Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win against Florida in its SEC opener

Three takeaways from Kentucky’s 106-100 win against Florida in the SEC men’s basketball opener for both teams at Rupp Arena.

1. How could you not be entertained?

Here was Kentucky coach Mark Pope’s opening sentence to the media in his postgame press conference: “If you guys didn’t have fun tonight, you should quit right now and find a new job.”

No joke. Talk about fun. Each team scored in triple digits. Kentucky was 14-for-29 from 3-point land. Florida was 12-for-34 from 3-point land. Kentucky had six players score in double figures, led by Koby Brea’s 23 points. The brilliant Brea hit a career-high seven 3-point shots. Florida’s spectacular Walter Clayton scored 33 points. Teammate Elijah Martin poured in 26 more.

The first time in the long history of UK hoops that the Cats opened an SEC season with a top-10 matchup lived up to the hype. The sixth-ranked and previously unbeaten Gators built an early 11-point lead — 26-15 — only to be outscored 37-16 the rest of the half. And then when the 10th-ranked Wildcats tried to pull away in the second half, the Gators kept battling back.

Not that we should have expected less. From an offensive standpoint, Florida’s Todd Golden and Kentucky’s Pope are two of the better analytical minds in the game. Florida entered the game No. 9 in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted offensive efficiency rankings. Kentucky entered the 11 a.m. start No. 12 in that category.

The result: Kentucky ended up averaging 1.464 points per possession. Florida averaged 1.416. Those are eye-popping numbers.

And despite the recent fears from some that excessive 3-point shooting was overshadowing the beauty of the game, wouldn’t you rather watch an up-and-down, back-and-forth shootout in front of a raucous crowd (more on that later) than a grind-it-out slugfest?

I would. Every day of the week.

2. Kentucky met the challenge

This from Golden during his postgame meeting with the media: “Give Kentucky credit. Every time we got within striking distance, they made big shots.”

Let us explain:

▪ After Florida made back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second half, UK’s Lamont Butler scored a bucket inside.

▪ After Florida pulled within 60-55, UK’s Travis Perry buried his third 3-pointer of the season.

▪ When Florida closed to within 63-61, UK’s Amari Williams scored inside.

▪ When the Gators were down 67-66, Williams converted and old-fashioned 3-point play.

▪ And when Florida again sliced UK’s lead to a single point at 70-69, the Cats manufactured the separation they needed with a 10-0 run. Otega Oweh scored the first six of those 10.

▪ Wait, there’s more. With Florida down 89-87, Butler drilled a triple from the right corner off an inbound play coming out of a timeout.

Look at Kentucky’s scoring balance: Brea 23, Butler 19, Oweh 16, Williams 15, Jaxson Robinson 14, Andrew Carr 14.

Said Golden of the Cats, “They will not lose many games if they play this efficient.”

3. The Rupp Arena crowd met the moment

We return to Pope’s postgame presser: “I told the staff afterward, I’m so happy for you guys; they’re going to be able to now connect the experience of being in this gym with the real experience they’ve having.”

Never mind the early-bird special start time. Rupp was packed. Rupp was loud. Rupp was into it, picking up the Cats when they need picking up, giving the officials grief when it felt necessary, and celebrating the final moments.

In that postgame press conference, our friend Brian Milam of WKYT remarked to Pope that Rupp felt like it did 30 years ago when Kentucky’s coach now was Kentucky’s captain back then on a national championship team.

I agree. The electricity, the musical choices, the appreciation for the product, and the feeling of Big Blue Nation togetherness all felt like something of a throwback.

By Kentucky’s recent standards, this Kentucky team is a bit of a throwback. Older players that know how to work together and play the game at a high level. I think BBN is responding to that. Responding in a big and joyous way.

Said Pope, “There’s nowhere like it.”

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