I am writing to say I was disappointed with Bryan Jones' column about how the UF-University of Kentucky men's basketball rivalry was now "just another SEC game."
He is correct in saying the Gators should be pumped up for every conference game, but it will be quite some time before the Wildcats are just an average opponent.
As Jones mentioned, the Tennessee rivalry is also a budding one, but the Volunteers haven't yet proven themselves a perennial power.
I hope he was in attendance to see that not one person in the arena thought this game was equal to the upcoming South Carolina and Arkansas games.
Jones wrote as if rivalries are only important if both teams are having good seasons.
Granted, this game does not have an extremely rich tradition, but every basketball fan that hasn't been under a rock for the past 10 years knows that Kentucky and Florida have had extremely heated contests.
Players are well aware of their programs' histories, regardless of how long they've played there.
Kentucky showed more heart in one game than they have the entire season by storming back from 12 points down without their coach even calling a timeout.
And UF showed a huge amount of toughness to reverse the momentum in overtime.
While a win over recent rival Tennessee may be more impressive, to any true Gators fan, it will not be a great deal more satisfying.
That is, unless Tennessee loses a few games.
Then it will just be any other conference game.
