StraitCats Previews: Florida (19-4, 7-1) at Kentucky (23-1, 9-0)

It’s time for the fun portion of the schedule. In their final seven SEC games, the Wildcats play Florida twice, Vanderbilt twice, and Mississippi State on the road. After dismantling their last three opponents by a combined score of 229-146, we will learn a lot about the ‘Cats here in the next four weeks.

They start off this stretch with a home contest against the Florida Gators. At No. 7 in the country, the Gators are the second highest ranked team in the SEC. Two of their four losses are nothing to be ashamed of at all, as they lost 81-74 at Ohio State and 72-68 at Syracuse. There other two losses…not so much. They fell at Rutgers in double overtime, 85-83, and they also lost their SEC opener at Tennessee, 67-56.

Since that loss to Tennessee, the Gators have reeled off seven strait including impressive wins over Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. But, Florida has yet to prove that they can beat a tough team on the road and on Tuesday night they will face the No. 1 team on their home court. Head coach John Calipari has yet to lose a game at Rupp as head coach.

The Gators are a guard dominated team and they have a lot of options in their backcourt. All of their guards are interchangeable and they spread the floor so well, which makes it really tough for defenses to defend all areas. They run a lot of screens up top and then utilize the extra pass in an attempt to force defenses to scramble back into position. They also utilize the screens to get into the lane and force defenses to collapse in an attempt to find open shooters.

This is a team of spurts and when they are on they have the ability to score points in bunches.

The best scorer of their guards is junior Kenny Boynton (6-2, 189). Boynton is a prolific scorer that is constantly looking for his shot and he has the ability to knock down difficult jumpers. Simply put, the kid demands the basketball. Besides his ability to find his shot, he is also one of the best three-point shooters in the SEC, knocking down 44-percent of his attempts.

His sidekick is senior Erving Walker (5-8, 177). Walker is an undersized shooting guard that is learning to run the point. Walker played off the ball when Nick Calethes was there, but finally in his senior season is relishing the point guard role. He is a fearless player who despite his dimunitive size will drive amongst the trees. He uses a killer crossover to get into the lane and like Boynton has the ability to knock down tough shots. Like all of Florida’s perimter guys, he is a threat from deep.

Freshman guard Bradley Beal (6-3, 207) entered the season as one of the most prolific scorers in the freshman class. He has lived up to the hype. He is second on the team in scoring, but realizes that the Gators have a ton of options offensively and rarely forces the issue. He has the ability shoot from deep, yeah it sounds like a bit of a broken record, and is strong at the rim.

And the Gators aren’t done with shooters. They also feature junior forward Erik Murphy (6-10, 230) and junior guard Mike Rosario (6-3, 191). Murphy is a pick-and-pop guy that they will utilize up top. Late in the clock, he will roam to top of key and set screen for ball handler. He will then float off of that pick to the wing where he can knock down threes. He has also improved his game underneath and has the skills to knock down a hook shot every once in a while.

Rosario, a transfer from Rutgers, is a perimeter threat that lives in the corner. When guards penetrate, he is a ready to fire as soon as the ball is thrown his way. He also has the ability to get in the lane and is especially good at utilizing the floater. The kid can release it from anywhere and find success.

That’s five guys with 30 or more made threes and all of them are shooting 35-percent from beyond the arc. Kentucky will have to successfully defend the three-ball to win this thing.

With all of their weapons on the perimeter, I think that Florida often forgets about the beast that they have inside in sophomore forward Patric Young (6-9, 247). To me, Young has the skills to be one of the best big men in the country. He is a very strong finisher and if he developed a go-to move underneath, he would be really tough to defend. Young is also a tenacious defender and rebounder.

Sophomore Will Yeguete (6-7, 222) is not much of a scoring threat but his length really helps them defensively. He is their energy guy and their second leading rebounder.

On defense Florida often presses out of dead ball situations and when they get defensive rebounds they really push the basketball in an attempt to make you sprint back. They want the game to be in constant motion and that includes when they are running their half court sets.

I’ve said it time and time again this season that the way you beat Kentucky is to keep them in the half court offensively and then shoot the ball well on your end. Florida definitely has the ability to stay in the game with their perimeter shooting, but I’m not sure if they will even try to slow the game down and keep it in half court.

It’s always interesting to see how coaches adjust their style against certain teams. Florida likes to run. I don’t think they can beat Kentucky if they run. So, will Billy Donovan try to slow it down?

It will be a good test for the ‘Cats, even if it’s at home. Florida is one of those teams that can’t beat anyone and lose to anyone because of their reliance on the three-point shot. If they shoot it well, they will have a chance late. If not, UK should be in good shape.

I think Calipari remains undefeated at Rupp, but the rematch at the O-Dome will be a huge test.

Kentucky 82, Florida 74