The toughest test this season is coming up on Saturday as Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are getting ready to take on the Florida Gators. The defending National Champion Florida Gators have been one of the hottest teams in college basketball over the last two weeks with four straight blowout wins. Some of those wins came over teams like Alabama and Texas A&M.

Like the Gators, the Kentucky Wildcats come into this game as one of the hottest teams in college hoops, so this matchup for the top spot in the SEC should be a good one. The toughest test in the toughest game of the season for Pope’s team will be slowing star Gator forward Thomas Haugh.

The Gators play an interesting style of ball because they basically start three centers. Todd Golden’s team has a 6’9, 6’10, and 6’11 player in the starting five. Haugh, who stands 6’9 has been one of the best players in all of college basketball this season, averaging 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and one block per game for the Gators.

He is a tough matchup for the Wildcats because basically one of two players will guard him on Saturday. It will either be Otega Oweh or Collin Chander. I asked this question on X today, and it was a mixed bag of responses, some saying Oweh and others saying Chandler.

Whichever of these two players draws the assignment of Haugh, they will need to try to take the ball from him when he puts it on the floor. Haugh is a competent three-point shooter, and if he is hitting from deep, it will be very hard for the Wildcats to win this game, knowing no one who will be guarding him will be able to contest all that well.

The Wildcats will have to find a way to rebound the ball on Saturday, or this game could get ugly early. Knowing the Gators are such a big team, it won’t be easy, so Coach Pope needs all five players on the floor to crash the defensive glass.

Haugh is going to be a tough player for this team to guard, but the Wildcats will have to do the best they can because he is a guy who can take over a game. If Haugh has a big game, Kentucky will likely be heading back to Lexington with a loss, so Pope needs to game plan well for the elite forward.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – The Kentucky Senate passed legislation today that would help regulate electric customers’ monthly bills by allowing increased fuel costs to be spread out over time.

Senate Bill 172 would change Kentucky law to allow fuel costs that are traditionally passed down to customers immediately to be distributed over longer periods.

“Energy prices are a problem,” said Sen. Phillip Wheeler, who sponsored the bill.

Wheeler said the legislation would allow the Public Service Commission to give electric companies more time to collect fuel adjustment costs.

“We’re hoping to get this tool to the PSC so that we can mitigate these fuel spikes and help people who are desperate and in need,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said during the most recent cold snap, prices of fuel needed to generate electricity were at least 16 times higher than average.

“These prices are going to be passed on to the consumers,” Wheeler said.

Drea Hurley experienced the impact firsthand. She and her husband moved back to Kentucky from California last summer to escape high electric bills.

“When we opened the February KU bill I was floored,” Hurley said.

After nearly two weeks of freezing temperatures, their heat bill was more than $500 compared to $130 in the summer.

“We had done everything right we did everything the utility company asked us to do,” Hurley said.

That included buying a new heat pump recommended by Kentucky Utilities. Hurley said once outside temperatures reach 30 degrees, the pump switches to emergency heat, driving her bill up.

“And it’s definitely a huge burden considering that $500 is just for the electric bill that doesn’t include all the rest of your living expenses,” Hurley said.

Hurley said she is not alone in battling significantly higher electric bills. Many customers took to Facebook to share their experiences with different central Kentucky power and gas companies.

“And to see everyone else commenting it definitely softened the blow a little bit I don’t think that my checking account appreciated it as much as I did but at least it made me feel better,” Hurley said.

She said she will continue to monitor how much heat she is using but hopes more potential solutions come into play.

Columbia Gas is offering several programs to help ease costs for customers waiting on high bills this month. That includes a budget payment plan which evens out bills over time and an extended payment plan that would spread the balance due over several months.

Families that meet income eligibility requirements can apply for LIHEAP federal funding. Wintercare is also available through donations from customers. Customers who meet income eligibility requirements can also apply for the furnace replacement program.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – After breaking 197 and earning its first win of the season last Friday, Kentucky (1-6, 1-2 SEC) returns to Lexington to host No. 7 Missouri (5-3, 1-3 SEC) in a 7 p.m. contest on Friday, February 13. The meet from Historic Memorial Coliseum will be televised on SEC Network with Jason Ross, Jr. and Kennedy Baker on the call.

Friday will serve as I Ticketmaster.

The meet will also serve as Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night, with all University of Kentucky Faculty and Staff receiving two free tickets to the meet when they present their university ID at the ticket window.

The Wildcats enter Friday after a 197.325-196.275 win at No. 12 Auburn. Kentucky posted the highest score of the meet on all four events and took home all five individual event titles. Delaynee Rodriguez put together another career night, setting or matching career highs on vault, bars, and in the all-around—taking home the title on all three events. Rodriguez has now won eight event titles in 2026—including the all-around crown in four out of five meets. Freshman Gabby Van Frayen won the first event title of her career, tying for first on the balance beam. Creslyn Brose continued her excellence on floor, winning her second consecutive title on the event and eighth of her career.

The Wildcats scored 49.2 or higher on all four events to break the 197 barrier for the first time in 2026 and set a new season best team score—besting the mark set the week prior by nearly a point. The victory also marked Kentucky first road victory in Southeastern Conference action since February 2, 2024 at Alabama.

Rodriguez continued her stellar start to her junior season, scoring a career best 39.650 in the all-around. The Las Vegas native’s previous career best of 39.550 lasted only a week, with tonight’s score etching Rodriguez as the fourth-highest scoring all-around in Kentucky history. Rodriguez currently ranks No. 5 in the NCAA in the all-around with a 39.485 average.

Brose currently ranks No. 3 in the country on the floor exercise, holding a 9.933 average with two scores of 9.950 in her last two appearances. Freshman Sabrina Nemcek enters the meet ranked No. 5 on the uneven bars after a stellar 9.900 routine in her collegiate debut last week.

The Cats will hit the road next weekend, traveling to Fayetteville for a showdown against No. 8 Arkansas. The meet from Bud Walton Arena will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET on Friday, February 20 and will be streamed on SEC Network +.

The Vault – Kentucky Gymnastics Booster Club

The Vault is the Official Booster Club of Kentucky Gymnastics. Joining The Vault means investing directly in our program. Your contributions help us provide top-notch training facilities, essential equipment, and opportunities for our athletes to excel in this challenging environment. Every dollar counts, and every Vault member makes a difference. Our various membership club levels offer fantastic benefits with each contribution strengthening our program and empowering our athletes as they compete at the highest levels.

You can join The Vault by clicking this link or you can donate directly by visiting this link. For questions or any other information, please contact Amy Coyle (amy.coyle@uky.edu)

For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.