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The Kentucky Wildcats are off to a 2-0 start in SEC play and were looking to move to 3-0 as they made the trip to face the Florida Gators.
It was the long-awaited return of Keion Brooks Jr., who was officially back for this matchup.
The Cats got off to a slow start, but that didn’t last long as they used a 10-0 run to take a 15-10 lead on a lob to Brooks for his first points on the season.
Both teams were having success on the offensive end, but it was the Cats with the 19-17 lead at the under 12 media timeout.
Down the stretch of the first half, the Cats were playing very well on both ends of the floor, and it allowed them to build a 35-29 lead as the headed into the locker room.
The second half got off to a fantastic start, as the Cats were able to build a 45-33 lead by the first media timeout.
After the Cats built a 51-33 lead, the Gators were able to use the press to rattle the Cats and cut back into the lead making it 53-41 with just over 11 minutes to play.
However, Kentucky was able to quickly adjust and build the lead back to 66-43 by the under-eight media timeout.
Down the stretch the Cats were able to grind out the clock and bring this one home with a 76-58 win over the Gators.
The Cats move to 3-0 in SEC play and are starting to look like the team we all expected to see from the start of the season.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the blowout win:
Together as one pic.twitter.com/4cWrZw8z74
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 9, 2021
Yeah, @KeionB_12 is definitely
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 9, 2021
pic.twitter.com/kjuHI3hUSi
I know he's struggled to shoot, but BJ Boston has to take the jumper there. Passed up an open look to take a contested shot.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) January 9, 2021
When is the last time you put a brand new net on a basketball goal? Anyone have one of those red, white and blue nets?
— John Clay (@johnclayiv) January 9, 2021
I’m actually pissed Allen hasn’t played all year
— All Things Kentucky (@BBNWonka) January 9, 2021
Nothing fake about what Allen is doing. He did it when everyone was clamoring for him, then he followed it with another good game, now he's doing it again. He blocks out noise and handles pressure.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) January 9, 2021
Pat Adams in the house.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) January 9, 2021
Granted a few have fallen, but I imagine Cal and Kentucky will be okay with Florida jacking up step-back threes.
— Bryan Kennedy (@BKennedyTV) January 9, 2021
Kentucky’s 18-point win at Florida is its largest margin of victory in Gainesville since 1997.
— Chris Leach (@ChrisLeach__) January 10, 2021
Keion Brooks is the bounciest looking player returning from an injury that I’ve ever seen
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) January 9, 2021
Man, it feels SO good to see Keion Brooks back out there again
— Maggie Davis (@MaggieDavisTV) January 9, 2021
How about BJ Boston doing the *other* stuff today? His third steal, push and pitch ahead to Davion Mintz gave the Cats a 35-27 lead.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) January 9, 2021
Impressive first half for Kentucky. Shooting 48.4% from the field and 57.1% from three, holding Florida to 39% shooting overall.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) January 9, 2021
Six players with two or more makes, ten assists on 15 field goals.
I want to see this team when everyone is healthy.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) January 9, 2021
Keion Brooks changes so much
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) January 9, 2021
We look like Kentucky again!!! #BBN
— Dalton Jones ® (@DaltonJJones19) January 9, 2021
Florida on their heels now
— Round Daddy (@JStreble82) January 9, 2021
I forgot how good Keion Brooks rebounds the ball. He is a game changer.
— Bradley McKee (@Bradley_B_Roll) January 9, 2021
Wow this looks like the @KentuckyMBB team that BBN was hoping to see . If they keep getting better watch out . Yes especially if Boston & Clarke ( out ankle) play to their potential . Now lead Gators by 16.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 9, 2021
Would love some more consistency from Isaiah Jackson. His spurts of good are REALLY good. His bad can be just.... ugh.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) January 9, 2021
Devin Askew's pull up jumper is close to automatic. One of the highest percentage shots Kentucky can shoot offensively.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) January 9, 2021
Really impressed epithet how @KentuckyMBB shot selection has improved & also how they helping each other on Defense/ a big improvement from when I saw them vs Kansas & Louisville .
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 9, 2021
BBN!!! WE HERE
— Skyy Clark (@skyyclark) January 9, 2021
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) January 10, 2021
Nice interior passing by Jackson and Brooks. Flashback to Erik Daniels and Chuck Hayes.
— John Huang (@KYHuangs) January 10, 2021
This is what we’ve been expecting to watch all season
— Big Blue Nation (@BigB1ue9ation) January 10, 2021
Go Big Blue chants in Gainesville.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) January 10, 2021
This has been a business trip. Everybody has played well. Don't know if they can do this every time out, but you can't think about this team like we did before today. Stuff is possible. They're interesting, finally.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) January 10, 2021
Better have that same energy let em know Gents
— Nate Sestina (@NateSestina23) January 10, 2021
Florida fouling down 15 with a minute to go
— All Things Kentucky (@BBNWonka) January 10, 2021
Poverty
First game back after being injured for ten months pic.twitter.com/rrCQ9Q3enr
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) January 10, 2021
#BBN pic.twitter.com/QckxQ4PM4i
— (@TheA1God) January 10, 2021
Simply the story of the day -THE CATS send a message watch out baby ! KENTUCKY makes a strong statement today that good things are on the way for BBN !
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 10, 2021
Well that was fun. Let's do that again soon shall we? #BBN pic.twitter.com/hZ1x8H0775
— KSBar & Grille (@KSBarAndGrille) January 10, 2021
We're 3-0 in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/lv4HZJo7RL
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 10, 2021
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