GAINESVILLE — Beating John Calipari on the highway final season was an enormous step for Florida coach Todd Golden and his program.
A win now in opposition to Coach Cal away from Gainesville may sign a pure development for Golden’s surging Gators.
Calipari’s shocking offseason transfer from Kentucky to Arkansas makes the SEC’s winningest coach a better mark than with the Wildcats, who gained the 2015 nationwide title and a dozen convention crowns — six every throughout the common season and convention event — whereas he was there.
The No. 8 Gators (14-1, 1-1) purpose to take benefit Saturday in Fayetteville and construct on Tuesday evening’s 73-43 rout of top-ranked Tennessee.
“It was an unimaginable win; clearly an excellent program-building win that speaks volumes about the place we’re at,” Golden stated Friday. “But when we’re in April and we’re speaking about our win in opposition to Tennessee in January, we haven’t accomplished what we wish to do.”
The Razorbacks (11-4, 0-2) have but to search out their stride however are often a troublesome out at Bud Walton Enviornment, the place UF has misplaced two straight and is winless since 2019.
An 89-87 win Dec. 11 in opposition to Michigan within the Jimmy V Traditional at Madison Sq. Backyard was notable. In any other case, Arkansas is 0-4 in opposition to different opponents ranked in Quad 1 of the NCAA’s Internet rankings, together with a 73-66 loss Wednesday evening at dwelling to Ole Miss.
Calipari’s squads, composed primarily of one-and-done freshmen for greater than a decade at Kentucky, sometimes enhance as a season progresses.
“They’ve actually gifted guards, they usually’re lengthy, they’re athletic, they’re actually good across the rim — and usually his groups play that manner,” Golden stated. “Because the yr goes on, they’ll proceed to tackle his identification increasingly more.”
But the deck additionally isn’t stacked in Cal’s favor.
The 5-star prospects that flocked to Lexington to play for Large Blue Nation are going to wish convincing to move to the Ozarks.
Ahead Adou Theiro, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound junior, adopted Calipari to Fayetteville and averages team-highs in factors (16.9), rebounds (5.9) and steals (2). Sophomore guard DJ Wagner, who averages 10.5 factors, additionally performed final season at Kentucky. True freshman level guard Boogie Fland, a top-25 recruit in 2024 out of the Bronx, averages 15.5 factors and 5.9 assists, second within the SEC.
The Razorbacks undergo a drop-off from there.
In the meantime, the Gators’ wealth of choices is amongst their calling playing cards.
With main scorer Walter Clayton Jr. struggling to a season-low 7 factors, backup Denzel Aberdeen had a season-high 16 factors. Led by a career-high 15 boards by sophomore middle Rueben Chinyelu, UF held a 56-37 rebounding edge in opposition to a Vols squad coming into with a plus-10.4 margin throughout its 14-0 begin.
After permitting Kentucky to shoot 58% throughout a 106-100 loss final Saturday in Rupp Enviornment, UF held Tennessee to 13.8% taking pictures to stake a 34-15 halftime lead and finally 37 factors under their season scoring common (79.8).
“You play a sport and also you study from it,” Chinyelu stated Friday. “You’re taking what you have to study and you progress on from it. In case you don’t do effectively, it’s prior to now.
“In case you cry, it doesn’t change the scenario.”
Florida rode the momentum of a 94-91 Jan. 31 victory at Rupp Enviornment in opposition to Calipari’s remaining Kentucky staff to succeed in the NCAA event for the primary time since 2021.
The present Gators are a successfully a lock for the Large Dance. However an SEC highway win in opposition to a Corridor of Fame coach studying the lay of the land in new environment can be one other signal of progress.
“Simply must proceed to place collectively actually good efforts,” Golden stated. “It’s at all times been arduous in faculty basketball to go on the highway and achieve success, however this league, this season is much more tough that manner.”
Edgar Thompson could be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up subsequent …
Florida at Arkansas
When: 4, Saturday
TV: ESPN
