Florida welcomes Kentucky basketball to the SEC meat grinder

Florida basketball fights, Kentucky basketball whines

While neither Kentucky or Florida scored much, the Gators claimed two advantages.

First, the Gators outfought the Wildcats, and Egor Koulechov led the fight.

Koulechov did not score from the field, but the  6-5 forward claimed nine rebounds and a block in the final seconds. Kevarrius Hayes played 32 minutes and equaled his season high with nine rebounds.

The final play was the game in a capsule.

With 2.5 seconds to play, Hayes jumped Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s pass and tipped the ball. With the ball free and the game in the balance, Chiozza out ran every blue to grab the ball.

Cue the Big Blue Whiney Nation, this time conducted by the maestro himself.

“I’ve been asked some dumb questions in my life,” said Kentucky head coach John Calipari. “I don’t mean to embarrass you, but everybody saw it.”

Mike White ‘s response was closer to  big time basketball’s reality. “I saw my guys flying around and trying to make plays,” White said. “Hands on basketball down the stretch.”

About that second thing the Gators had. “Every day should be National Cheez Day,” said Chiozza.

Florida basketball is back in the groove

Meanwhile, Florida basketball is dashing hopes that Billy Donovan’s departure would bring Gator basketball back to the pack.

After some pre-conference disappointments, Mike White’s reptilian Cagers are flying high with a 6-1 conference record and a 14-5 record placing the Gators at a number 20 in the national AP poll and first place in the SEC. Florida basketball has won three of four conference road games, placing the Gators at the rail as SEC play heads toward the backstretch.

For Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation, the season so far has been pure misery. The Wildcats are out of the Pomeroy top 30 for the first time since the 2013 NIT.