Kentucky-Florida: SEC East Titans Clash in Lexington

Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats
Feb. 10, 9 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

Florida travels to Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday night to face the ailing Wildcats, losers of three straight. If the Wildcats break their losing streak, they would pull into a tie with Florida at 6-3 in the conference. Both of the Gators' conference losses have come to East Division opponents on the road—Tennessee and South Carolina.

Records

Florida 19-4 overall, 6-2 SEC, 2-3 (away), RPI No. 30
Kentucky 16-7 overall, 5-3 SEC, 10-4 (home), RPI No. 74

Series

Florida has won seven of the last 10.

Kentucky has won three of the last five at Rupp Arena.

Players to Watch

Florida
G Nick Calathes, F Alex Tyus, F Chandler Parsons

Kentucky

G Jodie Meeks, F Patrick Patterson, F Perry Stevenson

What Florida must do to win

The Gators must force a quick tempo—a pace they play much better at than Kentucky does. Florida has been careless with the ball in its two conference losses, turning it over 18 times each against Tennessee and South Carolina.

In the loss in Knoxville, Florida was not able to survive the early onslaught from the crowd and the Vols' defense. The Gators need to get off to a fast start to quiet the Rupp Arena fans. 

Defensively, Florida has to know where Meeks is at all times and contest his every shot.

What Kentucky must do to win

During the Wildcats' three-game losing streak, it has been a myriad of turnovers (South Carolina) and poor shooting (Ole Miss, Mississippi State) that has plagued Kentucky. The Wildcats need to slow this game down and keep it in the 70-point (or lower) for Florida.

Meeks needs to start shooting like he was earlier in the year and Patterson and Stevenson have to establish themselves down low. 

Kentucky needs to have a great home court advantage similar to what Tennessee had on ESPN GameDay last week. 

Defensively, Kentucky has to contest every Gator shot.  The Vols hadn't played great defense most of the year but were able to hold Florida to 63 points on 42 percent shooting from the field.

Finally, Patterson and Stevenson have to control the boards.

Prediction

Kentucky had a week to stew over the home loss to Mississippi State and this almost a must-win for them. If Meeks is on his game, I like Kentucky at home.  If not, then Florida is not a bad road-win bet.

Kentucky wins by at most six points.

Season: 15-14 SU through Feb. 8.

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