Let’s get one thing straight: Kentucky basketball does not deal in “good losses.” It never has. SEC championships are the expectation in Lexington, not a bonus. And after Saturday’s 92-83 defeat at No. 14 Florida, the Wildcats’ league title drought looks destined to stretch to six seasons.
Still — and this is important — there was something about this loss that didn’t feel empty.
Florida (19-6, 10-2 SEC) looks every bit like the best team in the conference. With three key contributors back from last year’s national championship squad, Todd Golden’s Gators are built to make another deep March run. They entered Saturday on a tear, fresh off dominant wins of 47, 23, 19 and 20 points.
Kentucky (17-8, 8-4 SEC) didn’t play its best basketball. Not even close.
The Wildcats turned the ball over nine times in their first 20 possessions. Florida quickly turned those mistakes into a 16-0 edge in points off turnovers — a margin that ultimately proved decisive. UK trailed by as many as 15 in the first half and was down 13 with just over five minutes to play.
And yet.
With 36.8 seconds remaining, Kentucky was within four points at 87-83.
Against the defending national champions. On their home floor. In one of the loudest environments in the SEC.
“I’m proud of my guys, always,” Mark Pope said. “Our guys are fighters.”
That part was undeniable.
The Florida Size Problem
Florida’s front line is overwhelming. Thomas Haugh (6-9), Alex Condon (6-11) and Rueben Chinyelu (6-10) anchor a rotation that also includes 7-2 Micah Handlogten off the bench. It’s length, physicality and depth that few teams can match.
Kentucky battled early, finishing the first half tied 20-20 on the glass. But over the final 20 minutes, Florida controlled the boards 25-17. Several times down the stretch, UK forced misses only to surrender back-breaking offensive rebounds.
“We were not good at the rim tonight,” Pope admitted. “We were disappointing at the core of the rim — and that’s what Florida does.”
When the Gators combine that interior dominance with perimeter shooting, they’re nearly impossible to beat.
On Saturday, they did exactly that.
Point guard Xavian Lee scored 22 points and hit 4-of-7 from three. Reserve guard Urban Klavzar drilled 5-of-11 from deep and added 19 points. As Condon bluntly put it: “When we get (almost) 10 threes, I don’t think anyone in the country can play with us.”
Kentucky’s Stars Struggle
Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen — Kentucky’s two leading guards — combined to shoot 12-of-35. Aberdeen scored 19 in his return to Gainesville, while Oweh added 13, but the efficiency wasn’t there.
Golden’s game plan was clear.
“A big part of our scout was make it tough on Otega and Zell,” he said. “I thought we did a really good job defending those guys.”
Aberdeen, who helped Florida win a national title last season, also endured chants of “Gator traitor” and “Sellout” from the student section. Asked if he was surprised by the reception, Pope gave a one-word answer: “No.”
Even with their top scorers struggling, Kentucky still had chances.
Collin Chandler provided a major lift with 18 points, hitting 5-of-7 from three-point range. Freshman Malachi Moreno showed flashes of his potential, posting 11 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes despite foul trouble.
And interestingly, Florida’s coach offered something close to respect.
“They’re playing some good ball,” Golden said. “They’re talented, obviously — $22 million roster. They’re physical, they’re big. I expect them to do well the rest of the year.
Here’s the truth: Florida is a legitimate repeat national title contender. On Saturday, the Gators didn’t even claim to have played their best.
Kentucky certainly didn’t.
And yet, the Wildcats were still in striking distance in the final minute.
For a team that has been wildly up-and-down all season, that matters. It suggests that when UK cleans up turnovers, finishes better at the rim and rebounds more consistently, it can compete with anyone — even the defending champs.
There are no moral victories at Kentucky. There never will be.
But if there’s one reason for real hope, it’s this: even on an off night, against the SEC’s best, Kentucky was still standing at the end.
And with Florida coming to Rupp Arena on March 7, the Wildcats will get one more shot to prove just how small that gap might be.
