Even after four months and 30 games, Florida’s postseason destination hinges on the upcoming week.
A win Sunday against Kentucky followed by a deep run in the Southeastern Conference Tournament would vault the Gators up to a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, priming them for a deep March run.
But losses to Kentucky and then a middling SEC opponent in the tournament’s early rounds would mean entering the NCAA Tournament on a four-game losing streak as a No. 8 or No. 9 seed, prompting questions about whether the Gators (22-8, 10-5 SEC) can handle life without injured forward Will Yeguete.
UF’s first challenge will be Sunday at noon, when No. 1 Kentucky (29-1, 15-0 SEC) comes to the O’Connell Center to close the regular season.
Leading UK is freshman Anthony Davis, who is tops in the NCAA in blocks at 4.8 per game and evokes memories of some of the sport’s all-time greats.
“I think he’s definitely one of the best of all time,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “You start talking about Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, guys like that. I can’t probably go that far back, but certainly here in recent time, the last 20, 25 years, he’s as good as anybody that’s out there.”
Donovan praised Davis — one of just two or three true contenders for the Naismith Player of the Year award — for his timing, reactions and quick jumping ability.
Unlike past dominant SEC big men such as Shaquille O’Neal, the 6-foot-10, 220-pound Davis is not a physical intimidator. Still, his ability to extend and block shots is unrivaled in the college game.
“He’s very, very deceptive in how long he can become when he leaves the floor,” Donovan said. “He is as good as I’ve seen shot-blocking in this league in a long, long time.”
Florida enters Sunday’s game off of consecutive losses to Georgia and Vanderbilt, looking to avenge the 78-58 beatdown Kentucky administered in Lexington on Feb. 7.
The Gators hit only six of 27 3-point attempts, compared to a 9-of-15 effort from the Wildcats. UK shot 52.7 percent and had four players score in double figures.
“Our defense was totally terrible,” freshman Brad Beal said after the game. “There’s a way to defend them, we just didn’t do it.”
This time, Florida will have the advantage of home court. Kentucky has yet to face a ranked opponent in a true road game this season.
Following the game, UF will head to New Orleans for the SEC Tournament, which runs March 8-11. The Gators have already secured a first-round bye, meaning they will begin play Friday.
The final will be played at 1 p.m. on March 11, just hours before the selection committee reveals the field for the NCAA Tournament.
Where UF lands in that bracket depends heavily on what happens between now and then.
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Led by Naismith Award candidate Anthony Davis (left) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (right), Kentucky brings the No. 1 team in the nation into Gainesville on Sunday for a matchup with No. 16 Florida.
