The Wildcats are again in primetime going through a well-recognized foe. Kentucky vs. Florida ideas off tonight at roughly 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN. Earlier than Tom Hart drops Whopper Juice on us in the course of the broadcast, see what the Kentucky Sports activities Radio soothsayers foresee will occur throughout tonight’s SEC showdown.

Nick Roush

I’m not terrified of Todd Golden’s Florida Gators. Nevertheless, this one may get ugly and I imply that in probably the most well mannered method attainable. The slow-starting Wildcats could or could not have Cason Wallace in opposition to a Florida protection that suffocates opponents. Florida ranks No. 8 nationally in defensive effectivity and No. 7 in two-point protection. The midrange buckets won’t come simply for Jacob Toppin and Collin Castleton‘s size will likely be an issue for Oscar Tshiebwe.

How do you fight nice inside protection? By taking pictures excessive. Antonio Reeves is on a little bit of a heater, averaging over 17 factors per sport during the last eight. The Cats can’t let him settle down, and extra importantly, they want CJ Fredrick to rediscover his kind. He’s been a wonderful shooter his whole life. He’s slumping proper now, however water will discover its stage and he’ll ship sufficient huge buckets to propel Kentucky to a feel-good win at Rupp Area.

Prediction: Kentucky 68, Florida 65

Adam Luckett

When digging into this matchup on paper, issues are very even between Kentucky and Florida. That is really a energy vs. energy and weak point vs. weak point matchup.

Below new head coach Todd Golden, the Gators have been very stout on protection by operating foes off the three-point line into the enamel of their protection. Florida will get nice rim safety and that forces opponents to take powerful twos. They’ll be up in opposition to a Kentucky offense that’s enjoying at a top-25 stage and might be arduous to protect when the threes are falling. However do the Cats get many three-point alternatives on Saturday night time?

On the opposite finish, Kentucky has some actual defensive points, however Florida’s offensive points is likely to be worse. The Gators rank outdoors of the highest 140 in adjusted offensive effectivity as this group struggles to shoot the ball and doesn’t hunt for offensive rebounds. It’s all about slowing down 5 man Colin Castleton.

In an excellent matchup, the house crowd at Rupp Area may very well be the distinction. I feel it helps that this can be a prime-time tip. A rowdy Massive Blue Nation crowd will get the Wildcats over the hump as John Calipari’s workforce will get a much-needed win at residence in a grind-it-out affair.

Prediction: Kentucky 64, Florida 61

Drew Franklin

We’re all associates right here, proper? We might be sincere with one another on this house? In that case, I’d like to precise my concern about tonight’s contest in Rupp Area. Kentucky and Florida are fairly comparable, every with 6-3 data for a fifth-place tie within the SEC standings, and so they’re solely a few spots away from one another in KenPom’s rankings. There’s star energy inside as Colin Castleton will give Oscar Tshiebwe suits together with his offensive skillset whereas Tshiebwe overpowers Castleton on the glass and when he has the ball. Foul bother may very well be a difference-maker both method between these two.

I fear too about CJ Fredrick’s taking pictures hunch and if he can snap out of it for the sport we’ve all been ready for, and if Antonio Reeves’ present scorching streak put a goal on his again in opposition to a very good protection that eliminates shooters. And is Cason Wallace OK? John Calipari didn’t exude confidence in Wallace’s restoration throughout Wednesday’s call-in radio present, and Kentucky’s Friday press conferences have grow to be fairly nugatory for anybody in search of details about issues just like the standing of the workforce’s solely NBA lottery choose. I assume we’ll discover out at tip-off.

With all these issues now expressed, if Rupp Area is something near what it was final Saturday for the Kansas sport, the ambiance could also be an excessive amount of for Florida to beat. And I’m relying on it.

Prediction: Kentucky 66, Florida 65

Jack Pilgrim

Florida is constructing some momentum as of late, particularly following the workforce’s assertion victory over No. 2 Tennessee this week. Coming in with one of the crucial tough schedules in faculty basketball, the Gators took some early losses, however they’re shortly discovering their footing within the SEC (6-3) and current a really actual problem for the Wildcats. They’ve shortly established themselves as among the finest defensive groups in basketball, ranked No. 8 general in effectivity, permitting simply 64.5 factors per sport on 39.1% taking pictures and 30.4% from three on the 12 months.

All eyes are on Tshiebwe vs. Castleton, with some bulletin board materials coming main as much as the sport. The Florida star informed KSR at SEC Media Day he wasn’t enjoying at 100% when the reigning Nationwide Participant of the Yr dominated the Gators on back-to-back events a 12 months in the past.

“I’m wanting ahead to the matchup, I’m excited,” he stated. “I’m wholesome, again to 100%, which I wasn’t again then.” 

Tshiebwe’s response? “I don’t concern him. He’s coming to my hometown, he’s coming to my home. He’s going to need to combat, however I’m not simply going to let him come do no matter he desires.”

That matchup is the story, however continued progress on the guard place for Kentucky would be the distinction. If Wallace can swimsuit up, I just like the Wildcats’ possibilities. The identical might be stated about Reeves persevering with to seek out methods to place the ball within the basket. A giant sport from both would seemingly result in a stable win for the house workforce — and that’s what I’m anticipating.

Prediction: Kentucky 74, Florida 66

Tyler Thompson

Not gonna lie, tonight’s sport makes me nervous. Florida’s three SEC losses (at Auburn, Texas A&M twice) have come by a median of two.7 factors. The Gators have a top-ten protection and despite the fact that Oscar Tshiebwe obtained the higher of Colin Castleton twice final season, the Florida huge man is enjoying nice and Oscar’s protection has been considered one of Kentucky’s weaknesses this 12 months. 

That stated, this quote from Oscar about Castleton gave me a lift yesterday.

“The large man is sweet. He’s good. He can play however I’ve a lot respect for him however I don’t concern him. I don’t concern him. He’s coming to my hometown, he’s coming to my home. He’s going to need to combat however I’m not simply going to let him come do no matter he desires.”

John Calipari stated he had a heart-to-heart with Oscar this week about his protection, so let’s hope that and the matchup with Castleton lights a hearth beneath the massive man to have an enormous night time. The opposite huge issue on this sport is Cason Wallace’s availability. Kentucky was capable of survive with out him at Ole Miss. If Wallace can’t go once more tonight, I fear Florida’s skilled backcourt and elite protection will make for an unsightly sport. 

However, optimistic vibes solely. Hopefully, a rowdy Rupp crowd will propel the Cats to their sixth straight SEC victory, one other step ahead as we inch towards March. 

Prediction: Kentucky 68, Florida 65