Going to respond to two posts here at the same time....a UF education gives one the ability to multi-task....
AFA me being the only Gator Hoops fan around....riiiight....I have previously admitted that Cat fans have a much bigger passion for the game....Cat fans might be the best in the country. But it does not mean UF does not have good college basketball fans. We do. Last night's environment in the O'Connell Center was awesome by anyone's standards. It may not be Rupp, but it was still a pretty tough place to play. And we DO have an awesome student section....the alumni side...well, let's just say they need a shot of adrenaline sometimes.
I do know this is a Kentucky Basketball thread....but considering UF is an SEC rival, in your same division, I thought some UF discussion would be considered relevant. Besides, on a Cincinnati Reds forum, would a Florida Gator thread get much attention? I love college basketball...I am and have been respectful....not talking any trash....that post last night was not meant to be any shot at UK or any of its fans...winning SEC titles may be old hat to you folks but it's a pretty big deal to Gator fans....and something many UK fans may not know, Billy Donovan put in Adam Allen to close out the final seconds of the game....Adam Allen is a 6'8" wing....very highly recruited....hurt his knees as a freshman and went through 3 surgeries....finally announced on Monday that he was just going to have to give up basketball instead of trying for a medical hardship....he was fully dressed out and got to dribble out the clock....said he thought about taking a shot but it would be running up the score if he did....great kid and a very heart-warming moment.
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As far as this post goes, well, I won't deny Vandy is a darned good team and that John Jenkins can ball. We have to go up there in a couple of days on their Senior Night and close out our regular season. I give us about a 30-40% chance of winning that game....if we lose, just gotta hope Georgia beats Alabama, which I think they will do, so we can have the SEC title outright. As far as you being "much" more impressed with them than UF...well, it's an opinion, and you certainly have a right to feel that way....but we've already beaten them once and we are, at worst, co-SEC champs...ranked higher, etc.....no offense taken, just think you might be wrong there.
The SEC has not gotten a lot of respect this year but I think we have a lot of good basketball teams. UF, UK, Vandy and Georgia all have the potential to make deep runs in the tourney. Tennessee and Alabama should also get in and I would not be shocked to see either make the Sweet 16. (BTW - don't believe all this talk about Alabama being a "bubble team." A record like theirs in a power conference, especially if they end up sharing the SEC title with us, gets you in every time.) The West was waaay down this year, without a doubt. But here's hoping we prove ourselves as a conference in March. I assure you all I will be rooting for Kentucky, as I always do, unless our paths happen to cross. Hope you guys will return the favor.
Congrats on a big win last night. See you in "Cat-lanta."