Florida looks for perfect SEC record on Senior Day against rival Kentucky

Game 31: #25 University of Kentucky Wildcats (22-8, 12-5 SEC) at #1 University of Florida Gators (28-2, 17-0 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (capacity: 11,548), Gainesville, Florida. 12:00 p.m.

Opinion/Analysis

The Gators are looking to record the first undefeated SEC regular season in the conference's history as they welcome the Kentucky Wildcats to Gainesville on what is sure to be an afternoon filled with emotion.  It is Senior Day, so Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete, and Patric Young will all play their final game in the O'Dome.  For all four players, they've experienced the ups and downs.  For Prather, the amazing improvement this season was very unexpected based off his first three seasons where he came off the bench for 10-15 minutes a game.  Wilbekin has been suspended twice, but he has upped his game since becoming the starter during his junior season and is now a candidate for SEC Player of the Year.  Yeguete has struggled with knee injuries but he has remained a committed defender and continually goes up against taller forwards and holds his own.  Young has been a starter for three seasons, but this is by far his most consistent campaign and he is the most likely of the four seniors to be playing on an NBA team next season.

According to Kevin Brockway, the Gators beat writer for the Gainesville Sun, the current senior class has won 112 games, three SEC regular season titles (including this season), appeared in three Elite Eights, and has 54 SEC wins.

While the game will be high with emotion, the Gators have a chance to make history.  They have also won 22 straight games and 31 straight home games.  But the Wildcats will not want to suffer the first UF sweep since 2007.  They defeated Alabama on Tuesday, 55-48, but did not shoot the ball like they will need to to beat the Gators.  Kentucky will need to get the Gator big men in foul trouble if they hope to gain an advantage.  Kentucky's frontline is much bigger than Florida's, so Young,Yeguete, and Chris Walker will have their work cut out for them.  If Michael Frazier, who scored 37 points (11 3-pointers) against South Carolina on Tuesday, can replicate that form then it could be a long day for the Wildcats, especially if Wilbekin and Prather produce their usual games.  Sixth man Dorian Finney-Smith is averaging 12.7 points per game over his last three games after struggling for a few weeks with his shot, which affected other parts of his game.

The Wildcats are 5-3 on the road in conference (5-4 overall) and it will be interesting to see if they have been able to correct their assist-to-turnover problem.  Andrew Harrison has struggled with his shooting all season and James Young has been off and on from deep.  If the Gators can get the Wildcats in foul trouble, it will be tough for Kentucky to maintain pace with Florida.

Kentucky coach John Calipari continues to believe in his team and his players continue to remain confident that they can make a run in the SEC Tournament and the Big Dance.  This will be a tough game for Florida, certainly the toughest opponent they could have faced as they try to go undefeated in conference.  I expect it to remain close throughout, but free throws will prove to be the difference.  If it comes down to that, the Gators will be in good shape.  

Projected starting lineups and reserves:

KENTUCKY

#2 Aaron Harrison (6'6", 218 lbs. FR) Season stats: 13.6 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game
#5 Andrew Harrison (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 10.9, 3.5 assists per game
#1 James Young (6'6", 215 lbs. FR) 14.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg
#30 Julius Randle (6'9", 250 lbs. FR) 15.4 ppg, 10.5 rpg
#44 Dakari Johnson (7'0", 265 lbs. FR) 4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg

Reserves

#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0", 244 lbs. SO) 7.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.9 blocks per game
#22 Alex Poythress (6'8", 239 lbs. SO) 6.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
#3 Jarrod Polson (6'2", 182 lbs. SR) 1.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg
#00 Marcus Lee (6'9", 215 lbs. FR) 2.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg
#25 Dominique Hawkins (6'0", 193 lbs. FR) 0.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg
#4 Jon Hood (6'7", 215 lbs. RS-SR) 1.4 ppg, 0.5 apg

FLORIDA

#5 Scottie Wilbekin (6'2", 176 lbs. SR) Season stats: 12.9 points per game, 3.9 assists per game
#20 Michael Frazier II (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 13.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg
#24 Casey Prather (6'6", 212 lbs. SR) 14.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg
#15 Will Yeguete (6'8", 230 lbs. SR) 5.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg
#4 Patric Young (6'9", 240 lbs. SR) 10.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg

Reserves:

#10 Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8", 212 lbs. RS-SO) 9.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg
#0 Kasey Hill (6'1", 181 lbs. FR) 5.5 ppg, 3.0 apg
#25 DeVon Walker (6'6", 195 lbs. SO) 3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
#23 Chris Walker (6'10", 220 lbs. FR) 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Broadcast Information

TV: CBS; Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (analyst)
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)