Saturday, February 6
Lexington, KY
4:00 PM
Florida Gators
at
Kentucky
Mike White need his players on be on point with their execution today, but also with their poise to have any chance against Kentucky at Rupp Arena.
Gators Need to Weather Inevitable 'Rupp Runs'
Saturday, February 6, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The year was 1998 and Ole Miss went to No. 7 Kentucky looking for its first basketball win there in 71 years.
Yes, since 1927.
Why does this matter? Because Florida coach Mike White was the Ole Miss point guard that day and scored a career-high 16 to help lead the surging Rebels, ranked 18th in the country, to a shocking 73-64 upset of the eventual NCAA champions. White, a fiery overachiever as a player, was asked about that momentous occasion and how he and his teammates celebrated after returning to campus.
"I was always a guy who pretty much laid low during the season ... but 71 years?" White said. "Yeah, they talked me into going out that night."
It's only been two years since the Florida Gators last won at historic Rupp Arena. That unbelievable 2013-14 team -- on its way to a perfect 21-0 record against the Southeastern Conference and a trip to the Final Four -- erased a seven-point deficit in the final five minutes and rolled to a 69-59 win that silenced 24,000-plus Big Blue clads.
And it stands as one of only nine wins in 58 trips to the Commonwealth State in UF program history.
Getting a 10th won't be any bargain, either.
The Gators (15-7, 6-3) will get their latest crack at the No. 20 Wildcats (16-6, 6-3) in a nationally television and sold-out showdown Saturday at Rupp. UF has put together a nice little run of five wins in the past six outings, including back-to-back home victories over ninth-ranked West Virginia last weekend and Wednesday against Arkansas. Conversely, the Wildcats figure to be in a foul mood after dropping two straight, falling at No. 4 Kansas last weekend, then blowing a 21-point lead on the road Tuesday at Tennessee.
For the rapid BBN faithful, the Gators will represent fresh meat. Sort of like the Christians vs. the lions.
"They're going to come out with fire," junior forward Justin Leon said. "We have to do the same thing and match their intensity."
At all times. Kentucky goes on runs at home ("Rupp runs," as they're known). That is an inevitability. The key is to understand they're coming and to deal with them with the kind of composure that doesn't allow an eight-point run to become 12. Or worse.
"You have to weather those runs and go on some runs of your own," said Chiozza, who got a taste of Rupp as a freshman last year (when UK stomped UF 67-50) and will pass on his wisdom to the Gators' six Rupp rookies on the current squad. "They're really not going to know what to expect. It's much different than seeing it on TV. The energy is so much more."
Much is often made about the daunting task of playing at Rupp -- and rightfully so. In Coach John Calipari's seven seasons, the Cats are 114-4.
Repeat: 4.
But it's not the actually building that cause the problems as much as what's inside the building. Specifically, who's inside the building. As in, on the floor. This 2015-16 UK team, despite six losses, is no different. Once again, a cattle call of McDonald's All Americans (four more) showed up and left Calipari with the most talented roster in the country. Two-thirds of the way through the season, the Wildcats are still trying to find some consistency and chemistry, but the danger of it happening this game (or the next, or the one after) is very real, as his '13-14 team proved in putting their oodles of talent together down the home stretch. That one had its struggles, only to wind up in the NCAA final.
Kentucky revolves around point guard Tyler Ulis, the best in the league and maybe the best in the country. As statistically solid as Florida may be defensively, the Gators are prone to breakdowns, especially on ball screens. It happened a bunch against Arkansas, a very good offensive team, three days ago and it absolutely cannot happen Saturday.
"If we do that there we'll lose by 30," sophomore point guard Chris Chiozza said. "We have to stay locked in and execute, but also have to rebound and play hard for 40 minutes on the defensive end; harder than we've played all year."
Added White: "We've gotten away with making some defensive mistakes against certain teams, but we won't be able to make many mistakes at all [against Kentucky] and let guys like Ulis get going with incorrect ball screens, by missing a block-out or two or letting a couple of their front-court guys get going on the offensive glass early. That won't cut it. It needs to be one of our -- if not our best -- defensive effort of the year."
Not the best in 71 years, but definitely better than what the Gators have trotted out in going 2-5 on the road to date.
"You've got to bring your A-game just to be competitive there," White said.
The rare cases that occurs at Rupp, it makes for a richly satisfying trip home. And post-game time with friends, as well.
Yes, since 1927.
Why does this matter? Because Florida coach Mike White was the Ole Miss point guard that day and scored a career-high 16 to help lead the surging Rebels, ranked 18th in the country, to a shocking 73-64 upset of the eventual NCAA champions. White, a fiery overachiever as a player, was asked about that momentous occasion and how he and his teammates celebrated after returning to campus.
"I was always a guy who pretty much laid low during the season ... but 71 years?" White said. "Yeah, they talked me into going out that night."
It's only been two years since the Florida Gators last won at historic Rupp Arena. That unbelievable 2013-14 team -- on its way to a perfect 21-0 record against the Southeastern Conference and a trip to the Final Four -- erased a seven-point deficit in the final five minutes and rolled to a 69-59 win that silenced 24,000-plus Big Blue clads.
And it stands as one of only nine wins in 58 trips to the Commonwealth State in UF program history.
Getting a 10th won't be any bargain, either.
The Gators (15-7, 6-3) will get their latest crack at the No. 20 Wildcats (16-6, 6-3) in a nationally television and sold-out showdown Saturday at Rupp. UF has put together a nice little run of five wins in the past six outings, including back-to-back home victories over ninth-ranked West Virginia last weekend and Wednesday against Arkansas. Conversely, the Wildcats figure to be in a foul mood after dropping two straight, falling at No. 4 Kansas last weekend, then blowing a 21-point lead on the road Tuesday at Tennessee.
For the rapid BBN faithful, the Gators will represent fresh meat. Sort of like the Christians vs. the lions.
"They're going to come out with fire," junior forward Justin Leon said. "We have to do the same thing and match their intensity."
At all times. Kentucky goes on runs at home ("Rupp runs," as they're known). That is an inevitability. The key is to understand they're coming and to deal with them with the kind of composure that doesn't allow an eight-point run to become 12. Or worse.
"You have to weather those runs and go on some runs of your own," said Chiozza, who got a taste of Rupp as a freshman last year (when UK stomped UF 67-50) and will pass on his wisdom to the Gators' six Rupp rookies on the current squad. "They're really not going to know what to expect. It's much different than seeing it on TV. The energy is so much more."
Much is often made about the daunting task of playing at Rupp -- and rightfully so. In Coach John Calipari's seven seasons, the Cats are 114-4.
Repeat: 4.
But it's not the actually building that cause the problems as much as what's inside the building. Specifically, who's inside the building. As in, on the floor. This 2015-16 UK team, despite six losses, is no different. Once again, a cattle call of McDonald's All Americans (four more) showed up and left Calipari with the most talented roster in the country. Two-thirds of the way through the season, the Wildcats are still trying to find some consistency and chemistry, but the danger of it happening this game (or the next, or the one after) is very real, as his '13-14 team proved in putting their oodles of talent together down the home stretch. That one had its struggles, only to wind up in the NCAA final.
Kentucky revolves around point guard Tyler Ulis, the best in the league and maybe the best in the country. As statistically solid as Florida may be defensively, the Gators are prone to breakdowns, especially on ball screens. It happened a bunch against Arkansas, a very good offensive team, three days ago and it absolutely cannot happen Saturday.
"If we do that there we'll lose by 30," sophomore point guard Chris Chiozza said. "We have to stay locked in and execute, but also have to rebound and play hard for 40 minutes on the defensive end; harder than we've played all year."
Added White: "We've gotten away with making some defensive mistakes against certain teams, but we won't be able to make many mistakes at all [against Kentucky] and let guys like Ulis get going with incorrect ball screens, by missing a block-out or two or letting a couple of their front-court guys get going on the offensive glass early. That won't cut it. It needs to be one of our -- if not our best -- defensive effort of the year."
Not the best in 71 years, but definitely better than what the Gators have trotted out in going 2-5 on the road to date.
"You've got to bring your A-game just to be competitive there," White said.
The rare cases that occurs at Rupp, it makes for a richly satisfying trip home. And post-game time with friends, as well.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
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