Big Blue Preview: Kentucky vs. Florida
On of the greatest traditions in college basketball will occur again on Saturday when Kentucky hosts its final regular season game of the season (vs. Florida, 4 p.m., ESPN) and honors its senior class. The event that has come to be known as Senior Day is always an emotional time for the players, the coaches and even the fans.
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope has been through Senior Day at Kentucky. Pope is a firm believer in UK and the basketball experience that players get in Lexington.
“I don’t know if anybody has ever left year and thought, man, I wish I could have one more day,” Pope said. “It’s such a unique, incredible basketball experience. There’s no place like it.”
Kentucky will honor a four-man senior class on Saturday – Denzel Aberdeen, Walker Horn, Otega Oweh and Zach Tow.
Oweh is completing his second season in a Kentucky uniform and the New Jersey native has left a mark on this program. Oweh has scored over 1,000 points and has been the leading scorer on consecutive Kentucky teams. Pope knows that Oweh’s imprint on the Kentucky program will be felt for years to come.
“Otega’s interesting because you just keep asking more from him,” Pope said. “His career here, with what he’s contributed to the two teams he’s been a part of is just remarkable.”
Aberdeen joined Kentucky this season after winning a national championship at Florida last year. Pope talked about Aberdeen’s contributions to Kentucky this season.
“His fingerprints are all over everything about this year,” Pope said. “In terms of the real challenges about playing out of position and assuming a role he didn’t expect. He’s just grown so much over the course of the season.”
Horn will be completing his fourth year in a UK uniform and Pope had nothing but praise for him.
“Walker’s been awesome,” Pope said. “He’s born to coach. If that’s the direction he goes, he’s going to be a big-time coach.”
Tow is unique in that he had to earn his walk-on spot on the team. However, Pope knows there are big things ahead for the Madisonville native.
“He’s been going through the law school application process and last week, he got the news that he’s been accepted to UK law school,” Pope said. “The guys were in tears.”
Kentucky will honor the Class of 2026 on Saturday and it will be a special day for the players, the coaches and the fans, as it always has been.
Know Your Opponent: Florida
Kentucky faces Florida for the second time this season in the final game of the regular season on Saturday.
• The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 111-43, including 56-12 in Lexington
• Dan Issel has the UK scoring record in the series, twice scoring 37 points against the Gators during the 1970 season
• The two sides played an epic contest last season in Lexington, with the Wildcats winning, 106-100, in what was the conference opener for both squads. Koby Brea led the Cats with 23 points on seven made 3s
• In the first meeting this season between the teams, Florida came away with the win, 92-83, in Gainesville. Denzel Aberdeen led UK in scoring with 19 points against his former school, while Malachi Moreno had a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds
• The Gators enter on a 10-game win streak and have already clinched the regular-season SEC title. During the 10-game streak, Florida’s average margin of victory is 23.2 points. Their closest game was against the Wildcats, a nine-point win
• Florida leads the country with a +14.8 rebound margin and in both total rebounds per game (45.67) and offensive rebounds per game (16.0)
• Thomas Haugh leads the Gators in scoring with 17.1 points per game, while Reuben Chinyelu is the nation’s top rebounder with 11.8 boards per contest
Last Time Out
Kentucky fell to Texas A&M on the road, 96-85, on Tuesday.
• Kentucky finished with 22 assists, the team’s most this season against an SEC opponent
• All nine Wildcats who played, scored
• Kentucky won the rebounding battle, 41-38, and is 15-5 this season when winning the glass
• Otega Oweh had 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. He joins Patrick Patterson as the only two Wildcats with at least 24-9-5-3 since 1996-97
• Mo Dioubate was 8 of 9 from the field and scored 19 points, his most in league play
• Oweh’s nine rebounds were a season high
• Denzel Aberdeen had a career-high eight assists
• Trent Noah scored nine points, all in the second half, tying his season high vs. an SEC opponent
SEC Tournament Picture
With one game remaining in the regular season, the Kentucky Wildcats are still in play for a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. Kentucky can still finish anywhere from the No. 4 overall seed to the No. 10 overall seed. With a win, Kentucky can finish anywhere from No. 4 to No. 7. With a loss the Cats can finish from No. 8 to
No. 10.
