Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win over the Florida Gators
Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s 65-59 win over the Florida Gators on Saturday in Rupp Arena:
1. The “Pick Nick” campaign should be joined by “Pick Quick”
We’re talking Immanuel Quickley. The sophomore guard continues to be Kentucky’s most consistent player. He should also be an SEC Player of the Year candidate. That’s not to say that UK’s promotional “Pick Nick” campaign for center Nick Richards is ill-advised. It is to say that Quickley has become just as important to the Cats’ success as Richards. If not more so.
Quickley scored a career-high 26 points on Saturday. After being told at halftime he needed to stop dribbling to pass — Quickley confirmed that one unidentified coach informed him in no uncertain terms that “You need to score” — the Maryland native scored 22 points in the second half.
After Florida built a 40-33 lead with 17:06 left, Quickley quickly destroyed it. First he produced an old-fashioned three-point play. After a Tyrese Maxey, Quickley provided another three-point play. Then, with the Gators up 44-41, the guard made three consecutive three-point shots to push the Cats in front 50-44 with 11:20 left. And when Richards tomahawked a rebound jam with 9:41 left, Kentucky had an eight-point cushion at 52-44.
Saturday was the seventh game this season Quickley has scored 20 or more points. All seven have come in SEC play. He has scored in double figures in 15 straight games. He’s dependable, smart and darn near perfect at the foul line. It that’s not material for a Player of the Year promotion I don’t know of one.
2. Let’s not overlook Kentucky’s defense
Quickley provided the offensive fireworks. Maxey wasn’t bad, either. The freshman guard spread his stats around, accounting for 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Those were the only two Wildcats in double figures. Richards was held to nine points and four boards.
Defense was the difference. Mainly, Kentucky’s second-half defense. Considered Kentucky’s top contender in the SEC during the preseason, Florida has ridden a roller-coaster all season. Yet the last three games, the Gators appeared to be figuring things out. They shot 50 percent or better the last three games. And they won all three.
Saturday, the Gators shot 45.8 percent the first half, but made five of 14 three-point shots. Ques Glover’s triple at the first-half buzzer sent both teams into the locker-room tied at 31. The Gators shot 40.7 percent the second half. More important, they made just one of nine three-point attempts.
“They forced a bunch of turnovers on the second half,” Florida coach Mike White said afterward. “I just thought their attention to detail and their energy level was really good defensively in the second half. I told (Calipari), ‘I just thought they really guarded.’ We got a few looks in the first half, not much opportunity in the second half.”
3. Four games to go before the conference tournament
Kentucky won. So the Cats are now 12-2 in conference play. Auburn and LSU both won. So the Tigers and the Tigers are tied for second place at 10-4. Florida lost. So the Gators dropped into fourth place at 9-5.
Keep an eye on Texas A&M, however. The Aggies improved to 8-6 in league play with an 87-75 win over Mississippi State on Saturday. Since coming over from Virginia Tech, Buzz Williams’ has done an admirable job with the Aggies, who have won three straight. And Kentucky visits College Station on Tuesday.
After that, the Cats return home next Saturday to play Auburn. Tennessee comes calling on March 3. Then UK finishes the regular season at Florida. That won’t be easy. Remember, the Gators owned a seven-point lead in the second half at Rupp. Playing on the Billy Donovan Court in the O’Connell Center, maybe Florida keeps that lead.
Notwithstanding that late-game stretch in which UK had trouble inbounding the basketball — “That’s on me,” Calipari said — the Cats are playing well. They’ve now won six straight and 10 of their last 11.
“Hopefully we can keep this going into March,” said Quickley, “and make a deep turn in the tournament.”
He was talking NCAA Tournament.
This story was originally published February 22, 2020 at 10:06 PM.
