SEC Basketball: What does South Carolina's win over Florida mean for league?

SEC Basketball: What does South Carolina’s win over Florida mean for league?

Jan 18, 2017; Columbia, SC, USA; Florida Gators center Schuyler Rimmer (32) tries to work to the basket covered by South Carolina Gamecocks forward Sedee Keita (24) during the SEC matchup at Colonial Life Arena. South Carolina wins 57-53 over Florida. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

The Kentucky Wildcats are far and away the best team in the SEC basketball league.

The No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks beat the No. 19 Florida Gators on Wednesday night in one of the worst Power 5 games you will ever watch. There were 31 combined turnovers, 55 personal fouls, Florida didn’t make a single three (0-of-17) and the score was 0-0 until the 14:14 mark in the first half (!).

It was the definition of ugly.

But there were some important things to take away from this game.

For starters, no other SEC team is even in the same vicinity as the Kentucky Wildcats. John Calipari’s team is not only far and away the best team in the league, but it is looking likely for them to run the table in the regular season.

Seriously, who is capable of beating them? Sure, South Carolina is unbeaten with Sindarius Thornwell in the lineup and they like to muck up games (which is one of the main reasons this game was so poorly played), but can they really defeat the Wildcats in a 40-minute game? The Gamecocks’ perimeter defense can challenge De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Isaiah Briscoe, but the strength of Kentucky’s team lies with their guards. These guys aren’t going to get flustered by the Gamecocks’ pressure.

The second thing to take away from this game is the fact that neither the Gamecocks or Gators are fun to play. Both teams rely on their toughness, aggressiveness and defensive abilities to spur their opponents into making mistakes.

The Gamecocks pose more of a threat than the Gators because of their athleticism, size, and guards. Thornwell has been sensational this season when he has been in the lineup, and even though P.J. Dozier and Duane Notice have been consistently inconsistent, those two are talented, valuable players.

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The SEC is truly Kentucky and then everybody else. We knew the Wildcats were one of the best teams in the country, but we didn’t know the gap was this wide. On the flip side though, no one is going to want to face the style of play that the Gamecocks and Gators rely on in March.

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