GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a day when everything seemed to favor the Florida team, Kentucky managed to secure a win.
Freshman sensation Aaron Bradshaw’s successful 3-point shot with 1:21 left granted the No. 6 Wildcats a 79-76 lead. The visitors then defended against the late efforts of the Gators, emerging with an 87-85 victory in the SEC opener for both teams at the O’Connell Center.
“We emerged victorious. We could have been defeated, and I would be standing here saying, ‘We will learn from it and move forward,'” expressed Kentucky coach John Calipari. “But that’s not what happened. We did not come here to dominate them.”
The Wildcats (11-2, 1-0 SEC) were concerned about their rebounding coming into Saturday. In their previous match, a 96-70 home win against Illinois State last week, they secured 24 offensive rebounds and outperformed their opponents on the boards by five (45-40). The Gators (10-4, 0-1) posed a tougher challenge, boasting the top rebounding team in Division I, with an average of over 45 per game. Despite this, the Wildcats managed to hold their ground, trailing by just three rebounds (43-40) compared to the hosts.
“That’s surpassing them in rebounds,” smirked Calipari.
Despite all the attention on Florida’s rebounding strength, the hosts did not overpower Kentucky in the paint on Saturday; in fact, the Wildcats scored more points in the paint (40-36).
The Gators found success from beyond the arc. Florida had been averaging 7.6 3-pointers per game in their first 13 matches in 2023-24. They surpassed that number by halftime, sinking eight, including Zyon Pullin’s long-range shot and another attempt that banked in off the backboard.
By the end of Saturday, Florida made nine triples, nearly twice as many as Kentucky’s five.
“I told the team, ‘They’re going to convert every shot,'” Calipari stated. “We need to handle these pick and rolls. We need to handle dribble handoffs. They may have missed shots against Baylor; they are not missing them on this court. And they didn’t.”
However, the number of 3-pointers was less crucial than their timing.
Bradshaw’s crucial shot in the final minutes turned out to be the deciding factor in a close match that featured four lead changes and seven ties.
Calipari revealed that in the first half, Bradshaw struggled to respond to Florida’s physical play in the front line. According to Calipari, Bradshaw was “outmuscled” and “overwhelmed” by the Gators early on, losing possession of the ball and failing to make layups.
However, none of that mattered in the closing moments.
“We designed a play for him to take a shot,” Calipari stated. “I (told him), ‘That’s how much I believe in you. But I can’t fight for you.'”
Bradshaw found it hard to describe the feeling of silencing an enthusiastic crowd with one flick of his wrist.
“It was enjoyable. I relish that,” said Bradshaw, who ended with 10 points (all in the second half) and seven rebounds. “I love it when (opposing fans) chatter.”
Apart from Bradshaw’s decisive three-pointer, the standout performances of the Wildcats’ highly-regarded freshman class — so remarkable throughout the season — were not always readily apparent.
The first-year talents struggled at times in UK’s first true road game — the encounter with Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center last month was packed with Kentucky fans, making it a near-neutral matchup — of the 2023-24 campaign.
Bradshaw did not score until 9:05 remained. Rob Dillingham had four turnovers (with just one assist and six points). Justin Edwards contributed six points, but his last basket came with 16:18 left to play. Reed Sheppard, typically reliable, had a subdued first half but came alive in the final 20 minutes; Sheppard secured nine of his 14 points after halftime, including four crucial free throws in the last 8.2 seconds to seal the two-point victory.
“You know the situation because you must try to evade the defense,” Sheppard remarked. “You know they’re going to attempt to foul, so you must be strong with the ball. But … you must ignore everything, step up to the line, and shoot with confidence.”
Sheppard matched D.J. Wagner for the top-scoring honors among Kentucky’s freshmen. Wagner secured 14 points with a 6-of-10 shooting performance. He led all Wildcats in second-half scoring, converting 5 of 7 field goal attempts for 12 points.
As the freshmen found their way, the senior duo of the Wildcats (guard Antonio Reeves and forward Tre Mitchell) provided stability. Reeves delivered a team-best 19 points, and Mitchell achieved a double-double (12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds).
Unlike earlier matches this season, when UK sailed to victory with a highly efficient offense that flustered opponents, Saturday’s performance was far from perfect. The Wildcats shot only 25% from beyond the arc, with more turnovers (nine) than assists (six). They led for only 5:25 (compared to the Gators’ 28:35 on the right side of the scoreboard).
Nevertheless, despite all the odds against them, they managed to defeat a Florida team that had been enjoying a six-game winning streak.
“I don’t mind their youth,” said Calipari of his team, a reminiscent group akin to his early teams at UK, heavily reliant on underclassmen. “They are fighters.
“They possess a strong desire to win.”
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
