Gators Play No. 12/13 Kentucky in SEC Quarterfinal on Friday
Friday, March 7, 2014 | Women's Basketball
The Gators advanced to the Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals where they will play fourth-seeded and nationally-ranked Kentucky on Friday at 2:30 p.m., at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.
VIDEO PREVIEW: http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3218339&db_oem_id=6500
UF's SEC Tournament Skinny
· UF earned the No. 5 seed in the 2014 SEC Tournament
· The Gators received a first-day bye.
· UF defeated Mississippi State, 71-67, in the second round on Thursday.
The Series vs. Kentucky
· The 49-game series against Kentucky is the seventh-longest in Florida history.
· Kentucky leads the 49-game series, 25-24, including a 3-2 record in SEC Tournament match ups.
· The Gators defeated the Wildcats 83-73 in the Jan. 5 meeting this year, snapping UK's six-game run in the series and completed the regular-season sweep with an 86-80 win on Feb. 9 in Gainesville.
· Six of the last seven games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less.
Fourth Time, Three Times
· Friday's meeting against Kentucky will be the third game between the two teams this year, with the Gators winning both.
· In seven years under Head Coach Amanda Butler, this is the fourth time the Gators will play one opponent three times in the same year.
· In 2011-12: vs. Kentucky, 0-3
· In 2010-11: vs. Tennessee, 0-3
· In 2007-08: vs. South Carolina, UF won series 2-1 (split regular-season games)
Florida at the SEC Tournament
· Florida holds a 19-33 all-time record in the SEC Tournament.
· Florida has played in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal round each of the last four years, as well as in eight of the last nine tournaments.
· The Gator's best finish was reaching the championship game in 1997, the team's lone appearance in the final.
· Current UF head coach Amanda Butler was an assistant coach on the 1997 Gator staff that year and current UF assistant coach Murriel Page was the starting forward and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
In the SEC Quarterfinals
· Florida is just 4-16 all-time in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.
· The last time the Gators advanced to the semifinals was in 1998, when second-seeded UF had a first round bye, defeated Arkansas in the quarterfinals but lost to third-seeded Alabama in Columbus, Ga.
20-Wins 13 Times
· The Gators are one win shy of the 14th 20-win season in program history.
· Coach Butler has led the Gators to four 20-win seasons in her six years on the sideline.
· If the Gators can secure one more win this year, it would be the team's fourth consecutive 20-win season.
Local Flavor
· Redshirt junior Kayla Lewis is a native of the Peach State and is from Decatur, located just 18 miles from Duluth.
Kentucky Team Ties
· Kentucky assistant coach Danielle Santos, who is in her second year on the Wildcats sidelines, was a four-year letterwinner for the Gators from 2002-06, when she started 76 of the 107 games she played. Santos, a 5-foot-10 guard from Marietta, Ga., compiled 831 points, 395 rebounds and 265 assists during her Gator career.
· Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell was an assistant coach at Florida for three years (2000-03), serving under former head coaches Carol Ross and Carolyn Peck. The Gators were 51-36 during his three-year stay in Gainesville, where he met his future wife Jenna.
Thrillers!
· 16 of UF's games have been decided by 10 points or less (10-6 record in those games).
Quoting UF Head Coach Amanda Butler
On playing Kentucky for a third time
· “We're playing Kentucky. I think at this point, how many times we've played them or what those previous outcomes were just really aren't a factor. That's one of the things we talked about coming into this tournament, we want to be really, really fresh.
· “It should be reflected in our energy and our outlook on whoever our opponents are going to be.
· “We know it will be a great contest. Again, one of the best teams not just in the league but in the country. Another fantastic opportunity for us.”
Gator Game at a Glance:
#5 Seed Florida (19-11) vs. #4 Seed, #12/13 Kentucky (22-7)
2014 SEC Tournament Quarterfinal
Fri., March 7 * 2:30 p.m. ET
The Arena at Gwinnett Center (10,305) * Duluth, Ga.
Game Notes:
Florida: http://bit.ly/1cGH6lZ
Kentucky: http://bit.ly/1g4uObw
Official SEC Tournament Website: http://bit.ly/1g1Okp3
Game Coverage & More!
· Radio: LIVE on ESPN850 WRUF-AM in Gainesville with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
· Internet Audio: LIVE thru www.Gatorzone.com (FREE)
· Television: SportsSouth/FS Southwest/Sun Sports; airs in Gainesville on Fox Sports Florida (Cox Ch. 70/1070; DirecTV 654) with Dave Neal & LaChina Robinson
· Internet Video: ESPN3.com - http://es.pn/1d1UXqb
· Internet Scoring: LIVE link thru GatorZone.com (FREE) - http://bit.ly/1n077Xb
· Tickets: Reserved tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 732-4849 or by visiting SECsports.com. Single session tickets went on sale at the arena box office on March 5
Opening Tip
· Friday's game will be the 50th meeting between Florida & Kentucky
· Six of the last seven games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less.
· Seniors Jaterra Bonds & Lily Svete both have played in 134 career games, one shy of the all-time record
· Florida finished fifth in the SEC regular-season standings, the Gator's best finish since 2008-09 when the team tied for third.
· 16 of UF's games have been decided by 10 points or less (10-6 record in those games; 6-4 in SEC games) - including Thursday's SEC Tournament second round win.
On the Line
· The winner of the 13-game SEC Tournament will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
For all of the latest information on Florida women's basketball:
Official Website: www.gatorzone.com/basketball/women
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FloridaWomensBasketball
Twitter: @GatorZoneWBK and @CoachButlerUF
-##-
