Gators head to Rupp Arena for toughest test of the season

The Gators men’s basketball team faces its toughest test of the season Saturday at No. 5 Kentucky. 

Both teams are on winning streaks, as Florida has won four straight and the Wildcats have won five in a row. UK is widely considered the hottest team in the SEC, and even the country.

Throughout the history of the rivalry, Kentucky has dominated the series 104-41. In the 2020-21 season, the Gators and the Wildcats split the season series.

“Kentucky is obviously an elite program. That’s a really tough place to play. What a bounce back from a year ago. Incredible,” UF coach Mike White said of the Wildcats, who went 9-16 last season. “That story in itself is unique in terms of struggles to being really, really good pretty quickly. They’re terrific. I think this team has a chance to win it all.”

Kentucky’s players to watch

UF forward Colin Castleton is going to be in a serious battle on Saturday when he takes on Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe, who was named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List in January.

The 6-foot-9 junior leads the team averaging 15.9 points, 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks, while leading the nation with 15.1 rebounds per game.

“I don’t remember scouting as good of an offensive rebounder,” White said of Tshiebwe. “The way that he can go get it on the defensive glass and the offensive glass just at a level at which, it’s really unheard of.”

The Wildcats offense runs through guard Sahvir Wheeler. He averages 9.7 points and 7.2 assists, which leads the team and is the third most in the country.

Guard TyTy Washington Jr. averages 12.9 points with 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Guard Kellan Grady adds 12 points per game with a three-point percentage of 33.2 percent.

Forward Keion Brooks adds 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

“They’ve got some veterans that are playing well, they’ve got guys that started other places that are playing well, they’ve got young guys that are playing well. All at the same time, both offensively and defensively,” White said of Kentucky. “There’s just not a glaring weakness with this team.”

How the Gators pull off the upset

As of Friday morning, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has Florida just on the outside of the NCAA Tournament as the first team out. An upset over Kentucky Florida’s best win of the season and a quadrant one victory. 

Simply put, the Gators will have to play a near-perfect game to steal a win in one of the country’s most hostile environments.

Castleton will likely need a double-double going up against Tshiebwe, which is a lot to ask. Florida forward Tuonghtach Gatkek has played just eight minutes in the past two games and must contribute more with Castleton still not at 100 percent. 

Florida guard Myreon Jones is playing his best basketball as of late, and that has to continue in Lexington. He can be one of the most dangerous 3-point shooters and more production from him would be a recipe for success. 

Arguably UF’s most important player is guard Tyree Appleby. He’s got to stay out of foul trouble and be smart with the basketball against a strong defensive Kentucky squad. The Gators don’t pull off the upet without a big performance from Appleby. 

“To win an SEC game against an elite team like this Kentucky, you gotta do it for 40 to have any chance,” White said. “That’s what the best teams do and that’s what we’re striving to become, and that’s better. We’re looking to put together 40, hopefully it’s (Saturday). If it’s not, we don’t have a great chance.” 

WHO: Florida Gators (16-8, 6-5 SEC) at No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats (20-4, 9-2 SEC)

WHEN: 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12

WHERE: Rupp Arena

WATCH: ESPN

RADIO: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD