John Calipari explains Kentucky's defensive struggles against Florida

Kentucky gave up a season-high 94 points in its overtime loss to Florida on Wednesday. Allowing three Gators to score 21 points or more during the contest, Florida shot 42.9 percent from deep against the Wildcats inside Rupp Arena.

The Wildcats were also without two former McDonald’s All-Americans in starting guards DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards for the contest, who both have a pesky defensive presence which head coach John Calipari alluded to during his postgame press conference.

“We were scoring on them the same they were scoring on us,” Calipari said. “And I thought we had the game in hand and then all of a sudden you turn around. It’s funny, the last play was the same last play they had down there, to shoot it and miss it to win the game. It’s two pretty evenly matched teams, to be honest. But we needed a full roster in this kind of game. You can’t be shorthanded.”

Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard. Rob Dillingham and Antonio Reeves scored 20 and 19 points, respectively while Ugonna Onyenso had a career night by scoring 13 points, 16 rebounds and recording eight blocks during the contest.

Despite this, it was a late defensive collapse from the Wildcats that allowed Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. to hit a three-point basket with three seconds left in regulation. He finished the matchup by scoring a career-high seven three-pointers during the contest after besting the Wildcats during extra time.

“And a couple of 3’s late, if we don’t give those up, you know,” Calipari continued. “Now, we lost the foul line. They had seven more makes from the line than us. Probably the major difference. More points from turnovers, more points in offensive rebounds, more points in transition, more points in the paint. And I said, ‘How the hell did we lose when you look at some of these numbers?’ But that’s why it was an overtime game. And then we missed a free throw, they made a three, boom, now it goes to overtime.”

Ultimately, both teams split the season series in 2024. Kentucky earned an 87-85 win over Florida in Gainesville and UF one-upped the Wildcats on their home court as well. The next time these two teams could face off will be in the 2024 SEC Tournament.

Things won’t be getting any easier for the Wildcats, as they travel to Knoxville to take on a No. 5 Tennessee team on Saturday.