That time has come; that three, sometimes four-time per year occurrence when my Gators take on your 'Cats.

I enjoy spending time with you and have made many good friendships here.  The vast majority of you are kind, honorable, generous folk who can talk basketball with the best of them.

The rest of you (I guess that's BeatUL, pretty much), well, I'm sure you're glad to see me disappear.

I promise you that no matter how it goes on Saturday, we will remain friends.  But I will be a lot friendlier if my Gators win.

I think we're looking at about a 50/50 chance of beating your Cats.  Unlike Mississippi State, we don't have a shot blocker like Varnado and therefore won't have such a convenient answer to Patrick Patterson (who should have been a Gator, dammit!)  If our frosh and sophs can score from the perimeter, I think we'll win.  If our shots aren't falling, I think Kentucky takes it.  In a defensive struggle, I think the Cats take it.  In an uptempo scoring game with transition points, I think it's the Gators' game to lose.

I am seeing improvement from Kentucky and I believe Billy G. when he says his team will keep improving.  Our kids are getting better, too, and will really want to keep the 'streak' alive (even though our b-ball streak over you is a lot shorter than the football version).

Good luck finding your way to the arena, but once you're inside, I wish you nothing but turnovers, Ramel Bradley ballhog possessions, dribbling off the foot, Billy G. technicals, and complete and total frustration.

If things proceed as desired (by Gator Nation), we can resume our friendship immediately following the game.

If we lose, I might need a day or two.  No offense.

Farewell, my friends, and I will see you on the other side.