Kentucky starts SEC play today in a very big way. KSR\u2019s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Rupp Arena as the No. 10 Wildcats host the No. 6 Florida Gators (11 a.m. ET, ESPN).<\/p>\n
This is the second straight year Kentucky has opened SEC play vs. Florida, but this time feels a little different. This is the first time in the history of the AP Poll that Kentucky starts conference play with a top-10 matchup. No. 6 Florida is 13-0, one of three undefeated teams remaining in the country (the other two are Oklahoma and Tennessee). The Gators rank in the top ten nationally in several statistical categories and boast one of the best backcourts in the country with seniors Walter Clayton Jr, Alijah Martin, and Will Richard. They also know what it\u2019s like to win in Rupp Arena, beating the Cats 94-91 in overtime in last year\u2019s game at Rupp.<\/p>\n
How will the Cats fare in their first SEC test?\u00a0Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Rupp Arena and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the\u00a0KSBoard Game Thread<\/a>\u00a0or by\u00a0texting your observations to 859-587-3828<\/strong>\u00a0(standard messaging rates apply).<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:32:22 PM<\/span><\/p>\n Kentucky is now 3-0 vs. ranked opponents, which keeps Mark Pope on pace with Adolph Rupp, who won his first seven against AP Top 25 teams from 1948-51. Gonna be hard for Pope to top that, especially in this league this season, but it\u2019s just more proof of what a great start he\u2019s off to.<\/p>\n Mark Pope becomes the first Kentucky coach since Adolph Rupp to win his first three games against AP Top-10 opponents, via @ESPNStatsInfo<\/a>. Rupp won his first seven such games from 1948-51.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:21:46 PM<\/span><\/p>\n What a way to start SEC play! Kentucky just beat the Florida Gators 106-100 to move to 12-2, 1-0 in conference play. Six Kentucky players finished in double figures, led by Koby Brea with 23, including a career-high seven threes. Kentucky is now 3-0 in its first three games against ranked opponents, which ties Mark Pope with Adolph Rupp. Rupp won his first seven games against AP Top 25 foes from 1948-51.<\/p>\n Just an absolutely massive win for Kentucky, one that could prove pivotal come March both on the resume and in the SEC standings. <\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:18:50 PM<\/span><\/p>\n Jaxson Robinson is headed to the free-throw line with 12.6 seconds remaining. Kentucky leads 104-98.<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:15:31 PM<\/span><\/p>\n Andrew Carr had missed all three of his free throws before heading to the free throw line with 32 seconds left. Thankfully, he hit both of them to put Kentucky up 102-95. <\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:12:42 PM<\/span><\/p>\n Kentucky crossed the century mark with a free throw by Lamont Butler. Unfortunately, Florida followed it up with a bucket by Will Richard that cut the Cats\u2019 lead to five with 35.7 to go.<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:09:37 PM<\/span><\/p>\n Mark Pope has been challenging Andrew Carr to shoot more threes and he just did, sinking a massive bucket as the shot clock wound down to put Kentucky up 99-91 with 1:25 to play!<\/p>\n Big time CLUTCH 3\u20e3 from @apc_andrew<\/a> and @Rupp_Arena<\/a> is ROCKING.<\/p>\n \u2013 ESPN pic.twitter.com\/6Bt1FCevqr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kentucky Men\u2019s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:07:33 PM<\/span><\/p>\n This one may come down to the final play. Kentucky leads by five, 96-91, after another free throw by Alex Condon. Florida\u2019s been to the line a lot today, shooting 22-33 free throws to Kentucky\u2019s 11-16.<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:05:12 PM<\/span><\/p>\n Florida\u2019s Alex Condon cut Kentucky\u2019s lead to four, 94-90, at the free-throw line after a foul on Brandon Garrison. It was Garrison\u2019s fifth, so he\u2019s on the bench for the remainder of the game. 2:36 to go.<\/p>\n Garrison fouls out pic.twitter.com\/ILMXKbmrel<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 12:03:07 PM<\/span><\/p>\n Kentucky needed a big bucket on the possession coming out of the final media timeout and Lamont Butler provided it, hitting a three to push the lead back to five. After a foul on Walter Clayton Jr., Butler hit two free throws to make the lead seven, 94-87 with 3:25 remaining.<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:58:14 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Walter Clayton Jr. is keeping Florida in this game. The senior guard hit a three to make it a four-point game. He just hit two more free throws to make it a two-point game, 89-87, with 4:16 remaining. Clayton has 29 points so far.<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:53:31 AM<\/span><\/p>\n On Thursday, Todd Golden joked that if Florida let Koby Brea take eight threes, it probably wasn\u2019t a recipe for success. Well, Brea has shot eight and made seven so far, a career-high. The latest put Kentucky up 9, 89-90 with 5:33 to go.<\/p>\n GREATEST 3 POINT SHOOTER IN AMERICA<\/p>\n \u2013 ESPN pic.twitter.com\/qlfqnvqNsT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kentucky Men\u2019s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:45:23 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Thank goodness for Koby Brea. Florida had cut Kentucky\u2019s lead to six, but Brea just nailed his fifth three of the day to push it back to nine, 83-74, with 7:49 to go. The Gators are headed back to the free-throw line after this timeout though after a foul on Brandon Garrison.<\/p>\n .@kobybrea<\/a> another one <\/p>\n \u2013 ESPN pic.twitter.com\/PsYX2NvUWX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kentucky Men\u2019s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:38:00 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Otega Oweh almost had the dunk of the season. Unfortunately, he was fouled by Chinyelu, so it did not, but my goodness. Oweh hit both free throws to put Kentucky up 74-69 with 11:12 to go.<\/p>\n This would’ve brought the house down. pic.twitter.com\/oeLsEYXo4Z<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:34:45 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Jaxson Robinson needed ten points today to reach 1,000 in his college career. He reached that mark with a three-pointer at the 17:58 mark of the second half. Seven players on Kentucky\u2019s roster now have 1,000 points in their careers: Robinson, Koby Brea, Kerr Kriisa, Ansley Almonor, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams. Congrats, Jax!<\/p>\n Welcome to the 1\u20e3,0\u20e30\u20e30\u20e3 point club, @Robinsonjaxx<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/X76Ku6d9S8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kentucky Men\u2019s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:31:11 AM<\/span><\/p>\n We knew rebounding would play a huge part in today\u2019s game. The Gators are outrebounding the Cats 30-20 so far, 9-2 in the second half. Twelve of Florida\u2019s rebounds are on the offensive glass, leading to 24 second-chance points. Ouch. Two of those came on a bucket by Alijah Martin to cut Kentucky\u2019s lead to 1, 67-66, with 12:48 to go. After a three-point play by Amari Williams, Martin hit a three to keep the Gators within one, 70-69, with 12:05 to go. Martin has 21 points, 15 in the second half.<\/p>\n Alijah Martin is going OFF in the second half pic.twitter.com\/g392bk9yws<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:23:27 AM<\/span><\/p>\n After playing a season-high 13 minutes vs. Brown, Travis Perry said he was determined to make every minute he played during the SEC schedule count. He is so far, hitting a three to put Kentucky up 8, 63-55, with 15:35 to go.<\/p>\n String music from @Travis_Perry11<\/a><\/p>\n \u2013 ESPN pic.twitter.com\/nHsMovbfds<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kentucky Men\u2019s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:21:18 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Anthony Epps knows a thing or two about Florida. During his career at Kentucky, he beat the Gators ten times. That\u2019s why it\u2019s very appropriate that he is today\u2019s Y.<\/p>\n Welcome home, Anthony Epps! pic.twitter.com\/bhHrXZuqSB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:18:32 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Florida\u2019s battling back. The lead is down to five and could be narrowed to three soon. A foul on Travis Perry will send the Gators to the free-throw line after the timeout. So far this half, Florida is outscoring Kentucky 13-8 and outrebounding the Cats 6-1.<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:12:27 AM<\/span><\/p>\n You knew Florida wasn\u2019t going to go away quietly. The Gators started the second half with back-to-back threes by Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr. Lamont Butler pushed the lead back up to six with a layup.<\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 11:10:49 AM<\/span><\/p>\n If Jay Bilas is calling a game at Rupp Arena, you know he\u2019s going to talk about the ice cream. Thankfully, we got that bit over with right before the second half, as Bilas and Shulman discussed some key stats from the first half. A big one: points off turnovers. Kentucky had 15, Florida 0. <\/p>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 10:57:35 AM<\/span><\/p>\n This is the first game on a huge day of college hoops. As such, a lot of pundits are tuning in. Like us, they\u2019re impressed with Kentucky\u2019s response in the first half.<\/p>\n 37 points in the final 11 minutes of the first half for Kentucky. Just an incredible display offensively. And per @ESPNStatsInfo<\/a>, \ufffcthe 52 points is the most Kentucky has scored in the first half vs Florida since scoring 55 on Jan. 2, 1999.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n Kentucky had two separate “Kill Shots” in the first half alone against Florida, a 16-0 and a 10-0 run. <\/p>\n Teams with 2 Kill Shots in a single game win 88% of the time, I can only imagine that percentage is way higher for two first half 10-0 runs.<\/p>\n \u2014 Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By:Tyler Thompson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 01\/04\/2025 10:53:57 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Phew. After 20 minutes of play, No. 10 Kentucky leads No. 6 Florida by 10, 52-42. The Gators started the game strong, leading by 11 at the 11:13 mark, but the Cats, responded, outscoring Florida 37-16 the rest of the half. Koby Brea and Otega Oweh played a large part in that, combining for 24 points.<\/p>\n Love the energy on offense and defense right now, but there\u2019s still an entire half to go. Florida will respond. Gotta keep swinging. <\/p>\nRare air for Mark Pope<\/h2>\n
FINAL: No. 10 Kentucky 106, No. 6 Florida 100<\/h2>\n
Score Update: 12.6 2H \u2013 Kentucky 104, Florida 98<\/h2>\n
Andrew Carr hits two huge FTs<\/h2>\n
Score Update: 35.7 2H \u2013 Kentucky 100, Florida 95<\/h2>\n
Andrew Carr THREE!<\/h2>\n
Score Update: 1:57 2H \u2013 Kentucky 96, Florida 91<\/h2>\n
Brandon Garrison fouls out<\/h2>\n
Big three by Lamont Butler<\/h2>\n
Score Update: 4:16 2H \u2013 Kentucky 89, Florida 87<\/h2>\n
Make it SEVEN threes for Koby Brea!<\/h2>\n
Score Update: 7:49 2H \u2013 Kentucky 83, Florida 74<\/h2>\n
If this dunk by Otega Oweh had gone in\u2026<\/h2>\n
Jaxson Robinson joins the 1,000-point club<\/h2>\n
Score Update: 12:05 2H \u2013 Kentucky 70, Florida 69<\/h2>\n
Travis Perry three!<\/h2>\n
Today\u2019s Y: Anthony Epps<\/h2>\n
Score Update: 15:48 2H \u2013 Kentucky 60, Florida 55<\/h2>\n
Florida hits back-to-back threes to start the half<\/h2>\n
We got the Jay Bilas ice cream bit over with<\/h2>\n
Halftime praise for the Cats<\/h2>\n
HALF: Kentucky 52, Florida 42<\/h2>\n