NCAA Basketball: Best games from 2019-20 season – Florida vs. Kentucky

The game between Florida and Kentucky ended up as quite the thriller at the end; let’s remember what happened to these SEC rivals.

Last season, we were all disappointed as the national pandemic stole most of the postseason play, including the NCAA Tournament. Still, there were some fantastic moments and memories from the regular season, especially in the power conferences. Our top 40 games from the 2019-20 season continues with an unexpected thriller between two potent SEC programs.

18. #6 Kentucky 71, Florida 70

February 8, 2020, Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL

The level of play in the SEC has certainly been rising in recent years. We’ve seen Auburn and South Carolina make surprise runs to the Final Four. We have programs like Alabama and Arkansas with great new coaches and exciting futures. We also have a pair of longtime conference juggernauts who always seem to have something exciting happening in their yearly battles.

Florida was expected to be a national contender this season but had struggled mightily all season long. Transfer Kerry Blackshear and highly touted freshmen Tre Mann and Scottie Lewis were among the reason why this was the #6 team in the opening poll, but the Gators had struggled mightily at times. With a revenge win over Kentucky, they did still have the chance to finish 2nd in the SEC, but toppling the Wildcats was no easy task.

Kentucky was an elite team once again, even after suffering some early season losses that were a bit questionable. At this point, they had already won the SEC regular-season title again and had been getting some great play from Immanuel Quickly and others on this talented roster. They had just lost a tough game at home to Tennessee but were set to try to sweep the Gators in their regular-season finale.

Florida came out ready to play in front of a raucous crowd at home. The Gators scored on their first three possessions, securing an early 7-0 lead that was punctuated by a Keyontae Johnson 3-pointer. The Wildcats offense clawed back into the game, with Quickley making a few key shots. A Nate Sestina 3-pointer made it a 2-point game, but the Gators scored the next seven points.

A 3-pointer from Noah Locke gave Florida an 11-point lead 12 minutes into the game, though Kentucky wasn’t going to let this get away from them that easy. The Wildcats pulled back to within five a few moments later, but couldn’t contain Florida’s offense. Locke hit a few more shots, and by halftime, the Florida lead was back up to 10.

Kentucky was no stranger to playing against tough crowds and came out swinging, quickly slicing the lead back down to five points. However, the Gators offense had something up their sleeve as well. The Gators started to pull away, with an Andrew Nembhard 3-pointer building the lead to 13, and that was only the beginning. A few moments later, Locke’s layup and free throw gave the Gator’s an 18-point advantage.

With under twelve minutes left, Kentucky was in dire straits, but this game wasn’t over yet. The Wildcats scored on their next five possessions, including 3-pointers from a trio of players, to pull back to within 10 points. As the game dipped under seven minutes left, the Wildcats got a made basket and bunch of free throws from Nick Richards and defended the Gators well, pulling back into the game.

With just over two minutes left, another Richards shot (his third straight possession with a bucket) cut the lead down to a single point. Johnson gave the Gators their 3-point lead back, but Keion Brooks Jr. cut it back down with a jumper in the final minute. After a Florida turnover, Kentucky took full advantage.

EJ Montgomery hit a shot to give Kentucky their first (and only) lead of the day. Florida had two chances for their win, even after a missed Kentucky free throws, and were left with nothing but shock and a hard-fought loss.

Kentucky may have trailed by 18 points in the second half, but a great effort from Nick Richards (19 points, 7 rebounds) got them back into this game. The Wildcats made eight of their 13 3-pointers, making enough key shots when it mattered most. Scottie Lewis led the Gators with 19 points, but couldn’t get enough offense going late in the second half as Kentucky went on their late run.

Neither team played another game after this, as most of the SEC Tournament was canceled within the following week. Kentucky was certainly a national title threat, while at 19-12 Florida was in a position to upset a few teams had the postseason taken place. It’s disappointing that the Gators blew this large lead and couldn’t live up to expectations, but it’s safe to say that both of these teams will be back in a big way next season.