Florida Men’s Basketball (10-3) vs. #6 Kentucky (10-2)
Florida Game Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/1/4/2024.01.06_Kentucky.pdf> | 2023-24 Media Guide<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/10/30/2023-24_Media_Guide_Web.pdf> | Media Resources<https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iv6cc1nl98a49pv/AAD_LkZm6hKvVz7FpyboOUR1a?dl=0>
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Gainesville, Fla.
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 | 12:30 p.m.
*SOLD OUT*
TV/Streaming
ESPN | ESPN App<http://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=8e05f44a-d9d0-43f0-93c9-aa69c3b39739>
Play-by-Play: Dan Shulman | Analyst: Jay Bilas
Radio
Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD | FloridaGators.com<https://floridagators.com/showcase?Live=5269> | The Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 386 & SXM App<https://sxm.app.link/976>
Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley | Analyst: Lee Humphrey | Producer/Engineer: Steve Egan
The Tip-Off
* Florida enters Southeastern Conference play carrying a six-game winning streak, its longest in two years, and looking to build on a 6-0 home record compiled during nonconference action. The Gators seek a seven-game win streak for the first time since compiling a nine-game win streak Jan. 25-Feb. 21, 2017.
* The meeting between Florida and Kentucky as a conference opener occurs for the first time in 25 years and the first time in Gainesville in 45 years.
* On the perimeter, Will Richard has knocked down 10 3-pointers over the last two games, posting identical 5-for-9 lines from long range. Zyon Pullin has scored in double figures in all 10 appearances this season and leads the SEC with 5.0 assists per game.
* Down low, Tyrese Samuel has put together a run of three straight double-doubles and leads the SEC with a .646 field goal percentage. Samuel also eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark during UF’s last game.
2023-24 Highlights
* Zyon Pullin scored 22 and Tyrese Samuel posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in the Gators’ double overtime victory vs. Michigan in Charlotte. Pullin’s 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds remaining in the first overtime forced the second extra session, where an 11-0 UF run put the game away.
* In his homecoming game at Lakeland vs. East Carolina, Walter Clayton Jr. exploded for 20 first-half points on the way to a team-leading 22. Clayton scored 10 of the Gators’ first 12 points out of the gate playing just down the road from his hometown of Lake Wales.
* Will Richard earned Orange Bowl Classic MVP honors as he scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half to lead the Gators vs. Richmond. Richard posted a solo 9-0 run as he hit three 3-pointers in a 90-second span that helped create separation vs. the Spiders.
* Walter Clayton Jr. scored 21 of his 26 points vs. Merrimack in the second half. Freshman Alex Condon added his first career double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds. Condon’s 16 boards were the most by a Florida freshman since Al Horford’s 18 vs. Alabama during the 2004-05 season.
* Florida came up just short against 13th-ranked Baylor in the NIT Season Tip-Off championship game as Riley Kugel exploded for 25 points and nine rebounds, both career highs. Tyrese Samuel and Zyon Pullin earned All-Tournament Team honors, and Samuel added SEC Player of the Week recognition.
* The Gators topped Pitt in the first game of the NIT Season Tip-Off behind 28 points from Walter Clayton Jr. on 6-for-8 shooting from 3-point range, a 20-point, 10-rebound performance from Tyrese Samuel and a 24-to-8 assist-to-turnover showing as a team.
* Florida blitzed Florida State, leading 27-5 before taking a 52-22 advantage into halftime. The Gators shot .643 and held the Seminoles to .258 from the field during the first half. Walter Clayton Jr. led UF with 19 points, while Zyon Pullin and Tyrese Samuel added 15 each and Thomas Haugh grabbed 10 rebounds.
* Micah Handlogten (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Tyrese Samuel (10 points, 11 rebounds) both posted their first double-double as Gators in a hard-fought loss vs. Virginia in Charlotte.
SEC Weekend 4-Pack
Fans have the opportunity to purchase seats for the remaining four SEC Saturday games. The SEC Weekend 4-Pack<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/flexplan/9629/1> features $189 plans in the 100 level and $99 plans in the 200 level and includes games vs. Arkansas, Georgia, Auburn and Vanderbilt.
