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!
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A former Florida juvenile probation officer is facing more than 100 felony charges after investigators said she leaked confidential court and law enforcement information to people tied to a drug trafficking investigation.
Crystal Gaynell Ann Lawson was booked into the Orange County Jail on Thursday, according to Orange County Corrections records.
Investigators said Lawson improperly accessed the Comprehensive Case Information System, or CCIS, more than 100 times and shared information from active criminal cases with members of a drug trafficking organization.
FOX 35 Orlando reported Lawson was arrested on 113 felony counts of computer crimes for unauthorized access. Investigators said she allegedly accessed the database 106 times between January and May.
Lawson is accused of using the database to search for active criminal cases tied to members of the organization. Authorities said some of the information that was leaked included arrest warrants and documents connected to an active investigation.
Lawson was hired by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in February 2022. As part of that job, she was given access to the CCIS database. Authorities said she was fired later that year after an arrest, but her database access was not terminated.
See also: ‘Elf,’ ‘Couples Retreat’ actor jailed with no bond after Florida arrest
Investigators said the leaks resulted in lost evidence, unrecovered assets and at least one person fleeing to avoid arrest before later being taken into custody.
Lawson previously worked for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where she had access to the court information system as part of her job. Authorities said she was later fired, but her database access was not terminated.
Orange County Corrections records list Lawson’s case status as “presentenced” and show multiple entries for “offense against computer users.”
The records list the arresting agency as the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and show bond amounts of $10,000 on several listed case sequences. The jail record also notes an “ICJIS Affidavit.”
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.
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