History Time: Great Moments in the UK-Florida rivalry
Few programs in the grand history of the Southeastern Conference have withstood the test of time and risen to such heights as the University of Florida. After years of mediocrity, the Gators rose to prominence under Norm Sloane in the 1980s and have managed sustained success ever since, reaching five Final Fours and winning a pair of national titles under Billy Donovan in 2006 and ’07. Once SEC bottom-feeders, they now rival Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee for league supremacy on a yearly basis.
As such, they have a storied history facing off against the Wildcats. With today’s game marking the 147th all-time meeting between the two schools, let’s revisit some of the rivalry’s most memorable moments.
Note: some facts in this article may have been embellished, fictionalized or otherwise concocted for dramatic effect. You know, like most things you read on the internet.
The Miracle in the Swamp
It’s easy to forget given the morass that ensued, but the last game of the pandemic-abated 2020 season was one of the highlights of the entire year. On the final day of the regular season — just days before the COVID-19 virus shut down the nation, canceling March Madness — UK completed one of the most improbable comebacks in recent program history.
After trailing by as much as 18 in the second half, Kentucky stormed back without two-thirds of its starting backcourt in Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley. A Keion Brooks floater brought the ‘Cats within one in the final minute, then E.J. Montgomery saved the day with a game-winning tip-in after review:
FUN FACT: This game was the last team these two teams faced each other in a full arena. It was also the last time we saw Montgomery, Hagans, Quickley, Tyrese Maxey, Nick Richards or Johnny Juzang in a UK uniform — Juzang played a career-high 33 minutes in this game before moving to Los Angeles, presumably to pursue a career in Hollywood. I don’t know, I really haven’t followed up on that.
Willie Takes Flight
In the history books, it went down simply as win no. 23 out of 38. But for anyone who was there that day in 2015 when UK beat Florida 68-61 in Gainesville, it is remembered to this day for one reason: Willie Cauley-Stein’s attempted murder of Devin Robinson.
The highlight of this ferocious slam became one of the most memorable in a season that was filled with them. In case you’ve forgotten:
FUN FACT: According to local legend, Rock Oliver’s soul left his body for a full three minutes and forty-two seconds after this play. All he remembers is a magnificent vision of an eagle spreading its wings to the heavens, then waking up on the bench next to Joel Justus.
Cal’s Confusion
One of the most oft-forgotten moments of the John Calipari era came against the Gators in 2013, when his team was in the throes of its post-Nerlens Noel depression. Noel got hurt against the Gators in Gainesville, so the rematch in Lexington was highly anticipated among the 17 people still invested in that poor team.
The high point of this game came midway through the second half, with UK trailing by seven. Calipari could feel the game slipping away, so he charged onto the court in anger after a questionable blocking call on Jarrod Polson. He was met at center court by an equally upset Billy Donovan, who was protesting an uncalled travel on the previous possession. In the ensuing confusion, Cal retreated to the bench — the wrong bench. He sat down in a huff next to a confused Florida assistant and was promptly ejected from the game. What a sight!
FUN FACT: It ended up working out for the ‘Cats, as they won the game in upset fashion on a half-court buzzer-beater by Archie Goodwin. The footage has since been lost to time, leading many to wonder, did this really happen? And to that I say, was any of that season real?
Joakim’s Five-Course Meal
Perhaps no Gator has ever dis-endeared himself to UK fans more dramatically than Joakim Noah. From the wild hair to obnoxious chomping, that guy was the worst. In addition to leading Florida to back-to-back national titles, Noah was part of the group that won six consecutive matchups against the Wildcats, something that had never before been done in the history of the rivalry.
His most pungent performance came during the 2006 season, when he scored 26 points in a 95-80 home victory over the ‘Cats. More importantly, he fouled out Kentucky’s leading scorer on the night — Rajon Rondo — on five separate charges. It’s an O’Connell Center record to this day.
FUN FACT: After charge No. 5, the roars from the crowd grew so loud that two upper-level windows cracked — and Tubby Smith had to briefly retreat to the locker room out of fear. Some say he never fully recovered.
Teddy Dupay Saves the Day
Donovan is remembered at Florida for his championship squads, but that group wasn’t the first to breach the gates of the promised land under his guiding hand. Led by future NBA stars Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, the 1999-2000 Florida team made it all the way to the title game before losing to Michigan State. It was arguably the greatest season in program history — for about six years, anyway.
Amid that team of stars, which also featured Donnell Harvey and Matt Bonner, was a savvy-minded 5’8″ point guard named Teddy Dupay. And on March 4, 2001, he stamped his name into UK-Florida history forever. It was the year after their championship run, and the Gators welcomed the ‘Cats to the O-Dome as the sixth-ranked team in the country. UK was ranked 15th, but held a one-game lead in the conference standings on the season’s final day. To clinch another SEC regular-season title, all they had to do was win.
Instead, it became the Dupay show. Florida’s wily floor general dropped a career-high 28 points on 6-7 shooting from outside, including the decisive strike: with 28 seconds remaining and UK trailing by three, Dupay stripped the ball from Tayshaun Prince and took it the other way. But instead of pulling it out or taking it to the rim, he stopped at the top of the key and launched a 36-foot trey in Saul Smith’s face. Naturally, it dropped through the net, icing a 94-86 win and a share of the conference crown.
FUN FACT: Not long after this game, Dupay graduated and trademarked “The Dupay Way,” a short-lived line of athletic wear aimed at making outrageously baggy clothing more accessible to underprivileged communities. He was truly a man of the people.
Joe B. Rides the Gator
Another forgotten legend from Florida’s past is the short-lived reign of terror of their robot gator. I swear this is true! For an unclear period of time in the mid-1970s, the university trotted out a massive mechanical mascot at home games, which paraded Albert (the guy in the green suit) around the court. How do we know this? Because of this long-archived photo of Joe B. Hall taking ol’ bitey for a spin:
The origins of this very real, very authentic photo trace back to January 17, 1977, when UK defeated the Gators on a last-second tip-in by junior Rick Robey for. The win marked Hall’s 100th victory as head coach of the ‘Cats. In the celebration that ensued, Robey and others lifted their coach onto the mechanical gator’s back, where he took a joyous lap around the court before being removed by security.
FUN FACT: Though the robot mascot was decommissioned shortly after, Hall never forgot the bond he formed with “Big Al” that night in Gainesville. Years later, he retired to a 160-acre horse farm in Harrison County and named his first thoroughbred “Albert” in honor of his old friend. The horse showed some promise, but it never made it past the Preakness.
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