Things Fall Apart

Kentucky Wildcats defeat Florida Gators 75-70.

• Kentucky shoots 46% from the field in SEC play and 37% from 3-point range. Today that was 58% and 56%. There was no way Florida could have won this game with UK shooting like that. They even banked in a 3 from the left wing and had a jumper at the end of the shot clock bounce straight up off the back rim and in. Sometimes a team is due for a game like this (UF had won seven in a row in the series) but the law of averages does not include the Gators only playing defense in the last five minutes.
• Joe Crawford had 16 points but it seemed like more because Walt Hodge had no chance in guarding him. I can only assume he was Hodge's responsibility because he can be active on defense without fouling, unlike Parsons or Werner.
• This might have been the best game Lucas played all year. He was stuck guarding Bradley, but it may have actually inspired him to play better offense. Late in the game, Bradley knocked him on his back, but Lucas was called for a reach. On the next possession, Lucas drove to the rim around Bradley and got the layup and foul. Lucas had 13 points and wasn't shy (4-9 shooting), which should have been the case all season.
• Werner was active and nasty when needed (8 boards, 4 offensive). But of his seven shots, four were 3-pointers. It's like Werner is doing what David Lee did in his junior year where he wanted to shoot threes so Roberson and Walsh would pass to him. Just get inside and someone will find you. Imagine how good UF would be if Speights and Werner could pull off the pick and roll with Calathes.
• At one point in the second half, I actually wondered aloud if the team had any pride and could play defense. They do. The difference is that UF used to have two super-competitive guys (Horford, Noah), two cut-throat good ole' boys (Brewer, Humphrey), a NBA-like point (Green), and now we don't. It's like trading a Cadillac CTS for a Chevy Malibu. Sure they are both GM and can get you from place to place. But you feel second class driving that Malibu. (If you have a Malibu, my apologizes.)
• By the way, Hello NIT! I will not be buying a NIT champions hat and t-shirt, though. At least I'm saving 50 bucks this year.