The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Florida Gators 78-57 on Saturday in Lexington. The Gators had a four-game winning streak heading into this game, but the Wildcats’ firepower proved to be too much. Now, Florida will face the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station before welcoming the top-ranked Auburn Tigers to Gainesville. Here’s a quick recap of Kentucky’s win over Florida.
Gators’ Offense Runs Through Castleton
It was obvious that Florida would have to depend on its defense to win this game. Colin Castleton had a decent game with 18 points on nearly 70% field goal percentage. However, he was the only Gator to finish in double-figures, and Florida could not score 30 points in either half.
Moreover, the Gators struggled from the three-point line with a near 20% percentage from behind the arch. It felt like Florida tried to play Kentucky’s offensive style, but the Gators should know that they don’t possess that kind of talent.
Rebounding on the defensive glass was also a huge issue for Florida as the Wildcats finished with 18 offensive rebounds. Oscar Tshiebwe had nine of those offensive rebounds for Kentucky, and he proved to be the reason for the Gators’ loss.
Kentucky’s Offense Just Too Much
In addition to Tshiebwe’s 19 total rebounds, he finished with 27 points; this was nearly half of Florida’s final score. Tshiebwe got help from three other of Kentucky’s players who finished in double figures. Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz were able to combine for seven threes, which was another difference in the game.
While the Wildcats were successful shooting the ball, the primary reason for their win comes from their rebounding. Florida just can’t allow 41 rebounds from the opposing team if the Gators want a shot to win any game. Still, it’s tough to come into Rupp Arena and win, especially given Florida’s situation.
Concluding Thoughts
The Florida Gators are now 6-6 in conference play with a collective record of 16-9. The Gators will face the Wildcats again during their last game in Gainesville with an opportunity for revenge. Now, Florida must recalibrate to finish strong in its last six games of SEC play.