SEC Tournament Final: Lackluster Effort from Tyus and Macklin Derails Gators

A nice week turned into a nightmare as No. 16 Kentucky (25-8) steamrolled No. 12 Florida (26-7), 70-54 in the SEC tournament final.

Donovan’s squad defeated SEC East rivals Tennessee and Vanderbilt in earlier rounds to reach the finals.

This game served as the rubber match between the teams. On Feb. 5, Florida won, 70-68 in Gainesville. Kentucky returned the favor with a 76-68 win in Lexington exactly three weeks later.

Florida’s play is best categorized by poor shooting, pathetic play from the starting big men and questionable officiating from the refs.

Kenny Boynton finished the game with a 4-for-16 effort from the field (2-for-6 from downtown), a team high 10 points and five assists.

Chandler Parsons scored nine points on 4-for-12 shooting from the field (0-for-4 from three-point range) and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Erving Walker scored eight points, but shot just 3-for-10 from the field and 2-for-6 from beyond the arc.

The Gators got absolutely nothing from redshirt center Vernon Macklin and senior forward Alex Tyus.

Macklin finished with a pedestrian seven points and two rebounds. Not to be outdone, Tyus finished with five points and two rebounds.

Yet, freshman center Patric Young finished with four points and eight rebounds.

Quite frankly, bad coaching also cost the Gators. Young sophomore forward Erik Murphy and freshman forward Will Yeguete should have played more. At least those guys would have played with heart and effort.

Macklin and Tyus had lethargic performances against Vanderbilt in the semifinals. Festus Ezeli scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Macklin.

Against Tennessee, Tobias Harris lit up the Orange and Blue with 25 points and eight boards. Brian Williams scored six points and pulled down 12 rebounds off the bench.

Florida turned the ball over 14 times (to Kentucky’s six), but got the short end of the referees’ whistle.

Free-throw shooting was a huge factor in the blowout loss. Kentucky shot 24-for-29 (83 percent) from the charity stripe, while Florida shot only 3-for-8 (38 percent) from the line.

In the first meeting in Gainesville, Kentucky shot 11-for-13 (85 percent) from the foul line, while the Gators shot 18-for-22 (82 percent).

In the second meeting at Rupp, Florida made 10-of-13 (77 percent) from the foul line. Kentucky shot only 9-for-15 (60 percent) from the free throw line.

Granted, there was no denying Florida fouled Kentucky on the calls. But some calls, such as hand-checks, were ticky-tack calls called on the Orange and Blue, but not called on the Wildcats.

I guess every cloud does have a silver lining, after all. Florida can take comfort in other accomplishments throughout the week.

After 15 years, Donovan finally captures Coach of the Year honors.

During Selection Sunday, Florida learned it received a two seed in the NCAA tournament. The Gators will face UC-Santa Barbara at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa on Thursday.