Florida Gators vs. Kentucky Wildcats (-9.5, N/A)
THE STORY: No. 19 Florida and No. 1 Kentucky are more accustomed to playing in the final of the SEC tournament, but meet this time in the semifinals. Their last three meetings in the tournament have come in the title game, with Kentucky winning in 2004 and 2011 and Florida prevailing in 2005. Kentucky handily dispatched the Gators twice during the regular season, winning by 20 in Lexington and by 15 in Gainesville in the regular season finale. Kentucky’s defense will be tested by Florida’s explosive offense, which leads the league in 3-point shooting.
ABOUT KENTUCKY (31-1): The Wildcats had their hands full in the first game of the tournament, but placed four in double figures and beat LSU with a strong second half. Kentucky won despite getting no points from Darius Miller and only two from Marquis Teague. Their ineffectiveness was offset by a pair of double-doubles from Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis, who sat much of the first half with foul trouble. Davis averaged 19 points and 9.0 rebounds in two games against Florida this year and Jones is averaging 13 points and 6.8 rebounds in five career games against the Gators.
ABOUT FLORIDA (23-9): Florida struggled to hold off Alabama in its quarterfinal, but used clutch free throw shooting (16 of 19) and 10 3-pointers to survive. The Gators broke a three-game losing streak, but were unable to get much traction against Alabama’s tough defense. Florida will need Patric Young to duplicate his effort in the season finale against Kentucky, where he had 21 points and nine rebounds against the Wildcats’ big guys. The Gators will need more production from Kenny Boynton, who had only seven points in the last meeting against Kentucky after getting 18 the first time around.
TRENDS:
- Kentucky is 3-0-1 against the spread in the last four meetings between the two teams.
- Florida is 0-4 against the spread in its last four.
- The over is 36-16 in Florida's last 52 overall.
TIP-INS:
1. Florida averages 10 3-pointers per game, but made only six in each game against Kentucky.
2. Florida has made 19 of 23 free throws in two games with Kentucky; the Wildcats are 18 for 22.
3. Florida reserve Casey Prather was available to play after returning from a lower back injury, but did not play against Alabama.
THE STORY: No. 19 Florida and No. 1 Kentucky are more accustomed to playing in the final of the SEC tournament, but meet this time in the semifinals. Their last three meetings in the tournament have come in the title game, with Kentucky winning in 2004 and 2011 and Florida prevailing in 2005. Kentucky handily dispatched the Gators twice during the regular season, winning by 20 in Lexington and by 15 in Gainesville in the regular season finale. Kentucky’s defense will be tested by Florida’s explosive offense, which leads the league in 3-point shooting.
ABOUT KENTUCKY (31-1): The Wildcats had their hands full in the first game of the tournament, but placed four in double figures and beat LSU with a strong second half. Kentucky won despite getting no points from Darius Miller and only two from Marquis Teague. Their ineffectiveness was offset by a pair of double-doubles from Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis, who sat much of the first half with foul trouble. Davis averaged 19 points and 9.0 rebounds in two games against Florida this year and Jones is averaging 13 points and 6.8 rebounds in five career games against the Gators.
ABOUT FLORIDA (23-9): Florida struggled to hold off Alabama in its quarterfinal, but used clutch free throw shooting (16 of 19) and 10 3-pointers to survive. The Gators broke a three-game losing streak, but were unable to get much traction against Alabama’s tough defense. Florida will need Patric Young to duplicate his effort in the season finale against Kentucky, where he had 21 points and nine rebounds against the Wildcats’ big guys. The Gators will need more production from Kenny Boynton, who had only seven points in the last meeting against Kentucky after getting 18 the first time around.
TRENDS:
- Kentucky is 3-0-1 against the spread in the last four meetings between the two teams.
- Florida is 0-4 against the spread in its last four.
- The over is 36-16 in Florida's last 52 overall.
TIP-INS:
1. Florida averages 10 3-pointers per game, but made only six in each game against Kentucky.
2. Florida has made 19 of 23 free throws in two games with Kentucky; the Wildcats are 18 for 22.
3. Florida reserve Casey Prather was available to play after returning from a lower back injury, but did not play against Alabama.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий