Leave it to a freshman to add a little spice to the regular season finale between Kentucky and Florida on Saturday at the O’Connell Center
Following Kentucky’s 96-78 win over Ole Miss at Rupp Arena on Wednesday, the Wildcats turned their focus to Florida, and revenge. Earlier this season, Florida knocked off Kentucky 66-64 at Rupp Arena, posting just its fourth victory at Rupp in the last 20 years.
Humility, though, remains in short supply for one Kentucky player. Freshman guard Quade Green told the Lexington Herald Leader’s Ben Roberts that the Wildcats have to go to Florida and “spank” them.
Kentucky is coming into the matchup with some momentum, having won four straight after a four-game losing streak. The Wildcats, who struggled to shoot the ball earlier this season, are red-hot from the perimeter, having made 30 3-pointers over their last four games.
Florida also has righted itself with two straight wins after a three-game losing streak. The Gators are coming off one of their best defensive efforts of the season, limiting Alabama to 30 percent from the floor and 20 percent from 3-point range in a 73-52 win over the Tide in Tuscaloosa.
Florida defeated Kentucky 88-66 at the O’Connell Center last year. A sellout crowd is expected for an emotional Senior Day for point guard Chris Chiozza and guard Egor Koulechov. Chiozza is tied with Erving Walker for UF’s school record in assists (547) and needs just one assist on Saturday to own the record outright.
Though the two schools aren’t playing for an SEC title on Saturday, a third overall seed in the SEC Tournament and first-round bye in the SEC Tournament is at stake, though both teams could still get a first round bye at the fourth seed if Arkansas loses to Missouri on Saturday.
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