Kentucky at Florida: 2020-21 storylines for SEC matchup

Sixth-man

If the personal fouls do become an issue, this storyline will be equally, if not more important for Florida as it is for Kentucky. The term ‘sixth-man’ may be too specific, but what the Gators and Wildcats need is any player, besides the five that start, to score some points.

Not only has the aforementioned injury to Keyontae Johnson hurt the Gators’ starting lineup, but it has also taken Anthony Duruji out of his super-sub role. Add the off-season transfer of Andrew Nembhard to Gonzaga and points off the bench are hard to come by for Coach White.

In their four games against Power 5 teams, the Gators have had two games where a non-starter averaged more than 10 points. In the two games, the Gators have played without Johnson, the starters have scored almost 86 percent of their total points.

The Wildcats have suffered their own losses that would have bolstered their bench. Currently, Keion Brooks Jr is out until at least mid-January with a calf strain, whereas starting guard Terrence Clarke (10.7 ppg) has not participated in the last two games. In the six Power 5 games Kentucky has played, there have been four games where a non-starter scored double-digits. Two of those players were Devin Askew and Davion Mintz who are now starters and the last one was Dontaie Allen, which is a whole article itself.