UK Fans of the Day Want Some Kentucky vs. Florida Notes

It’s weird to think that this time tomorrow, the dust will have already settled on No. 10 Kentucky vs. No. 6 Florida. It feels like we’ve been talking about how tough SEC play will be all season, and a top-ten matchup against an undefeated Gators squad is a heck of a start. As we count down to tipoff, here are some thoughts running through my mind.

The Rupp Arena crowd needs to bring it for the early tip

Eleven a.m. is a weird time to play a college basketball game (more on that later). Mark Pope has done his best to prepare the players for the early tip this week, moving practices up and to Rupp Arena. Fans need to bring it too. Not only is this the SEC opener, this game could be pivotal in the SEC standings. Kentucky and Florida only play once this season (for the first time since 1963-64), and in a loaded conference, that could mean the difference between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the SEC Tournaments. Having a win over the Gators would be huge for tiebreaker scenarios.

Kentucky fans have answered the bell so far in the Mark Pope era. If you’re going to tomorrow’s game, get there early and be loud.

Come early to see Florida’s 7’9″ freshman warm up

Florida freshman center Olivier Rioux is redshirting this season, but still dresses for games. The Terrebonne, Canada native is 7’9″ and owns the Guinness World Record for being the world’s tallest male teenager. In turn, watching him do anything is pretty entertaining. This clip of him warming up before Florida’s game vs. Virginia last month went viral.

Olivier Rioux warming up before #Gators visit from Virginia. pic.twitter.com/Okfu9o0Dj8

— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) December 4, 2024

At the risk of triggering some John Calipari/Shaedon Sharpe flashbacks, another reason to get to Rupp early on Saturday is to see Rioux warm up. Look at how much taller he is than Florida’s other seven-footer, 7’1″ Micah Handlogten:

Micah Handlogten: 7-foot-1

Olivier Rioux: 7-foot-9 pic.twitter.com/ZSFu4HUHzo

— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) October 18, 2024

History will be on Kentucky’s side

Kentucky’s game notes are chock full of good nuggets (shoutout UK Athletics staff). Tomorrow marks the first time AP Poll history that Kentucky will open SEC play against another top-ten team, and just the fourth time against a ranked team. Kentucky is 15-7 vs. Florida when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25, but a perfect 4-0 when both teams are in the top ten. Going through the list will bring back some very happy memories.

• Feb. 7, 2012 (#1 Kentucky defeats #8 Florida, 78-58)
• March 8, 2003 (#2 Kentucky defeats #3 Florida, 69-67)
• Feb. 4, 2003 (#6 Kentucky defeats #1 Florida, 70-55)
• Jan. 29, 2002 (#10 Kentucky defeats #5 Florida, 70-68)

Mandatory pause to remember the 2003 wins over the Gators, including one of the best pictures in Kentucky Basketball history:

Keith Bogans and Gerald Fitch antagonize Florida fans after No. 2 Kentucky caps off a perfect 16-0 SEC season with a 69-67 win over the No. 3 Gators in Gainesville. pic.twitter.com/MqTMKt3R9P

— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) March 4, 2022

Further, Florida’s 13-0 record is the third best that a team has brought into Rupp Arena in the venue’s history. The only two that are better? The 1998-99 Auburn Tigers (17-0) and the 2007-08 Vanderbilt Commodores (16-0). Kentucky won both of those matchups.

Rebounding may decide the game

Both Kentucky and Florida rank in the top ten nationally in rebounds per game, but rebounding, specifically on the offensive end, has hurt the Cats at times this season. Kentucky has been outrebounded in four games, including the last two (Ohio State, Brown). Tomorrow may be the toughest challenge yet. Florida ranks in the top ten in several rebounding categories, including first in rebounds per game (45.7), third in rebound margin (+12), sixth in defensive rebounds per game (30.4), and seventh in offensive rebounds per game (15.3).

Six Gators are averaging five or more rebounds per game. Kentucky only has three. Yes, schedule has a lot to do with that — Kentucky’s non-conference strength of schedule was No. 82 in KenPom, Florida’s was No. 213 — but still, the glass could decide who takes home a pivotal win.

	Florida	Kentucky
Rebounds per game	45.7 – 1st	42.3 – 9th
Defensive RPG	30.4 – 6th	30.7 – 3rd
Offensive RPG	15.3 – 7th	11.6 – 132nd
Rebound Margin	+12 – 3rd	+6 – 58th

Yes, Todd Golden is still under investigation for sexual harassment and stalking

It feels very weird to be writing this much about this game without acknowledging that Todd Golden is still under investigation for allegations of sexual harassment and stalking. Not even two months ago, Florida’s student newspaper The Alligator broke the news that a Title IX complaint had been filed against Golden in September by multiple women, including students, alleging sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking and cyberstalking. In the days after, Golden acknowledged the complaint and said he was considering filing defamation claims, presumably against his accusers.

Since then? It’s kind of like everyone forgot it happened. Obviously, the investigation is still underway and will play out accordingly, but it just feels weird to be talking about this massive basketball game without at least mentioning one of the head coaches is facing some very serious allegations.

This game tips off a monster day of college hoops

“Why is this game tipping off at 11 a.m.?” is a common question. I even asked some folks around UK and they didn’t have a great answer other than ESPN is using it to relaunch its college basketball coverage leading into the afternoon NFL games. No. 6 Florida vs. No. 10 Kentucky will lead into No. 23 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Tennessee, which will lead into ESPN’s pregame coverage and then Browns vs. Ravens (4:30 p.m.) and Bengals vs. Steelers (8 p.m.). If you’d rather watch hoops than football, there are several ranked games happening all afternoon and evening, including undefeated No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 5 Alabama.

It’s going to be a very cold day in the Bluegrass. You’ve got an excellent slate of sports to keep you entertained.

TIME (ET)	AWAY	HOME	TV/STREAMING
11:00 AM	No. 6 Florida	No. 10 Kentucky	ESPN
12:00 PM	Georgia	No. 24 Ole Miss	SEC Network
1:00 PM	No. 23 Arkansas	No. 1 Tennessee	ESPN
2:00 PM	No. 25 Baylor	No. 3 Iowa State	CBS
2:00 PM	BYU	No. 14 Houston	ESPN+
2:00 PM	No. 15 UCLA	Nebraska	FOX
2:00 PM	South Carolina	No. 17 Mississippi State	SEC Network
2:15 PM	No. 4 Duke	SMU	CW Network
2:30 PM	Arizona	No. 16 Cincinnati	ESPN2
4:00 PM	Missouri	No. 2 Auburn	SEC Network
4:30 PM	Vanderbilt	LSU	ESPN2
6:00 PM	No. 12 Oklahoma	No. 5 Alabama	SEC Network
8:00 PM	Texas	No. 13 Texas A&M	SEC Network
9:00 PM	No. 19 Gonzaga	Loyola Marymount	ESPN+

I’ll leave you with Daniel Hager’s supercut of plays from every Kentucky win over Florida since 1995, the perfect way to get in the mood for tomorrow’s top-ten showdown.

No. 10 Kentucky hosts No. 6 Florida tomorrow morning in the 153rd meeting between the two programs. UK leads the all-time series 110-42.

First top-10 matchup since 2/7/12.

Here is One Play From EVERY Kentucky Basketball WIN Over Florida Since 1995.

🔗: https://t.co/V6qg0EQ5u1 pic.twitter.com/0cJEoNPid1

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) January 3, 2025