Kentucky vs. Florida

The University of Kentucky Wildcats head down to Gainesville, Florida to take on the University of Florida Gators at the O'Connell Center. The Cats come down with a 15-6 (5-2) record while the Gators have a 19-2 (5-2) record. The Cats have a 84-26 record against the Gators. In Gainesville, the Cats are 30-17. Tubby Smith is 16-6 against the Gators. Currently, the Cats have lost two straight to the Gators. ESPN College Gameday will be on hand tonight.

With an opponent such as the Gators, it makes one wonder as to which team will show up. There's a reason that I have coined this team as the Unpredictables because you never know when the Cats will show up. In three of it's four home SEC games, the Cats were down by double digits and managed to come back and win. The Cats come in with a 5 game winning streak and an impressive performance against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The current lineup is 3-0. This is Tubby Smith's 299th game as a Wildcat Head Coach. In his time at UK, he has a 234-64 record.

Happy Birthday to Bob Wiggins (78) and Ramel Bradley (21)! Both Patrick Sparks and Ravi Moss have led the charge from beyond the arc since SEC play started. Sparks has started in 102 consecutive games and his ranked 8th on the active list. The Cats have 596 consecutive games with a 3 pointer. When Sparks has 6 or more assists, the Cats are 11-0. Moss has 9 consecutive games with a 3. Rondo almost had a triple-double against the Bulldogs.

ESPN2 airs the game at roughly 9 PM while the Big Blue Sports Network takes care of the radio broadcast with pre-game coverage starting at 7:30 PM.

It's 7:30 PM and that means it's time for the Texas Roadhouse Countdown to Tip-off Show with Dick Gabriel and Oscar Combs. Tom Leach and Mike Pratt will join in later as we get closer to tip-off. As usual, I'll be updating this evening at commercial breaks. Dick Gabriel is filling in for Dave Baker. No idea where Dave is tonight.

The winner of this game will take sole possession of second place in the SEC East. Oscar Combs is down in Florida. This is definitely starting to become a rivalry between the two teams. This Florida team has chemistry and Oscar says that Billy wants to coach like Tubby Smith does. Morris in foul trouble early means that the game is over. Sparks will likely be playing the point as he distributes the ball, not driving it. Sparks has always been a point guard.

Shag has not had much playing time as of late. I'm not sure if it's muscle or not. Dick says he doesn't have the drive from the inside. If we had known this, we wouldn't have signed him. The next nine games, per Oscar, will tell how well we do on March 12th when it comes time for Selection Sunday. Oscar just slammed Florida as never being a college basketball state and it never will be. Dick promotes Adolph Rupp: Myth, Legend, and Fact. Tomorrow's women's game between UK and Florida has been moved to noon. It is a sell-out.

Per Oscar, we have a chance. We messed up by passing on Chris Lofton. Less than 50 minutes til game time. Tubby is now speaking with Coach Smith. He says that we have to contain the quickness and defend the perimeter. Tubby says that they need to be patient on offense and get the ball to people when they can. The Cats have to use the fundamentals and use opportunities that come upon them. The Cats have to contain Green and keep the ball off of Noah and Horford. The Cats have to get the ball over the top and attack. Florida is going for twenty straight wins at home.

Mike Pratt's State Farm Insurance Keys to the Game
-Prepare for everybody playing.
-Matchup problems. Cats must run the floor and speed the game up.
-Morris has got to stay out of foul trouble.

It's game time!

ESPN2 Commentators: Brad Nessler, Dick Vitale, Erin Andrews
Big Blue Sports Network: Tom Leach, Mike Pratt, Dick Gabriel, Oscar Combs

Starters:
Kentucky
F - Randolph Morris
F - Bobby Perry
G - Patrick Sparks
G - Rajon Rondo
G - Joe Crawford

Florida
F - Joakim Noah
F - Al Horford
F - Corey Brewer
G - Taurean Green
G - Walter Hodge

First Half Score Reports
Please let the Cats show up with the best team and not the Unpredictables. The Wildcats need to win if they want back in the top 25. Patrick Sparks needs to bring his A game. It's been announced that Brewer will be in the starting lineup. Humphrey is available if needed. UF controls the tip and then they turn it over. Sparks trapped and throws it away. Bad defense. Perry turns it over and then UF wanted a time out.
19:04 (UF Timeout) UK 0, UF 2
Cats steal. Morris for 2! Crawford rebound. Rondo for 2. Cats lead 4-2 with over 18 to go. Block those shots! Perry misses 2. Crawford with rebound. Morris loses it. Where was the defense? Rondo with two. Cats foul UF on the shot. Crawford blocked. Rondo gets it back and "throws up a prayer." He got fouled. Cats ball when we come back as UF kicked it.
15:59 (TV Timeout) UK 6, UF 9
The Cats are keeping it close. Looks like Erin Andrews (sideline reporter) is a former UF cheerleader. UK lane violation. Charge on UF! Cats ball. Morris with a hook shot for 2. Almost stolen. Rondo rebound. He drives and charges. Humphrey comes in for UF. Not good for Cats. Rondo on the bench. Ramel in. Perry with 3 and the streak continues. Crawford wide open and missed. Bradley rebounds and gets blocked but there was a foul. Makes one. Woo, Thomas, Moss and Rondo in for everyone but Ramel. Makes the second. 13 all. Rondo rebound to Bradley and he walks. Come on, defense! Thomas goes to the line as Hodge picks up his second. Makes 1 of 2. Woo rebound. Rondo loses the pass. Moss rebound. Rondo misses 3. Woo over the back.
11:42 (TV Timeout) UK 14, UF 15
As close as we are keeping it, I feel very good about the Cats. Moss steals the rebound. Bradley misses 3. Out of bounds and there was a foul. Starters in. Morris with the ball and gets blocked. Crawford with a jumper for 2. Sparks rebound. Under 10. Morris loses it. Lead change. Sparks lost balance, passes to Morris for 2. Perry gets another foul and he'll sit. Rondo to Morris to Patrick for 3. 21-20 UK. Lead change again. Crawford misses. Patrick misses. Foul underneath.
7:50 (TV Timeout) UK 21, UF 22
I still feel good about a Cats victory this evening. It is early but there us still over 27 minutes remaining in the game. Thomas replaced Perry. UF Shot clock violation. Sparks to Morris and Morris gets fouled going up. He'll head to the line. Nice bounce on the first. Makes the second. 23-22 UK. Crawford for 3. Cats lead by 2. 26 all. Sparks to Rondo for 2. UF answers. Sparks all the way to Morris for 2. 3 points and 6 assists for Sparks. Morris has 10. Sparks draws a foul on the other end. 32-30 UF. Rondo for 2. 32 all. Under 5. UK ball. Morris to Rondo for 2. Rajon has 10. 12 assists on 13 field goals. Rondo steals and airballs it. Thomas saves and Crawford got fouled on the pass.
3:27 (TV Timeout) UK 34, UF 32
I still feell very good about this game. Crawford at the line. Makes both of them. He has 7 points. 36-32 UK. The lead has silenced the crowd. Same lineup. Rondo steals to Crawford and no foul was called. UK ball. Crawford misses 3. Foul on Morris. Thomas rebounds. Sparks misses 3. Moris rebounds and misses. Rondo steals from UF. Thomas for 3. Rondo fouls trying to steal. 39-36 UK lead. 1:43 remaining. 54% FG shooting percentages so far as Sparks misses 3. Woo came in and now he fouls. Bradley in. Crawford, Sparks, and Thomas still in. Crawford rebound. Under 1 minute. Sparks to Bradley who misses 3. UK knocks the ball out on the rebound. Woo has yet another foul. That's 3 quick ones off the bench. Rekalin Sims comes in for Woo. 39 all with 42.2 remaining. Sims for 3 and he misses. Tubby wants a timeout.
16.3 (UK Timeout) UK 39, UF 39
The Cats should get the fnal shot of the half. Joe for 2.
HALFTIME
UK 41, UF 39

Tubby Smith has 12 consecutive 20-win seasons, the longest in the nation. I still feel comfortable with regards to the Cats. They played a great first half and came out on top. If Morris stays out of foul trouble, then I think the Cats will pull it off. Fouls at the half: Morris (2), Woo (3), Perry (2), Rondo (2), and Sparks (1). The Cats are shooting 50% while the Gators have shot 53.8%. However, the Cats are shooing 33.3% from beyond the arc while the Gators have shot a whopping 25%.

Second Half Score Reports
Morris for 2. Morris has 5 assists. Rondo steals and gives it to Sparks for 2. Perry picks up his 3rd. Thomas in for Perry. Sparks and Morris both miss. UF anwers with 3. UK turns it over for the first time since the middle of the half. 45-44 UK. Lead change. Rondo misses 2. Down 3. Cats defense is not showing up. Sparks got blocked and UF throws it away. Bradley in. Morris gets blocked. Cats Foul, probably on Ramel Bradley.
16:34 (UK Timeout) UK 45, UF 50
The Cats needed that timeout as defense has started to fall apart and offense isn't producing anything at all. The Cats cannot foul especially Morris since Perry will be sitting for a long time. The Cats have to produce offensively or we will go back to being on the bubble. Morris loses it. 13-0 run UF. Bradley misses 2 and Crawford gets fouled on the shot.
15:47 (TV Timeout) UK 45, UF 52
Long sleeve shirt is going back on now. Or is this because I shaved an almost month-long beard off yesterday. Either way, Tubby needs to do some motivating. Patrick has been out for a while. Crawford misses the first shot but makes the second. That ends the run. Morris rebound. Dang it! Another turnover with a walk. Charge on UF! Cats ball. What?!? Cats walk again! Sparks is coming back. 54-46 UF. Rondo to Morris and turnover. 57-46. What has happened to the Cats?!? UF fouls and Sparks comes back in. Thomas gets fouled on the shot. Makes the first. Down 10. 13:36 remaining. Misses the second. Morris rebound. UF out of bounds. Cats ball. Rondo with the 3!! Down 7. Brewer answers. Sparks misses 3. Moss fouls. 60-50 UF. Rondo rebound. Thomas for 2. Down 8.
11:50 (TV Timeout) UK 52, UF 60
I don't feel as comfortable as I did in the first half. However, the Cats have gone on spurts but the Gators have answered. We're down eight right now and shooting under 50%. We cannot foul. Sparks and Rondo MUST penetrate. Brewer drew a foul from Moss. Cats down 10. Moiss misses 3. Thomas blocks and goes over the back. Down 11 with the first shot and 12 with the 2nd. Thomas charges. Ugh... Not good. Not good at all. Another Cats foul. I think on Perry. 10:43 remaining. Down 13. Cats foul again? I thought Green stepped over the line. Florida is outshooting the Cats from the line. Sparks is blocked. Rondo to Morris and that gets deflected. 67-52 at the 10:00 mark. Morris to Perry for 3. 67-55 UF. Defense fell asleep. Lane violation or a walk? Perry with the rebound and Brewer fouls him. Crawford with 3. Down 11. Crawford misses 3, Moss rebounds and misses, UF rebounds out. Crawford blocked and he gets fouled. 71-58 UF. 8:20 remaining.
8:20 (UF Timeout) UK 58, UF 71
Chris Richard has 4 fouls. Crawford makes both. Morris reboound. UK pushes off. The Cats are only down 11.
7:56 (TV Timeout) UK 60, UF 71
Down 11. It is POSSIBLE to comeback if you remember 3 of the last 5 games. Came back against both Arkansas, South Carolina, and another team. Illinois is down with about 3 seconds remaining. If Illinois can get knocked off, so can Florida. I do believe in Wildcats! Down 12. Down 13. Under 8 minutes. Morris for 2. Down 11. 14 points and 6 assists. Morris tries to block but picks up his 4th foul. Moss in for Rondo. Morris stays in so it may have been someone else. Sparks misses. Down 15. Sparks misses 3. Cats foul. Not looking good. 77-62 UF with 6:45 remaining. Bradley comes in for Moss. Crawford misses 2. Defense is not defending.
6:15 (UK Timeout) UK 62, UF 80
They should have made Jared Carter a redshirt candidate this year. He's hardly played. Brandon Stockton has not played. Cats miss again. Pathetic. Down 20. Joe misses and rebounds for 2. Thomas fouls. Down 19. Down 20. Rondo misses an easy shot. Bradley misses 3, Cats steal. Rondo has another 3. 86-67 UF. 4:38
4:38 (UK Timeout) UK 67, UF 86
40-61 shooting percentages. UF controlling the clock. Joe gets fouled. 4:06 remaining. Illinois just got knocked off by Penn State. Joe gets 2 more from the line. Great night for him. Under 4. Morris blocks. Bradley blocked and UF shoots wide open. Rondo found an open space and got fouled. Commercial break.
3:27 (TV Timeout) UK 68, UF 89
I've accepted the fact that we will be playing on Thursday during the SEC Conference Tournament. Unless Florida loses another conference game, the Cats will be playing on Thursday. We needed this victory tonight which is looking very unlikely with 3:27 remaining in the game. Rondo misses as they forgot they were in the double bonus. Makes the second. 90-70. Rondo makes his THIRD three of the half. Twenty points for him. Under 3. Thomas rebound. UF steals. Jump ball. UF keeps possession. Rondo and Morris combined for 30 points. Cats foul Brewer. Joe misses 3. Green steps on baseline. 92-73 UF. Rondo got fouled while shooting a 3. UF starters are still in. Makes 1 and the 2nd. Misses the 3rd. Rondo fouls out. Dick Vitale doesn't know why UF's starters are still in. Stockton replaces Rondo. Bradley makes 2.
1:27 (UK Timeout) UK 77, UF 93
Eight straight 20 win seasons for the Gators.
1:20 (UF Timeout) UK 77, UF 93
UF has not replaced their starters like most teams do when they cream opponents. Ramel Bradley fouls. One minute remaining. Preston LeMaster and Jared Carter come in for the final minute. Carter misses. Billy Donovan replaces the starters with 12.3 seconds remaining. Bradley makes a 3 from downtown.
END OF REGULATION
KENTUCKY 80, Florida 95

Next up is Tennessee on Tuesday evening. UK moves to 15-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference. Florida moves to 6-2 in the conference and 20-2 overall.
On January 1978, the score was 96-76 in the old Alligator Alley

Rondo finished with 22 points.
Crawford had 19 points with 9 rebounds.
Morris had 14 points.
Sparks had 5 points with 8 assists.
Perry had 6.
Thomas had 7.
Bradley had 7.