Kentucky vs. Florida Preview
ATLANTA, GA (AP) – Florida was the last team to repeat as SEC tournament champion. Kentucky would like to change that, but the reigning-champion Wildcats could have to overcome more than just the red-hot Gators to do it.
No. 15 Kentucky may be without Doron Lamb when it attempts to add to its haul of SEC titles against No. 12 Florida on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The Gators (26-6) won three consecutive conference tournaments from 2005-07, beating the Wildcats (24-8) in the finals to earn the first.
Current college basketball odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Kentucky -1.5 point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against Florida. Current college basketball public betting information shows that 57% of more than 2,024 bets for this game have been placed on Kentucky -1.5.
Now, Kentucky is looking to win its second straight league crown.
The Wildcats might be short-handed after Lamb sprained his left ankle during the second half of Saturday’s 72-58 semifinal win over Alabama. They also finished the game without top reserve DeAndre Liggins due to an ankle injury, but he’s expected to be available.
“We’ll see how bad he wants to play,” coach John Calipari said of Lamb, one of three freshmen who are Kentucky’s top scorers. “We’ll play without him if we have to. One thing I’ve learned about young players: they have the pain threshold of a fourth-grader.”
Lamb, averaging 13.2 points per game, scored a team-high 15 Saturday before getting hurt going for a rebound. The guard had 19 points in Friday’s 75-66 quarterfinal win over Mississippi. His absence would alter the six-player rotation that Calipari plans to use in the NCAA tournament.
Fellow freshman guard Brandon Knight, the team leader with 17.5 points per game, now looms as even more important. Knight had 12 points and seven assists against the Crimson Tide.
Knight totaled 40 points in this season’s previous two meetings with the Gators, as the home team won each time.
The Wildcats took the most recent matchup 76-68 on Feb. 26 behind 24 points from Darius Miller. The junior guard is averaging 15.9 points over his last seven games.
Kentucky has won 26 SEC tournaments, one more than the combined total of all other members of the conference.
While the Wildcats are riding a five-game winning streak, the regular-season champion Gators may be the hotter team, having won 10 of 11. Florida is also seeking to win its fourth conference title game in as many tries.
The Gators earned the chance to play for another crown by beating Vanderbilt 77-66 on Saturday, following an 85-74 victory over Tennessee in Friday’s quarterfinals. Coach Billy Donovan is concerned that Florida had to rally for both victories. The Gators overcame a 12-point, second-half deficit versus the Commodores.
“It looks like we’re waiting to see what we’ve got to do instead of coming out and doing what we need to do,” Donovan said. “But they’re a resilient group.”
Florida has been outstanding from beyond the arc over the last two games, sinking 18 of 33 3-point attempts. Kenny Boynton made 5 of 9 while finishing with 24 points against the Commodores.
“We love to take those shots,” Boynton said. “I think he gives us the freedom to take those shots because he knows we can make them.”
Boynton is averaging 19.6 points while connecting on 20 of 42 3-pointers over his last five games. He had 21 points, 15 of them coming on 3-pointers, against Kentucky on Feb. 26.
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