GAINESVILLE, Fla.— The Gators will return to the O'Dome on Thursday evening and host No. 16 Kentucky. The home contest is set to tip-off at 5 p.m. on SEC Network and will mark the third conference game for both the Gators (1-1, SEC) and the Wildcats (2-0, SEC).
Kentucky Wildcats (13-1, 2-0 SEC)
A FLORIDA WIN WOULD:
- Be its first over a ranked opponent since 2022
- Put the Gators at 10-1 for home contests in 2024-25
- Mark UF's first home win over UK since 2016
- Extend the Gators SEC record to 2-1
- Give the Gators an all-time record of 834-671
- Make Kelly Rae Finley's Career SEC Record 22-29
- Tally Florida's 422nd all-time win inside the O'Dome
TALE OF THE TAPE:
| Florida |
|
Kentucky |
| 79.8 |
PPG |
80.6 |
| 64.3 |
OPP PPG |
59.4 |
| +15.6 |
SCORING MARGIN |
+21.1 |
| 48.1 |
FG % |
46.4 |
| 37.2 |
OPP FG% |
33.9 |
| 31.8 |
3 FG% |
33.2 |
| 71.2 |
FT % |
80.3 |
| 41.7 |
REBOUNDS PG |
42.0 |
| 15.1 |
ASSISTS PG |
20.1 |
| 15.8 |
TURNOVERS PG |
12.5 |
| 8.7 |
STEALS PG |
5.1 |
| 4.3 |
BLOCKS PG |
7.7 |
THE SERIES:
The all-time series between Florida and Kentucky stands at 33-24, with the Wildcats holding a nine-game advantage.
GATORS x UK HISTORY:
Florida and Kentucky have met a recorded 57 times with their initial matchup dating back to 1978. Since then, UF and the Wildcats have met consistently with 22 matchups being held in Gainesville, and 25 taking place in Lexington. Thursday's contest will be the Wildcats first time back in the 'Dome since Jan. 15, 2023, which also marked the start of UK's current three game win streak over the Gators. Florida's last win over the Wildcats was in Lexington on Jan. 20, 2022, defeating UK 77-52 just two months before Kentucky claimed the 2022 SEC title.
PROJECTED FLORIDA STARTERS:
FLORIDA'S LAST TIME OUT:
UF's last time on the hardwood was Sunday, Jan. 5 in a home victory against the Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators defeated UGA 73-57 to tally their first SEC win of the 2025 season and even out their conference record to 1-1. Senior powerhouse
Ra Shaya Kyle led Florida in scoring with an 18-point performance, followed by freshman
Liv McGill posting 15 points. After Sunday's contest, McGill and Kyle have now hit double figures in scoring for 14 of UF's 16 games in the 2024-25 campaign.
GATOR QUICK HITS:
- Florida is ranked No. 4 in the SEC and No. 15 in the NCAA for field goal percentage (48.1)
- The Gators are in the nation's top-30 for scoring offense (79.8)
- UF has four players averaging in double digits: McGill (16.2) Kyle (15.8), Jeriah Warren (12.8), and Laila Reynolds (10.4)
- McGill and Kyle are in the SEC's top-15 for scoring
- McGill at No. 11 (16.2), and Kyle at No. 13 (15.8)
- Kyle is No. 6 in the country and No. 3 in the SEC for double-doubles
- McGill is the No. 1 freshman in the NCAA for total assists (81), and No. 1 freshman for average assists per game (5.1)
- The Gators have secured 20+ points in 35 of 64 quarters played this season
- Kyle is No. 8 in the NCAA with a field goal percentage of 64.1
- Alexia Gassett leads Florida in total blocks with 15 on the season
- Eriny Kindred leads the Gators in free throw shooting with an 89.5 percentage from the line (17-19)
PROJECTED KENTUCKY STARTERS:
| KENTUCKY |
No. |
Height |
Position |
Class |
Hometown/Previous School |
| Georgia Amoore |
3 |
5-6 |
G |
Gr. |
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia / Loretto College Ballarat / Virginia Tech |
| Teonni Key |
7 |
6-4 |
F |
Jr. |
Cary, N.C. / Cary HS / North Carolina |
| Dazia Lawerence |
10 |
5-8 |
G |
R-Sr. |
Greenville, N.C. / Mallard Creek HS / Charlotte |
| Clara Strack |
13 |
6-5 |
C |
So. |
Buffalo, N.Y. / Hamburg HS / Virginia Tech |
| Amelia Hassett |
32 |
6-3 |
F |
Jr. |
Albury, New South Wales, Australia / Tumut HS / Eastern Florida State |
UK QUICK HITS:
- Kentucky leads the country in blocks per game (7.7 bpg)
- All five of Kentucky's starters average double figures in scoring
- UK has two players in the SEC's top-15 for scoring: Amoore (17.9) and Strack (15.5)
- Strack is No. 3 in the league for rebounding, averaging 10.1 per game
- Amoore leads the SEC in assists with 104 in 14 outings (7.4 apg)
- The Wildcats only loss of the season was on the road at UNC (72-53)
- UK is currently on a six-game win streak, dating back to Dec. 9, 2024
- Hassett is ranked No. 5 in the nation for defensive rebounds, averaging 8.8 per game
FOLLOW THE GATORS:
SOCIAL:
Twitter |
Facebook |
Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
#GoGators
