Kentucky vs. Florida: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

While other SEC teams are looking for wins to get into the NCAA Tournament, both Florida and Kentucky are battling for position in the upcoming SEC Tournament.

TV schedule: Saturday, March 3, 12:00 p.m. ET. CBS

Arena: Exatech Arena in Gainesville, Florida

According to our latest Bracketology, eight teams from the SEC basketball league would be participating in the NCAA Tournament, if it started today. A bunch of them are on the bubble, so that number is likely to fluctuate from now til Selection Sunday.

The two teams participating in this game won’t have to worry about that, with both Kentucky 21-9 (10-7) and Florida 19-11 (10-7) safely in. But there’s still a ton riding on this game, as along with Arkansas, they’re tied for third place in the SEC standings. Depending on the other results from the conference, the loser of this game could fall as far as seventh at the end of Saturday.

The Wildcats had an awful first part of February, losing four games in a row. But the team has recovered nicely, winning their last four, including a 96-78 win over Ole Miss. Kevin Knox led Kentucky in scoring with 22 points, while Quade Green and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander combined for 35 points and 14 assists.

The Gators are coming off a blowout win themselves, destroying Alabama on the road, 73-52. The Crimson Tide had no answer for Jalen Hudson, who went off for 27 points on 9/13 shooting. Florida has won two in a row, after going on a three game skid.

These two teams played earlier in the year, with Mike White and the Gators going into Rupp Arena and coming out with a two point win. Gilgeous-Alexander and Wenyen Gabriel had 10 points each to lead Kentucky, who shot 4/17 from three-point range.

The Gators didn’t shoot well (33%) but had just six turnovers on the game compared to Kentucky’s 16 total. Hudson had 17 off the bench as the game-high scorer.

Next: Ranking all 32 Conference Tournaments

Both teams have positive momentum coming into this game, and hope to continue it for the SEC Conference Tournament. There’s a lot at stake, and the question will be whether the young Wildcats will be up to the task.

Prediction: Florida 70 – Kentucky 67