Kentucky Beats Florida, Improves to 17-0

Kentucky impressed me with a 89-77 road SEC win over Florida.  Florida started fast and jumped out to an early 7-0 lead.  The Gators were energized from the home crowd and played Kentucky tough most of the first half.  Florida trailed by double digits with under 10 minutes left in the game and found a way to fight back.  They started making threes and took the lead 73-72 with 5 minutes remaining in the game.  Then Kentucky hit the accelerator and outscored Florida 16-6 in the final 5 minutes of the game.  A great job of finishing the game by a great young basketball team.

Kentucky and John Wall have been getting lots of press to this point in the season and rightfully so.  After all they are 17-0 and John Wall is averaging 17 points and better than 7 assists per game.  Let me tell you Kentucky is better than the numbers show.  (even though the numbers are good!)  Just watch them when you get the chance.  In a tough environment at Florida, Kentucky responded to every run Florida through at them.  To me, that’s a sign of a great team.  I don’t know if they go undefeated but I think they have the talent to get a #1 seed and a DEEP tournament run is a STRONG possibility.  They are truly a treat to watch.

Florida came in to this game with the mind set to push the tempo and force Kentucky into turnovers.  Problem was Kentucky excelled at that quick tempo and kinda beat Florida at their own game.  However, Florida has the ability to get hot from outside the arc which makes them a very dangerous team.  Their hot shooting got them back into the game when it looked like Kentucky was going to cruise to victory.  Florida really needs to improve on their half court offense.  Some of their problems were probably the tough defense from Kentucky but a lot of it was poor execution and shot selection.  Florida will have their work cut of for them to make the big dance, but I think they have the talent to do it.  It will be a matter of getting better each game and playing their best basketball at the end of the season.

56 teams to go….63 days until Selection Sunday!