On a day that started with a special ceremony for a one-time future NBA player — the one who was supposed to lead Florida a year ago, the one who had his life cruelly interrupted by calamity last fall, the one whose absence has shaped the nearly two full Gators seasons that have followed — Florida played with all the heart and soul it could summon against a Kentucky team that seems Final Four-bound at least.
Heart and soul lose out to talent a lot. And they did on this day, too.
Oscar Tshiebwe steadied his Wildcats and Florida hailed bricks in a 71-63 loss that likely means the Gators will have to do serious damage in the SEC Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.