SEC Tournament: Can the Gators make it three straight over UK?

Rueben Chinyelu leads the nation in rebounding (Photo by Chris Spears)

“Bad things, Man!” – Dennis Hopper in a 1980s Nike commercial

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – That’s what happens to opponents when the Florida Gators arrive at the arena in the mood to put a world class hurting on an opponent. Bad things, Man.

In laying waste to the rest of the Southeastern Conference to win the regular season championship, the 4^th-ranked and top-seeded Gators (25-6) won 13 of their 16 league games by 13 or more points. Kentucky (21-12), who the Gators play today in the SEC Tournament semifinals (1 p.m., ESPN) lost by nine to the Gators at the O-Dome and seven last Saturday at Rupp.

Although Florida and Kentucky know they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament next week, both teams have plenty to play for. The Gators are in the hunt for a No. 1 seed. Starting with Kentucky today and subsequent wins in the semifinals and championship games, the Gators can seal the deal on a No. 1, most likely in the South with first and second round games slated for Tampa. Kentucky, which will be playing its third game in three days, is currently hovering around the No. 7 line. If the Wildcats can get a win or two more in Nashville, they could move on up to a No. 5 seed.

The secret to Florida’s success is a smothering defense that ranks fifth in the kenpom.com efficiency ratings, fourth in barttorvik.com. The Gators force teams off the 3-point line and make them take tough twos instead. And, once the ball goes up on the rim, Florida typically controls the rebounding, forcing opponents to try to beat the Gators on one-and-done trips to the offensive end of the court.

There is added incentive for the Gators who have only beaten Kentucky three times in a single season once before (2014) in all the years the two teams have been playing. Since the inception of the SEC Kentucky has dominated the league. With eight national championships to its credit by five different coaches, Kentucky is the longstanding SEC blueblood but Florida is no longer the Wildcats' little SEC brother. The Wildcats had won five national championships before Florida won its first SEC title (1989). Since 1999, however, Florida has won three national titles (2006-07, 2026) to Kentucky’s one (2012). Only UConn has won more national titles (five) than the Gators since 1999.

Florida comes into the game with fresh legs, having not played since last Saturday when the Gators took down Kentucky at Rupp. To get to this game Saturday, Kentucky had to beat LSU in a 9-16 game, then toppled Missouri in a 9-8 game Thursday.

If the Gators arrive at Bridgestone Arena focused and ready to pillage and plunder anyone that gets in their way, then it could be another pillage and plunder job. Bad things, Man.

Game notes: Tommy Haugh was named second team All-America by The Sporting News. Haugh was named first team All-SEC by both the Coaches and Associated Press. Rueben Chinyelu, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, was a first team selection by the AP and a second team by the Coaches. Alex Condon was second team AP and third team Coaches … Chinyelu leads the nation in rebounding at 11.77 per game …The Gators continue to creep upward in the 3-point shooting stats. By hitting 43 of their last 99 shots in the previous five games, the Gators are now hitting 31.3 percent of their threes … The Gators lead the nation in rebounding and rank second (by two rebounds) to Tennessee as the top offensive rebounding team in the country.

Anticipated Starting lineups

No. 1 FLORIDA (25-6): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11 ,265, JR); Tommy Haugh (6-9, 210, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185, SR)

No. 9 Kentucky (21-12): Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, JR); Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, JR); Otega Oweh (6-4, 220, SR); Collin Chandler (6-5, 205, SO); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 195, SR)

Thursday’s scores

No. 9 Kentucky (21-12) 78, No. 8 Missouri (20-12) 72: Missouri battled back from a 16-point deficit to take a 70-69 lead with 2:34 remaining but the Tigers gave out of gas. Kentucky outscored Mizzou 9-2 with Denzel Aberdeen scoring six including 4-4 from the foul line. Otega Oweh scored 21 to lead the Kentucky scoring while Aberdeen had 16 points, seven assists and two steals. Mark Mitchell scored a game-high 30 points for Missouri.

No. 5 Tennessee (22-10) 72, No. 12 Auburn (17-16) 62: Tennessee, which trailed by as many as 11 in the first half, outscored Auburn 47-30 in the second half to advance to a semifinal matchup with 4^th-seeded Vanderbilt. Freshman Nate Ament had 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists to lead Tennessee. The Vols got to the foul line 32 times (made 24) while Auburn was just 13-20. Tahaad Petiford’s 28 led the way for Auburn, whose NCAA chances took a serious jolt with the loss.

No. 15 Ole Miss (14-19) 76, No. 7 Georgia (22-10) 72: Ole Miss led 55-35 with 12:45 remaining in the second half, but the Rebels had to hold on for dear life as Georgia rallied furiously to cut the lead to two with five seconds to go. Ole Miss sealed the win with a free throw by Kezza Giffa and two by Travis Perry. Georgia was done in by poor 3-point shooting, just 9-38 for the game. AJ Storr scored 19 to lead Ole Miss while Kanon Catchings led Georgia with 19.

No. 11 Oklahoma (19-14) 83, No. 6 Texas A&M (21-11) 63: The Sooners have played their way into the NCAA picture with six straight wins, four to end the regular season and two in Nashville. Oklahoma led 49-27 at the half and never looked back while blowing out the Aggies. Nijel Pack led Oklahoma with 20 points while Derrion Reed had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Leading the way for the Aggies were Rylan Griffin and Rashaun Agee with 13 each.

Friday’s games (Quarterfinals)

No. 9 Kentucky (21-12) vs. No. 1 FLORIDA (25-6)

No. 5 Tennessee (22-10) vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt (24-7)

No. 15 Ole Miss (14-19) vs. No. 2 Alabama (22-9)

No. 13 Oklahoma (19-14) vs. No. 3 Arkansas (22-9)