Kentucky Falls Short in Gainesville: Missed Layups, Turnovers, and Foul Trouble Doom the Comeback Bid
Kentucky’s been no stranger to second-half rallies this season. Coming into Saturday’s matchup against Florida, the Wildcats had already clawed back from double-digit deficits five times-four of those in SEC play.
But this time, the hill was just a little too steep. Despite a late push that saw Collin Chandler drill a three to cut the Gators’ lead to five with under 40 seconds to play, Kentucky couldn’t close the gap, falling 92-83 in Gainesville.
This wasn’t a case of effort lacking. The Wildcats brought the fight. But in a game where the margin for error was razor-thin, it was the execution-or lack thereof-that ultimately cost them.
The Missed Layups That Haunted Kentucky
Let’s start with the stat that will have Big Blue Nation shaking their heads: 15 missed layups. Kentucky went just 8-for-23 at the rim. That’s not just leaving points on the table-that’s leaving the door wide open for a quality opponent like Florida to take control.
Eight of those missed layups came in the first half, setting the tone early. And while Florida’s defense deserves credit-especially for how they locked in on Otega Oweh-Kentucky’s inability to finish at the rim was glaring.
Oweh, who had been on a tear lately, was held to just 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting. That snapped his five-game streak of scoring 20 or more.
Still, the sophomore hit a milestone, surpassing 1,000 career points as a Wildcat. A bright spot on an otherwise frustrating afternoon.
Turnovers Feed the Gators’ Offense
You can’t give a team like Florida extra possessions and expect to walk away with a win. Kentucky turned the ball over 14 times, and the Gators made them pay-converting those mistakes into 25 points. That’s nearly a third of Florida’s total offense coming directly off Kentucky’s miscues.
Most of those turnovers came early, helping Florida build a double-digit cushion. But the timing of the giveaways was just as damaging. Even as Kentucky tried to mount a comeback late, the sloppiness returned at the worst possible moments, stalling momentum and giving Florida more opportunities to keep the Cats at arm’s length.
Foul Trouble and the Free-Throw Gap
Yes, the whistle leaned heavily toward the home team. But while officiating was a factor, it wasn’t the sole reason Kentucky lost. Still, the foul disparity was hard to ignore-especially in the second half.
Florida reached the bonus less than six minutes into the second half, and it didn’t stop there. Kentucky was hit with 17 fouls after halftime, compared to just nine for Florida.
That imbalance led to a significant free-throw gap: the Gators shot 25 from the line, hitting 18, while Kentucky went 11-of-14. In a game that stayed within single digits for long stretches, those extra trips to the stripe made a difference.
Rebounding Battle Slips Away Late
Early on, Kentucky held its own on the glass. At halftime, the rebounding numbers were dead even-20 boards apiece.
Malachi Moreno played a big role in that, putting together a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes. But foul trouble limited the freshman’s impact down the stretch, and without him anchoring the paint, Florida took over.
The Gators outrebounded Kentucky 25-17 in the second half, with a noticeable edge on the offensive glass. Florida grabbed 11 offensive boards after halftime, turning those into nine second-chance points. That’s the kind of gritty, backbreaking production that can tilt a close game-and it did.
Florida’s Backcourt Steps Up from Deep
Coming into the game, it looked like Kentucky might have the edge in the backcourt. Florida had other ideas.
Xaivian Lee came out firing, scoring seven quick points in the first five minutes on his way to a game-high 22. He’d been averaging just 1.5 made threes per game, but he knocked down four against Kentucky, helping the Gators build that early lead.
Then came Urban Klavzar. Florida’s top three-point shooter got hot in the second half, draining four of his five triples to keep Kentucky from closing the gap. Too many of those looks were clean-Florida finished 10-of-23 from beyond the arc, well above their SEC average of 7.4 made threes per game.
Kentucky wasn’t bad from deep themselves, hitting 9-of-20. Chandler hit three of those in the final five minutes, trying to spark a last-minute surge. But by then, the damage had been done.
The Takeaway
This was a winnable game for Kentucky. But when you miss 15 layups, cough up 14 turnovers, and get outshot at the free-throw line by double digits, you’re playing uphill. Add in a second-half rebounding deficit and timely shooting from Florida’s guards, and it’s easy to see how this one slipped away.
The fight is there. The talent is there.
But if Kentucky wants to make noise in March, they’ll need to tighten up the fundamentals. Because in the SEC, effort alone won’t get you across the finish line.