Following a tougher than expected game against LSU yesterday in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tourney, the Cats looked to bounce back today against the Florida Gators.
Starting five: Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, and Anthony Davis.
Off the tip and a quick three by Bradley Beal for the Gators, the Cats got going on a lob to Terrence Jones.
Florida was moving the ball quickly, hitting shots from the perimeter and taking it right at Anthony Davis down low via Patric Young.
Davis seemed to be off balance during the first half, leaving his feet early trying to block shots and getting caught on pump fakes.
Florida hit three triples in the first five minutes and still only had a one point lead. This is because Kentucky was taking advantage of a mismatch between Terrence Jones and Erving Walker which allowed the Cats to capitalize on the interior.
Speaking of taking advantage, I would be remiss not to mention how Casey Prather came off of the bench for Florida and posterized Kyle Wiltjer in brutal fashion. The Gators came to play today.
UF kept up the frenetic pace for the first ten minutes of the game and stretched their lead to 10 points.
Coming down the stretch of the half Florida began to slow down, seeing single digits on the shot clock for the first time of the game. Kentucky responded and cut the lead in half, with Marquis Teague going coast to coast to show the Gators what fast really means. That is Teague’s game.
Kyle Wiltjer hit Kentucky’s first three of the game at 6 minutes to go in the half.
UK got the lead down to three before Florida took off on another sprint to stretch it back out.
After finally slowing it down over the last couple minutes of the half, thanks to some wise decisions from Marquis Teague, as well as one of the nastiest broken ankles (metaphoric)
I’ve ever seen Teague deliver, Anthony Davis hit a three to give the Cats a one point lead heading into the locker room.
The teams traded threes to start the second half, but the pace was somewhat slower. Florida was trying isolate Kentucky’s defenders and break them down with ball handling, but this was not effective. What was effective was UF’s hot hand as they continued to hit everything they put up.
The slower pace made a big difference in the Patic Young/Anthony Davis matchup, as the extra half a second was all Davis needed to negate Young’s post moves.
Kentucky missed 3 three pointers in a row (as well just about everything else they put up) but was working hard on the boards and did not allow Florida to capitalize. Coming up on the ten minute mark of the second half, the game took on the look of an MMA match, with tie ups on nearly every possession.
Darius Miller, whom I didn’t even realize was playing until this point, blocked a FL shot into the upper deck of New Orleans arena. Florida answered this with their eighth three pointer of the game to take a five point lead with just over ten minutes to go.
Coming off of this UF tried to speed things back up, but Kentucky’s D would not allow it and by nine minutes to go Kentucky had clawed back on top.
Florida did the only thing you can against Kentucky, they stepped on the gas from the opening tip and barely let up for the entire game, and hit just about everything they put up in the process. Eric Murphy in particular was perfect from three and shot 75% over all to lead the Gators with 24 points. But down the stretch Kentucky’s defense and physical prowess proved to be to much. Though UF got it as close as a two point deficit under one minute to go, Kentucky grinded it out for the win, 74-71.
Kentucky overcame an outstanding performance by Florida today, thanks in large to another strong showing by Terrence Jones ( 15 pts. and 9 rebs.), and one of Marquis Teague’s best outings this year. Teague is the player of the game today for doing an absolute 180 from yesterday’s game and leading the Cats in a game where guard play is everything. Teague had 15 points, three rebounds, five assists, and 3 turnovers.
Doron Lamb also poured in 16 points and Anthony Davis continued to prove why he is the Player of the Year by winning the battle against Patric Young and producing offense from all over the floor. He finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. All five starters for UK were in double figures.
The naysayers regarding Kentucky’s chances for number eight refer to things like not being able to keep winning so many consecutive games and not being tested. Tests? How about North Carolina, or Jarnell Stokes coming out party for Tennessee? Or playing against a team of 30 year old seniors in the weirdest venue in America against Vanderbilt? Or how about beating a top 25 team like Florida three times. How can you say a team who is the Superbowl for every team they play has not been tested? The Cats have faced everything a division I coach could throw at them and continue to find a way to win. They will not be denied.
The Cats face the winner of tonight’s Ole Miss/Vanderbilt game tomorrow in the finals of the SEC Tournament.
