Mo Dioubate has been the shining star for Kentucky, leading the charge with 12 points on an impressive 4-5 shooting, including a perfect 2-2 from beyond the arc. He’s also chipped in a couple of rebounds and a steal, showing his all-around game.
However, Dioubate's efforts from the perimeter stand alone, as his teammates have struggled to find their range. The rest of the Wildcats are a combined 0-9 from three-point land.
Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, and Andrija Jelavic have all started 0-2 from deep, with Collin Chandler, Jasper Johnson, and Kam Williams each missing one from long distance. For Kentucky to mount a comeback in the second half, they'll need to find some help from beyond the arc.
Oweh is contributing with six points, while Aberdeen has four, and Moreno, Johnson, and Brandon Garrison have added two each.
On the other side, Alex Condon has been a force for the Gators, racking up 11 points and six rebounds. Boogie Fland follows with seven points, while Xaivian Lee has five, and Thomas Haugh, Micah Handlogten, and Urban Klavzar have each contributed four.
As a team, Kentucky is hitting 33.3 percent from the field, matching Florida’s 18.2 percent from three, but excelling at the line with 85.7 percent. The Gators, however, are shooting 44.1 percent overall and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.
The Wildcats' main struggle lies in rebounding, where Florida holds a 25-16 advantage, including eight offensive boards that have led to a 12-2 lead in second-chance points. That’s the key factor behind Kentucky’s nine-point halftime deficit.
On a brighter note, the Wildcats have a 16-8 advantage in bench points and a 10-4 lead in fastbreak points. While Kentucky finds themselves in a tough position, the game is far from over. They’ve got the pieces to turn it around, but they’ll need to start clicking from deep to change the narrative.