as a 9-0 run. The Gators did not miss any open opportunities in the half, shooting a remarkable 64% from the field and 60% from three. The Gators are one of the worst three point shooting teams in the country, but you wouldn’t know it when they face the ‘Cats. The ‘Cats shot 38% from the field and 50% from three with 5 made threes. Haugh and Oweh each led their respective teams with 17 first half points. The difference in the half was fast break opportunities. The Gators outscored the ‘Cats 19-0 in that category in the half. The ‘Cats will need to improve overall game intensity and shot making ability in order to have a chance in the second half, as the ‘Cats are looking at a Wednesday start in the SEC tournament right in the face.
Halftime: Kentucky 32 – Florida 49
Second Half
The ‘Cats began the second half with the ball but could not convert. Moreno scored at the rim through contact with no foul. The Gators led 51-34 with 17:19-minutes to play. Jelavic dunked home a bucket. Condon pumped faked at the rim and Florida led 53-36 at the under 16-minute media timeout. Chandler scored on a transition dunk. Then Garrison grabbed a board and Oweh was fouled with no call. Fland scored on an and-one chance and hit the free-throw. Aberdeen got three chances at a score and finally hit a three. Fland nailed a deep three for the Gators once again. Garrison drove to the rim and scored for the ‘Cats. Aberdeen made two free-throws after a foul. Johnson walked into a contested three and nailed it to make it 61-48 Florida. Brown answered with a three on his third try. The ‘Cats got it down to a 13 point deficits but the Gators quickly bounced it back up to 18 points at 66-48 with 10:44-minutes to play in the game. The Gators entered the bonus for free-throw with 10-minutes left in the half. Moreno scored in the paint on nice ball movement from the ‘Cats. Jelavic nailed a corner three for Kentucky. The ‘Cats turned it over and Oweh fouled Fland on a three. He made 1 of 3 at the line. Florida led 71-53 with 7:30-minutes to play. Oweh scored on a pull up jumper. Aberdeen drove and scored on a pump fake to make it 71-57 Florida. Oweh drove and was fouled to head to the line. He hit both free-throws to make it 71-59 Gators. Condon threw up a prayer that banked it as the shot clock expired. Dioubate scored on a physical drive to the basket. The ‘Cats stole the ball and Oweh was fouled and would go to the line after the under 4-minute media timeout with the ‘Cats down 73-61. Oweh hit both free-throws. Chandler missed a three but Dioubate collected the board and went to the line. He hit 1 of 2. Dioubate powered and scored to make it 74-66 Gators. Condon scored but Aberdeen answered with a jumper. Chinyelu hit 1 of 2 at the line and Oweh scored to make it 77-70 Florida with 1-minute to play in the game. The ‘Cats slowly and inefficiently clawed back into the game in the final 6-minutes of the second half. Moreno slammed in a bucket to make it 78-72. Lee walked but it was not called and Fland was fouled and hit two free-throws. Haugh fouled Oweh on a three on the next ‘Cats possession. He hit all 3 free-throws to make it 80-75 Florida with 30-seconds to play. Florida stepped out of bounds on the next inbounds play but it was not called. Aberdeen was fouled on a three on the next possession for Kentucky. He hit 2 of 3 to make it 82-77 Gators. Lee hit 1 of 2 at the line and Oweh missed a deep three to finish the hope for the ‘Cats comeback. The ‘Cats fell to the Gators by a score of 84-77 on Senior Day.
Final: Kentucky 77 – Florida 84
Game Stats:
Florida FG %: 46% (44% 3PT – 8 of 18) (63% FT – 20 of 32)
Kentucky FG %: 39% (35% 3PT – 8 of 23) (81% FT – 17 of 21)
Rebounds: 41 – 40 Florida
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 17:9
Turnovers: UK (9), Florida (10)
Bench Points: 19 – 10 Kentucky
Points off Turnovers: 12 – 10 Kentucky
Fast Break Points: 24 – 4 Florida
Paint Points: 38 – 32 Florida
Player Stats:
Otega Oweh – [(28 points) (5 rebounds) (2 assists) (1 steal)]
Denzel Aberdeen – [(15 points) (5 rebounds) (4 assists) (1 steal)]
Mouhamed Dioubate – [(10 points) (6 rebounds) (1 assist) (1 block) (1 steal)]
Andrija Jelavic – [(7 points) (4 rebounds) (2 assists) (1 block) (1 steal)]
Malachi Moreno – [(6 points) (6 rebounds) (4 assists) (2 blocks) (1 steal)]
Brandon Garrison – [(6 points) (4 rebounds) (1 steal)]
Jasper Johnson – [(3 points) (1 rebound) (1 assist)]
Collin Chandler – [(2 points) (1 rebound) (3 assists) (1 steal)]
Trent Noah – [(1 min played)]
Jayden Quaintance – [OUT/DNP right knee swelling]
Kam Williams – [OUT with foot surgery]
Jaland Lowe – [OUT for the season with right shoulder surgery]
Next Game:
The Kentucky Wildcats (19-12, 10-8 SEC) will head to Nashville for the SEC Tournament. The tournament begins on Wednesday afternoon. The ‘Cats will get their draw later today after the SEC games have completed for the day and regular season. It looks as if the ‘Cats will be playing on Wednesday for the first time in program history in the SEC tournament.
