Another ‘Super Bowl’: UK playing motivated Florida on Senior Day ‘gets us ready for March’
A charged atmosphere is likely when Kentucky plays at Florida on Saturday. Before the game, the Gators will have their Senior Day ceremony with a sentimental goodbye to seven seniors.
One of the seven is Keyontae Johnson, an all-Southeastern Conference player in 2019-20 whose college career ended when he collapsed on the court during a game at Florida State on Dec. 12, 2020. Treatment included being in a medically induced coma for three days.
“So, it’s going to be pretty emotional in there before the game starts,” said Chris Harry, who reports on the Florida team for the school’s website.
As if that wouldn’t infuse enough passion into an opponent, the game might be a last gasp for Florida to make a convincing case for an NCAA Tournament bid. As of Friday, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi had Florida among his “next four out,” which follows his “first four out.”
If Florida defeats Kentucky?
“A Florida win in all likelihood puts them in,” Lunardi wrote in a text message. If Kentucky wins, then Florida would need to advance to the championship game of next week’s SEC Tournament to have a plausible chance at an NCAA Tournament bid, Lunardi wrote.
During a Zoom teleconference Friday, UK Coach John Calipari dismissed the thought of Florida not already being assured of an NCAA Tournament bid. After noting that the Gators had beaten Ohio State and Auburn, Calipari said, “Why should they have to beat us to get in? I think that’s a bunch of crap. I do.”
Playing as the visiting team against an motivated opponent spurred by an excited crowd is nothing new for Kentucky. Although Kellan Grady said that might be an unusual experience for other teams.
“I’d say it’s definitely unique to be playing (for) Kentucky …,” he said. “I think for the most part we cherish it and are excited about a challenging opportunity. … Tomorrow will be no different, and we’ll be ready for it.”
Calipari likes to call these games “Super Bowls” for the opponent. He acknowledged the challenge his team faces in playing multiple Super Bowl games.
“It’s hard,” he said, “but let me say this: what’s more rewarding than knowing you’re getting the other team’s best, and you still win? …
“I believe it gets us ready for March.”
This echoed player comments earlier this season.
“That’s why you come here. …,” Davion Mintz said. “You’ve got to be a professional to come here. A professional person and aspire to be a professional player because that’s the type of demand you’re going to get.”
Added Sahvir Wheeler after the UK lost at Arkansas: “I think that’s why Coach Cal’s teams have been so great in the latter part of the year. … For (opponents), the Super Bowl, it’s a lot of pressure. For us, we love this. We play for this. This is the reason why we come here. … By the time March rolls around, hey, it’s just another game.”
Attention to defense
Kentucky’s last two opponents shot well. Ole Miss made 50 percent of its shots (29 of 58) while Arkansas made 48.3 percent of its shots (28 of 58).
“People are breaking us down a little bit on the bounce,” Calipari said in an apparent reference to Matthew Murrell of Ole Miss (25 points) and JD Notae of Arkansas (30 points).
Calipari said the UK team was working to improve team and individual defense.
Added Grady: “I think the biggest thing is we’ve had some lapses with scouting and being assignment-sound.”
UK needed to clean up the “tad of discipline that we’ve lacked,” Grady said.
With teams earlier in his coaching career, Calipari said to yell out “red!” was a call to provide help defense.
“The staple of winning teams starts on defense,” the UK coach said. “And it’s team defense and it’s guarding the ball.”
This is reflected in an opponent shooting a low percentage and UK enjoying a big rebound advantage, Calipari said.
Florida hot
In the last three games, Florida has shot with 49.4-percent accuracy (87 of 176). That includes 41.6 percent from three-point range (32 of 77).
In the last two games (victories at Georgia and at Vanderbilt), Florida made 61 of 118 shots (51.7 percent) and 24 of 52 three-point shots (46.2 percent).
Guard Tyree Appleby has averaged 19.5 points in the last four games. In the first game against Kentucky, he ran blindly into a screen and left the court after seven scoreless minutes.
Revenge?
Kentucky defeated Florida 78-57 in Rupp Arena on Feb. 12. That marked UK’s most-lopsided victory against Florida since a 93-58 home victory on Jan. 2, 1999. The 1998-99 season was Billy Donovan’s second as Florida coach.
Incidentally, Florida won the rematch 75-68 in Gainesville on Feb. 4 of that season.
Etc.
Brad Nessler and Clark Kellogg will call the game for CBS.
Saturday
No. 7 Kentucky at Florida
When: 2 p.m.
TV: CBS-27
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: UK 24-6 (13-4 SEC); Florida 19-11 (9-8)
Series: UK leads 106-41
Last meeting: UK won 78-57 on Feb. 12 in Lexington
