In one of the most entertaining games of the college basketball season, No. 10 Kentucky derailed No. 6 Florida’s perfect start by handing the Gators a 106-100 loss on Saturday at Rupp Arena.
The only thing that was disappointing was the finish, as Kentucky’s hot shooting finally shook off a Florida team that just would not go away. The Wildcats made 14 3s, and Koby Brea came off the bench to bury 8 of 11 triples and finish with a career-high 23 points to lead six Wildcats in double figures.
Kentucky continued to be at its best against the elite, improving to 3-0 in games against top-10 teams this season.
KENTUCKY CATCHES FIRE ON A 16-0 RUN OVER FLORIDA 🔥
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/PC4GyuSXDI
— ESPN (@espn) January 4, 2025
Florida is legit
There’s been some questioning as to whether Florida is actually an elite team. This was Florida’s first game against a team currently ranked in the Top 25. That questioning should end. The Gators lived up to their ranking. Walter Clayton Jr. (33 points) and Alijah Martin (26 points) carried the offense and showed why they’re one of the better perimeter scoring duos in the country. They scored at all three levels. Florida ranks second nationally in offensive rebounding rate and punished Kentucky on the glass, finishing with 15 offensive rebounds and 31 second-chance points.
The Gators just ran into a hot team playing at home, but this is a team that will likely be competing for the SEC title and a No. 1 seed if it continues to play at the level it performed Saturday.
Koby Brea was unguardable
Florida tried to stick like glue to Brea, who has now made 45 3s this season and is shooting 52.3 percent from deep. Brea is so hard to guard because he will patiently wait for daylight by using shot fakes and side dribbles to create just enough space to get his shot off. The release is quick and high, and if he can see the rim and is on balance, good chance it’s going in. Florida’s defense wasn’t bad. Brea just stays so composed and isn’t in a hurry to get up his shot and eventually he gets a window. Mark Pope’s offense has been perfect for him, and he’s the most dangerous weapon off the bench in the country.
While Brea was the star, Kentucky has been at its best this season when Williams and Carr are playing at a high level. This was Williams’ best game. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, eight rebounds and five assists. Florida’s bigs took it to UK’s frontcourt early with their physicality, and Williams answered by playing as aggressive and physical as he has all season. He made sure to power his way to the basket and not settle and then his passing finding cutters was superb. When he’s able to score and pass like that in the middle of the floor and defenses have to worry about UK’s shooters as well, the Cats become extremely hard to guard.
Carr has been the more consistent of the two, and he’s also been this team’s closer. He played his role again, knocking down a dagger 3 and also making a jump hook down the stretch. He finished with 14 points and also had five assists. The ability to pass of every player Pope puts on the floor — 25 assists for the team — and no one caring who scores and always taking good shots is why Kentucky has been so good in its three games against top-10 teams. This was an offensive clinic against a really good defensive team.
Required reading
(Photo: Michael Hickey / Getty Images)
