No. 1 Florida continued its dominance over No. 9 Kentucky Basketball, defeating the Wildcats in the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.
Florida
Kentucky Basketball falls to Florida in SEC Tournament: 4 things to know and postgame banter
Kentucky, hoping to avoid a third straight loss to Florida and head coach Todd Golden, came up short in a matchup that highlighted how hard it is to play three games in three days. Fatigue appeared to be a factor for the Wildcats, who trailed early and struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm.
Kentucky briefly rallied in the first half, tying the game at 20-20, but Florida responded with a dominant stretch, pushing ahead and building a lead Kentucky could not overcome. The Wildcats went through a six-minute scoring drought in the first half, falling behind 37-28.
The Gators maintained control for much of the second half and won 71-63. With the win, Florida advances to the SEC Tournament semifinals, leaving Kentucky to regroup going into the NCAA Tournament.
This pattern mirrors last season, when Kentucky dropped two regular-season games to Alabama before falling to the Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Friday’s defeat marks the third consecutive loss to Florida, following wins by the Gators both at Rupp Arena and in Gainesville.
Kentucky now turns its attention to Selection Sunday, waiting to learn its seed, opponent, and regional placement for the NCAA Tournament. While the SEC Tournament exit is disappointing, the Wildcats will look to regroup and refocus as the postseason begins.
4 things to know from Kentucky vs. Florida
1. Scoring droughts continue to be an issue
Scoring droughts have been an ongoing issue for Kentucky this season, and the Wildcats ran into the same problem against Florida in the SEC Tournament. Kentucky tied the game at 20-20 with 9:40 left in the first half, but the Gators responded with a decisive 13-0 run, taking control at 33-20 before Kentucky managed another field goal at the 3:39 mark. That six-minute stretch without a basket proved too much to overcome, and Florida held on to advance in the tournament.
Kentucky’s offensive struggles have been evident all season, from games against Louisville, Michigan State, and North Carolina to Missouri and beyond. The Wildcats have often had to rely on their defense to make up for extended scoring droughts, but that formula has failed to consistently hold opponents in check. Friday’s matchup highlighted the ongoing challenge under coach Mark Pope, as Kentucky could not sustain offensive momentum and struggled to respond to Florida’s bursts of scoring.
Despite flashes of a great offense at times, it often stalls, with little player or ball movement, something Pope’s Zoom Action offense is known for, but he hasn’t been able to fully run it this year due to a lack of 3-point shooters on the team.
2. Kentucky never led against Florida in all three games
Kentucky never led in any of the three games this season. The Wildcats briefly tied the score on Friday with a 10-0 run that evened the game at 20-20, but they could never sustain momentum against the top-ranked Gators.
Kentucky had a chance to take the lead, but Florida responded immediately, maintaining control and keeping the Wildcats from establishing an offensive rhythm.
Despite Kentucky having competitiveness and energy at times, the Wildcats could not keep up with the Gators’ adjustments and depth.
For Kentucky, these games serve as a reminder of the challenges they face against elite competition. Tying the score is not enough if the team cannot capitalize on opportunities to seize control. As the Wildcats prepare for the NCAA Tournament, turning momentum into leads will be essential for a deep postseason run. Until then, Florida continues to hold the upper hand in this SEC rivalry.
3. Kentucky smashed on the boards
Kentucky’s struggles on the glass were on full display again. After being outrebounded by Missouri in Thursday’s game, Kentucky fell behind early on the boards against the Gators and never fully recovered.
In the first half, Florida dominated the glass, grabbing 25 rebounds to Kentucky’s 16. The Gators pulled down 17 defensive boards compared to Kentucky’s 13 and added eight offensive rebounds while the Wildcats managed just three. These extra possessions gave Florida second-chance opportunities and kept Kentucky on its heels, limiting the Wildcats’ ability to generate consistent offense.
While Kentucky lacks size and depth in the frontcourt, Florida boasts one of the nation’s top front courts. The Wildcats’ struggles on the boards underscore a recurring problem that has affected their performance throughout the season.
With the NCAA Tournament approaching, Kentucky will need to improve its presence on the glass if it hopes to make a deep run. Until then, opponents like Florida can continue to capitalize on the Wildcats’ rebounding gaps.
4. Wildcats’ 3-headed goat was shut down
Kentucky’s self-proclaimed “3-headed goat” failed to deliver, and it may have been a sign of fatigue catching up with the trio. Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, and Collin Chandler, who earned the nickname after a standout performance against Vanderbilt earlier this season, were largely ineffective in a game dominated by the Gators.
Oweh and Aberdeen were held to single-digit points for most of the game, struggling to find rhythm against Florida’s defensive pressure. Chandler did not get on the scoreboard until over halfway through the second half and eventually fouled out, leaving the Wildcats without their usual offensive spark. The absence of contributions from the “three-headed goat” made it difficult for Kentucky to sustain momentum, especially playing three games in three days in the SEC Tournament.
With the SEC exit behind them, Kentucky will need contributions from its guards, as the big men have struggled throughout the year finding their roles, going into the NCAA Tournament.
Now, let’s discuss what happened here today and what you think happens on Selection Sunday!
ORLANDO, Fla. – Strong thunderstorms continue to push across Central Florida Thursday evening, with a few storms capable of producing gusty winds, frequent lightning, torrential rainfall and isolated damage before activity gradually winds down later tonight.
The strongest storms are expected through about 10 p.m., with most of the activity weakening and moving offshore by around 11 p.m. Storms are being fueled by sea breeze collisions and abundant moisture across the state. In addition to strong wind gusts, torrential downpours could lead to ponding of water on roads and minor flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.
While storms remain the immediate concern this evening, another round of impactful weather is expected Friday.
The News 6 Weather Team has designated Friday as a Weather Aware Day due to the combination of dangerous heat and the threat for strong to severe thunderstorms.
Before storms develop, temperatures will climb into the low to mid-90s Friday afternoon. Combined with high humidity, it will feel more like 102 to 107 degrees across much of Central Florida. Some locations could once again approach or exceed Heat Advisory criteria.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. The atmosphere will be loaded with tropical moisture, allowing storms to produce frequent lightning, damaging wind gusts, and torrential rainfall.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed all of Central Florida under a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather Friday. While widespread severe weather is not expected, a few storms could become strong enough to produce damaging winds.
In addition, the Weather Prediction Center has highlighted portions of Central Florida for a Level 1 out of 4 risk of excessive rainfall. Any storm will be capable of producing very heavy rain in a short amount of time, which could lead to localized flooding.
The unsettled pattern continues into the weekend. Storm coverage is expected to increase Saturday, and some locations could see multiple rounds of heavy rain. While a few stronger storms remain possible, the flooding threat may become a greater concern by Saturday afternoon and evening.
Looking ahead to next week, rain chances are expected to gradually decrease, but the heat is not going anywhere. High temperatures will remain in the low to mid-90s, with heat index values frequently climbing above 100 degrees. Forecast guidance suggests a higher heat risk could develop once again across Central Florida as we head deeper into next week.
At the beaches, a moderate risk of rip currents continues. Make sure you swim near a lifeguard if you’re heading to the beach.
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SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)— A Florida mental health counselor walked into a surprising number of bats inside her office last week.
“We had about 50 bats. In the toilet, in the sink. All over,” Shaltala Boss, a licensed mental health counselor, said.
Boss has since moved her office due to maternity season, when it is illegal to exclude or remove bats from April 16 to August 14, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“Any form of eviction during this time period will result in baby bats being trapped along with adult bats that may not have emerged. Trapped bats will attempt to escape and may end up in the living space of buildings,” FWC said.
Video provided by Boss showed a bat lying on the ground.
“You definitely didn’t want to come to counseling that day,” Boss said.
Boss has since moved to another location and said it is bat-free.
“Most bats will avoid humans at all costs and use natural roosting structures for shelter during the day. However, bats sometimes find their way into our homes and structures, which can present a health hazard,” FWC said.
Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is trailing Democratic candidate David Jolly in the race to become Florida’s next governor, according to a new poll from Change Research, a Democratic-aligned polling firm.
The survey could be an encouraging sign for Florida Democrats, who have not won a statewide election since 2018 and have struggled as the state shifted steadily toward Republicans in recent election cycles.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in 2026, won a second term by nearly 20 percentage points in 2022, while Republicans have expanded their voter registration advantage and maintained control of every statewide elected office.
Still, some recent polling has suggested the push to replace DeSantis could be a bit more competitive than many have expected.
President Donald Trump last month again vocalized his support for Donalds, saying in part, “I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER!” The president added, “Byron Donalds will be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
Trump won the Sunshine State by 13 points in 2024 against then-Vice President Kamala Harris and no Democrat has won the Florida governorship in more than 20 years.
When reached for comment regarding the new poll, Donalds’ campaign referred Newsweek to the X post of Gates McGavick, the team’s communications director. McGavick said in reaction to the poll, “I hear Change Research also sells tremendous ocean front property in Arizona.”
The campaign also referred Newsweek to Ryan Smith’s post on X, while saying he is also affiliated with the campaign. Smith said, “This is a push poll by Democrats for Democrats. The truth is, Florida Democrats will be crying in their kombucha on November 3 when @ByronDonalds is elected governor.”
What To Know
The Change Research survey found Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties and entered the race as a Democrat, leading Donalds in a hypothetical general-election matchup.
Jolly has centered his campaign on affordability issues surrounding insurance costs, housing and healthcare, while Donalds has campaigned as a conservative successor who will attempt to enact Trump’s agenda and fight illegal immigration.
According to the poll, Jolly leads Donalds 47 percent to 42 percent and has a slightly larger margin among likely voters with 49 percent compared to 43 percent.
The poll surveyed 1,273 registered voters of which 1,015 said they will likely vote in the 2026 midterm election. The survey’s margin of error is 2.8 percent.
Also in the poll, Jolly garners 94 percent support from Democrats compared to Donalds’ 77 percent among Republicans.
What Other Polls Show
Another recent Change Research poll shows Jolly leading Donalds 46 percent to 42 percent. The poll was taken from May 13 to May 16 among 2,070 registered voters, of whom 1,593 say they will likely vote in the midterm election. The poll has a margin of error of 2.3 percent.
In a survey at the end of March by Emerson College Polling, Donalds landed 44 percent of the vote compared to Jolly’s 39 percent. The poll shows that 17 percent are undecided. It was taken from March 29 to March 31 among 1,125 likely voters and has a margin of error of 2.8 percent.
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