When the 1984-85 men’s basketball season ended, Florida (18-11) had a better record than Kentucky (16-12). Head-to-head, the Gators had beaten the Wildcats two out of three, including a 58-55 win in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Yet, on Selection Sunday, it was marquee college hoops brand Kentucky that heard its name called for an NCAA Tournament bid, not tradition-light Florida.
“I don’t know what you call it, but it’s collusion, it’s political and it stinks,” then-Gators Coach Norm Sloan stormed.
Now, more than three decades later and in a different sport, Florida may get some karmic payback on Kentucky.