Damn... What a game. If you're a true Kentucky fan, then you, like everyone else had this game marked on your calendar. After going 0-3 against Florida last year, this was one that you really wanted to see the Cats win. But, you know how it is to play in the O-Dome; it's not easy to say the least.
The first half, Kentucky looked rattled for pretty much the entire half. They had 10 turnovers (despite what the announcers said, most were unforced) that Florida turned into points. The only guy who didn't look intimated was Karl Anthony-Towns. He looked like a man in the first half. It wasn't that everyone else played poorly, it's just the atmosphere that they had to play in. Gainesville is in my mind, the second hardest place to play in the SEC behind Vanderbilt. To go in and get a win is impressive regardless.
The second half, was a different story entirely. The Cats came out focused ( to be fair, they did end the first half on a 8-0 run) and executed their offense to perfection. They done whatever they wanted on the offensive end of the floor, and was successful doing it. On the other side however, the Cats have got to do a better job at containing dribble penetration. Time after time after time, Florida got to the basket at will and was able to convert. That was the only thing that kept them in the game. Just because you have shot blocker behind you doesn't mean that you can allow a game an open lane to the rim, that will get you beat.
This was a great game and a game that Kentucky needed to be honest. The experience they got during the course of this game will be something that they can fall back on later in the season.
The Cats move on to 23-0 (still the second best start in school history) and will face LSU on the road Tuesday night. The bad news is, Kentucky will more than likely have to do it without Trey Lyels once again while he recovers from strep throat.
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