SEC Tournament: Gators meet "tweaked" Wildcats in SEC Championship game

(1-seed) #1 Florida Gators (31-2, 18-0 SEC) vs. (2-seed) Kentucky Wildcats (24-9, 12-6 SEC)
Georgia Dome (capacity: 26,000), Atlanta, Georgia. 3:15 p.m.

Opinion/Analysis

Three keys to beating Kentucky:

1.  Control the Harrison twins

Twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison have turned the corner in terms of their play.  In the two games they've played in the SEC Tournament, they've finally been able to justify the recruiting hype: Andrew (23 points and 17 assists) and Aaron (36 points).  Scottie Wilbekin and Michael Frazier II will have their work cut out for them, as the twins stand 6'6".

2.  Get the Kentucky big men in foul trouble

While Kentucky's top six players are as good as any top-6 in the country, the rest of the rotation is suspect.  Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress are UK's frontline options off the bench (Willie Cauley-Stein is their sixth man) and it would benefit the Gators if they can get Dakari Johnson, Julius Randle, or Cauley-Stein into foul trouble.  If Florida is able to do that, I like their chances.  Likewise, it will be key for the Gator big men to stay out of foul trouble.  Yesterday, Dorian Finney-Smith fouled out and Will Yeguete played most of the game with four fouls.  Look for freshman Chris Walker to get more minutes if the players in front of him start picking up fouls.

3.  Win the battle at the free throw line

The Gators shoot 66.6% from the line, compared to the Wildcats' 67.9%.  The Wildcats are one of the top teams in the country in terms of free throws made and taken.  I fully expect this game to come down toto the final minutes, if not the final seconds.  Free throws will play a huge role in who comes away with the win.

Broadcast Information

TV: ESPN; Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Jimmy Dykes (analyst), and Shannon Spake (sideline)
Radio: WRUF/Gator IMG Sports Network; Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Mark Wise (analyst)
Streaming: ESPN3.com