Six Keys for Top Seed Florida to Sweep Kentucky in SEC Tournament
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Florida will look to complete the season sweep of Kentucky when the top-seeded Gators face the nine seed Wildcats on Friday at 1 p.m. in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals at Bridgestone Arena.
Denzel Aberdeen is set to face his former team for the third time this season, and Florida (25-6, 16-2 SEC) hopes the result will be the same as the first two meetings.
The Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals after holding off eight seed Missouri for a 78-72 win. Kentucky (21-12, 10-8) opened the tournament Wednesday with an 87-82 victory against No. 16 seed LSU.
Beating the same opponent three times in one year is never easy, but the Gators have already shown the formula for success.
Here are the keys for Florida as it tries to finish the job against Kentucky and repeat as SEC champions.
Loading ...1. Avoid Complacency
In the final game of the regular season, Florida traveled to Rupp Arena and defeated Kentucky 84-77. But much like Kentucky’s SEC Tournament games, the Gators allowed their opponent back into the game after building a comfortable lead.
Florida led by as many as 20 points with 9:43 remaining in the second half before the Wildcats mounted a push. The Gators shot just 30.3% in the second half, allowing Kentucky to slowly chip away at the deficit.
Avoiding those lapses also means taking care of the basketball. Florida committed 10 turnovers in the matchup, leading to 12 Kentucky points. As March intensity ramps up, protecting the ball and maintaining focus for a full 40 minutes will be critical.
2. Make Free Throws
The free-throw line helped Florida survive its last matchup with Kentucky. The Gators attempted 21 free throws in the second half alone, using them to close out the 84-77 win.
But free throws have been one of Florida’s biggest inconsistencies this season. The Gators shot just 63% from the line against Kentucky, missing 12 attempts.
With how physical this matchup tends to be, Florida will likely get plenty of chances again. The Gators have gone to the line 32 times in their last two meetings with the Wildcats, making it crucial to capitalize on those opportunities late.
3. Exploit Kentucky’s Defensive Gaps
Through two SEC Tournament games, Kentucky has struggled to contain opposing stars.
Against LSU, Max Mackinnon poured in 28 points on 11 of 17 shooting, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. The same trend continued against Missouri as Mark Mitchell scored 32 points on 13 of 21 shooting from the field.
That defensive vulnerability is something Florida could exploit in Friday’s quarterfinal matchup.
In Florida’s two wins over Kentucky this season, different players stepped up each time. Urban Klavzar led the way with 19 points in their Valentine’s Day matchup, while Tomas Haugh scored 20 points in the rematch at Rupp Arena.
But the Gators’ biggest strength is their balance. Nearly six players average double-digit scoring, and Klavzar adds 9.9 points per game off the bench — making Florida one of the most difficult teams in the conference to defend.
4. Lock Down Aberdeen and Oweh
If Aberdeen was motivated in Florida’s matchup with Kentucky in Gainesville and in Rupp, he’ll have even more motivation this time around. After a strong performance in Florida’s home win over Kentucky, the guard will look to make another impact in the quarterfinal matchup.
Kentucky has several players capable of taking over offensively. Otega Oweh has been especially hot, averaging 24 points over his last three games.
Collin Chandler has also emerged as a key contributor down the stretch. The sophomore scored 15 points in Kentucky’s win over Missouri but was held to just two points when the Wildcats faced Florida at Rupp Arena earlier this season.
With Florida chasing a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, limiting Kentucky’s scoring threats will be critical.
5. Push Pace and Pound the Paint
Florida enters the SEC Tournament riding an 11-game winning streak, a stretch that secured the Gators the SEC regular-season title and several postseason awards. The Gators’ dominant train isn’t getting off the tracks anytime soon.
In the last meeting with Kentucky, Florida outscored the Wildcats 24-4 in fast-break points; a clear example of how dangerous the Gators are when they push the tempo. Florida ranks 24th in the nation in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom.
The matchup was much tighter in other areas. Florida edged Kentucky 38-36 in points in the paint and held a narrow 41-40 advantage on the boards; two of the closest statistical margins the Gators have seen all season.
Creating more separation in those categories could be key in the third meeting. Kentucky’s leading rebounder, Malachi Moreno, averages 6.5 rebounds per game, while Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu leads the Gators with 11.7 rebounds per game. Four other Florida players average at least six rebounds.
6. Play ‘Gators Basketball’
Few teams in the SEC have been able to slow Florida’s recent surge. The Gators closed the regular season on an 11-game winning streak, steamrolling through conference play on their way to the SEC regular-season title.
Auburn and Missouri were among the few teams to beat Florida earlier in SEC play, but the Gators have looked like a different team during their late-season run. Therefore, a key for Florida is to keep playing the way they’ve been playing.
The Gators +14.3 rebounding margin and 45.5 rebounds per game lead the nation. They rank second in offensive rebound percentage with 42.6%, offensive rebounds per game with 15.9 and paint points with 44.3 per game.
In their 11-game win streak, the Gators are out shooting opponents, 52% to 39% from the field and 37% to 30% from three. Both of these stats led them to a +21.7 scoring margin. They are a team that sure is hard to beat.
The game will be carried on ESPN at 1 p.m. and air on 103.7-FM starting at 12:30 p.m.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gators Men's Basketball
