In a tightly contested SEC opener, No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats, with a 10-2 record, overcame the Florida Gators, who were on a six-game win streak and held a 10-3 record, with a final score of 87-85 at the Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. Despite being down by eight points at halftime and struggling with their shooting, including a 5 of 20 from the 3-point line and missing eight free throws, Kentucky managed to rally in the second half. Freshman Aaron Bradshaw's crucial 3-pointer gave Kentucky a 79-76 lead with just 1:21 remaining. Antonio Reeves led the team with 19 points, while D.J. Wagner and Reed Sheppard each added 14 points. Kentucky, who was up to a 2 seed and initially opened up as a 1 point favorite over Florida, extended their record to 11-3 overall and 1-0 in SEC play, with a historical record of 109-41 against the Gators, having won nine of their last 10 matchups. The Wildcats, who led for only 5:25 of the game, leaned on the performances of Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves on the road. Kentucky is set to host Missouri on Tuesday.
"We won. We could have lost, and I'd be up here saying, 'Hey, we'll learn from it and move on. But that's what we did." Kentucky won a tight game on the road Saturday against Florida to begin SEC play 1-0. https://t.co/XmVMFf5xxW
Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball's come-from-behind win at Florida. #BBN #ukbasketball https://t.co/793zR6zDr7
No. 6 Kentucky slips past Florida in SEC opener https://t.co/ampb43PtjM https://t.co/qHtvv0sCwz
The last time UK rallied from an 8-points-or-more halftime deficit on the road was March 7, 2020 at Florida. Down 40-30 at the half, Kentucky won 71-70 on an EJ Montgomery tip-in. That was the final game of the season as COVID-19 canceled the post-season. #BBN #ukbasketball
Final: Kentucky 87, Florida 85. Kentucky led for all of 5:25, but did so at the buzzer to start SEC play with a win. Antonio Reeves had 19. D.J. Wagner and Reed Sheppard each had 14. Aaron Bradshaw made a 3 with 1:27 to go that swung the game for UK ⬇️ https://t.co/qJL6psRIDu
CATS ON TOP 😸 No. 6 Kentucky digs deep to win against Florida in Gainesville 🔥 https://t.co/R7haDCFv8M
Kentucky 5 of 20 from 3, missed eight free throws and 10 layups/dunks, had 6 assists and 9 turnovers, only led for five total minutes … Won at Florida, 87-85. That’s an awfully impressive win by a bunch of freshmen (with help from a couple clutch vets).
Terrific win for Kentucky in Gainesville. Aaron Bradshaw scored all 10 of his points in the second half, including the go-ahead three.
Kentucky committed too many dumb fouls late - but that is still a HELL of a win. On the road. Hostile environment. NCAA Tournament caliber team in Florida. Down a key player - and UK finds a way. Again, sloppy late. But the mental toughness of this team continues to amaze me
Final: Kentucky 87, Florida 85 Final box: https://t.co/ogivZ2tqFJ
Kentucky 5 of 20 from 3, missed eight free throws, 10 layups/dunks, 6 assists and 9 turnovers, only left got five total minutes … Won at Florida, 87-85. That’s an awfully impressive win by a bunch of freshmen (with help from a couple clutch vets).
FINAL: No. 6 Kentucky 87, Florida 85. Wildcats improve to 11-3 overall and 1-0 in SEC play. Gators fall to 10-4 and 0-1, respectively. Antonio Reeves had a team-high 19 points for UK. Cats back in action Tuesday, hosting Missouri at 7 p.m.
FINAL: No. 6 Kentucky 87, Florida 85. In Gainesville. Very solid win for the Wildcats. Looked much better after halftime. Only two turnovers, got out in transition. DJ Wagner and Antonio Reeves stepped up, huge go-ahead 3 from Aaron Bradshaw and late FTs from Reed Sheppard.
Kentucky gets a road victory over Florida! https://t.co/Qc5bR5zRD0
Loud "Go Big Blue!" chants break out here at O'Connell Center with Kentucky up on Florida 80-76 with 43.4 seconds left. #BBN #ukbasketball
Kentucky and Florida playing a fun one down in Gainesville. Welcome back, SEC basketball. I missed you. https://t.co/tLgaYuvAj4
Aaron Bradshaw nails a three from top of the key to put Kentucky up 79-76 over Florida with 1:21 left. https://t.co/HVVcJ5QV1k
HUGE 3-pointer from freshman big Aaron Bradshaw, which gives Kentucky a 79-76 lead with just 1:21 remaining.
Tre Mitchell checks out with a limp with 1:38 to go. Kentucky and Florida tied at 76. Brutal timing for that.
A D.J. Wagner 3 with 15:22 to go in the game briefly gave Kentucky a 2-point lead. The Cats have yet to get that back, but they're on the doorstep. Kentucky and Florida tied at 74 with 3:10 to play.
For the first time since 15:05 to go, the game is tied. Kentucky 72, Florida 72 with 4:25 to go.
With 4:40 left, Florida is 1-of-9 from 3 this half. Gators were 8-of-20 from 3 in the first half.
Florida 72, Kentucky 69 with 4:40 to go. Aaron Bradshaw has put together a nice second half for the Cats: 2 points, 6 rebounds and much, much better being strong around the rim. His Camden HS teammate D.J. Wagner has 12 points in the 2nd half and is carrying UK.
Kentucky has looked sloppy all day but only down two at Florida. Young Cats leaning on vets Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves on the road.
Kentucky 4 of 16 from 3, 7 of 13 FTs, nine missed layups/dunks, only four assists. Basically the Bizarro Cats today. https://t.co/rCKKkRhqO1
TV TO (7:49): Florida 65, No. 6 Kentucky 61. Cats miss the front end on back-to-back bonus chances with a 90 percent foul shooter (Reed Sheppard) and an 84.2 percent foul shooter (Antonio Reeves)
Kentucky, down four and in the bonus for these last 8-plus minutes, has missed the front of two one-and-ones with Sheppard and Reeves. Woof. This is just a completely discombobulated team today. Florida laying out the blueprint for making the Cats uncomfortable.
Florida 65, Kentucky 61 with 7:49 to go. Both teams are in the bonus, and neither team has had a good day from the foul line. Kentucky is 7-for-13 (53.8%) has cost itself some points on the front end of 1-and-1s. Florida is 11-for-20 (55%).
Florida 65, Kentucky 61 with 7:49 left. UK giving away points as both Sheppard and Reeves miss the front ends of one-and-ones. #BBN #ukbasketball
We've gone to the monitor in Gainesville. Florida 63, Kentucky 59. Gators have not made a 3 this half. But Florida is now in the bonus.
Florida 58, Kentucky 54 with 11:51 to go. Cats took an ever brief lead on a deep made 3 from D.J. Wagner, then didn't score for more than 3 minutes. Wagner broke that drought with a And-1 seconds ago. He has 10 second-half points.
At the under-12 timeout, No. 6 Kentucky trails Florida by four points, 58-54. There's 11:51 left on the clock.
Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are back with 13:58 to go. Florida 54, Kentucky 51 after Aaron Bradshaw goes 0-for-2 from the FT line.
Kentucky 18-of-28 from 2-point range and 2-of-12 from 3. Shooting 50 percent overall with 15:57 left. https://t.co/TzCKiTaUL3
On an 11-4 run to start the second half, Kentucky has chopped Florida's lead to 49-48 at the 15:57 TV timeout here in Gainesville. #BBN #ukbasketball https://t.co/HVVcJ5QV1k
Florida 49, Kentucky 48 with 15:57 to go. The shooting variance gods taketh, then giveth to UK today. Florida is 1-for-6 shooting and 0-for-3 from 3 since the break. Antonio Reeves (5 points) and D.J. Wagner (4 points) have keyed a hot offensive start after half for the Cats.
Kentucky playing five-out even with Edwards, Mitchell and Bradshaw on the floor, so the court opened like the Red Sea for that Wagner drive and finish. Good answer by the Cats to open the second half. Florida lead down to 49-48.
First timeout of the second half, and Kentucky has outscored Florida, 11-4, so far. The Gators' lead is down to one point: 49-48. There's 15:57 to play in Gainesville.
Kentucky down 37-45 against Florida at the half. @cdrummond97 @KentuckySports https://t.co/DtPt7a77iO
And Mitchell us the one guy for UK who has earned the right to talk. Went right at his man again and scored, 12 points and 8 rebounds in the half. Kentucky trails 45-37 at Florida. Still can’t defend, and that’s bad when your offense is out of sorts: 1 of 10 3s, 2 assists, 7 TO. https://t.co/Vdg0ww1qd8
Florida 45, Kentucky 37 at halftime. Tre Mitchell (12 points, 8 rebounds) and Antonio Reeves (9 points) are the two main reasons this game is close. UK with 7 turnovers vs. 2 assists. UK freshman have a combined 13 points, 2 assists, 5 turnovers.
HALFTIME: Florida 45, No. 6 Kentucky 37. Wildcats go just 1 of 10 beyond the 3-point arc, while Gators are 8 for 20. Tre Mitchell has 12 points for UK, while Walter Clayton Jr. (14) and Riley Kugel (11) lead Florida.
Halftime: Florida 45, Kentucky 37 Here's the first half box: https://t.co/ZAEK65LrzO
With 3:27 left in the half, Kentucky has just one assist. #BBN #ukbasketball
Kentucky getting crushed on open looks from Florida on the perimeter. Defense remains an issue
Kentucky in some trouble at Florida, down 10. Averaging 20 assists, 9 turnovers. First half in Gainesville: 1 assist, 7 turnovers.
Florida 39, Kentucky 29 with 3:27 left until half. Kentucky looking every bit the part of a young team on the road in a hostile environment for first time. Cats are 1-for-9 on 3s, have 7 turnovers vs. 1 assist. Rob Dillingham (1-for-4 shooting, 4 TOs, 0 assists) has struggled.
In its first true road game of the season, young Kentucky team getting taste of life on the road. In the SEC. Florida 39-29 with 3:27 left in the 1H. #BBN #ukbasketball
Rob Dillingham dribbles it off himself and it goes out of bounds. That's his fourth turnover of the half. Kentucky trails Florida by 10 points, 39-29, with 3:27 remaining and a timeout on the floor.
Another Florida flurry and it stretches its lead over No. 6 Kentucky to seven poinsts, 36-29 with 4:52 to go in the first half. Gators gettin' hot from behind the 3-point line and the Wildcats haven't found an answer. Yet.
Florida 36, Kentucky 29 with 4:53 to go until half. Plenty loud in the O'Dome now. Gators are 6-for-16 from 3-point range and have caught fire from there of late. Florida's Riley Kugel (10 points) is back in the game and playing with 3 fouls.
Florida’s length really bothering Kentucky. Lottttta point-blank misses at the rim.
UK with 5 more free throws, and out-rebounding Florida by 1 so far. None of it will matter if outside shooting (1-for-6 from 3) and ball movement (see blow) doesn't get better. https://t.co/CdQC3C9Qb4
Florida 27, Kentucky 26 with 7:39 to go until halftime. Are you not entertained? Two of the top tempo teams in college hoops going back and forth. UK with 5 turnovers, 1 assist. A far cry from the 2.06 assist-to-turnover ratio the Cats came into this game with (2nd in country)
Kentucky-Florida is just a heavyweight fight right now. Big-time players, making big-time plays. Florida up 27-26 at the under 7-minute timeout. REALLY fun game so far 😤😤
Don't say you're not entertained. Up-and-down the floor they go. Florida 27, Kentucky 26 with 7:39 left in the 1H here in Gainesville. #BBN #ukbasketball
Good test in Gainesville. Gators with a flurry, Florida crowd buzzing, Calipari needs a timeout, suddenly down six. This will be a very revealing day for Kentucky. SEC road games against good teams are a whole other deal than non-con home and neutral.
Florida is speeding Kentucky up and making the Wildcats look rushed. Impressive start against a Kentucky team that has dictated pace in the bulk of its games thus far. Not happening early in Gainesville.
Talking to Florida writers before the game, they said the Gators are much more physical than recent editions. That's showing up to this point. Gators up 16-10 as Kentucky's John Calipari calls time with 12:19 left in first half.
It's an 8-0 run for Florida in the last 1:05. Crowd at the O'Connell Center is going crazy. John Calipari doesn't like it. Kentucky calls a timeout, trailing Florida by six (16-10) at the 12:19 mark of the half.
Florida 16, Kentucky 10 with 12:19 left to go in the first half. 8-0 run in 66 seconds for Florida. A Riley Kugel fastbreak layup punctuated this stretch, and John Calipari was making the timeout signal was Kugel still 25-plus feet away from the basket.
Kentucky 8, Florida 8 with 15:13 to go until halftime. UK had some early rebounding success that UF has eaten into. Teams are a combined 0-for-5 from 3-point range. A bit of a delay with the Rob Dillingham-Reed Sheppard double sub. Both players checked in with 16:05 to go.
Neither bench is happy with the officiating after the first TV time. Kentucky-Florida tied at 8 with 15:13 left in 1H. #BBN #ukbasketball
First timeout of the day sees this one tied up, with No. 6 Kentucky and Florida knotted at 8-all with 15:13 remaining in the half. Wildcats holding their own versus the nation's top rebounding team, leading 6-5 early on.
First points of the day for Kentucky: Florida loses track of Justin Edwards on the perimeter, then he drives and slams it home for two.
About to get underway here in Gainesville where No. 6 Kentucky opens SEC play against Florida. The host Gators are on a six-game win streak. https://t.co/HVVcJ5QV1k
Kentucky basketball early warmups before game at Florida. Tipoff 12:30 on ESPN. https://t.co/8K6RL8ERdV
At Exactech Arena for Kentucky-Florida basketball. #BBN #ukbasketball https://t.co/j2tCPJ1SA8
Kentucky arrives for their SEC opener against Florida. @KentuckySports @cdrummond97 https://t.co/bod7a9t7xP
This is the Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. It’s the SEC opener for both No. 6 Kentucky (10-2) and Florida (10-3). UK begins the journey toward a potential 50th SEC regular season championship at 12:30 p.m. (ESPN). https://t.co/HmL6jg6KRV
In its first game in 2024, @KentuckyMBB is back in action today in Gainesville, Florida, facing Florida in its #SEC opener. Here's how to follow the game: #Kentucky #Wildcats #UK #BBN #College #Basketball https://t.co/rVZIMOkELS
Florida is now a 3.5 point favorite over Kentucky
Kentucky takes on Florida tomorrow afternoon in Gainesville to kick off SEC play. We've got everything you need to know right here. PREVIEW: https://t.co/Ae6EbDwMM6 https://t.co/8wY3GfYAya
Kentucky opens up as a 1 point favorite over Florida on @dksportsbook
Kentucky up to a 2 seed https://t.co/VAHgW6tAe2
Ahead of Kentucky’s SEC opener at Florida on Saturday, here is One Play From EVERY Kentucky Basketball WIN Over Florida Since 1995. Kentucky is 109-41 All-Time vs. the Gators and have won nine of their last 10 matchups. https://t.co/9tUKZHoiXh