Colleges

Gators shake out of slump

UF finale: perfect at home, first in SEC to beat Kentucky six straight.

By Antonya English
Published March 5, 2007

GAINESVILLE - Sunday, there was no double-digit deficit from which to rebound. The defense shored up, the guards hit shots and the big men held their own inside.

And the tide continued to swing toward the Gators in the Florida-Kentucky series.

The nation's fifth-ranked basketball team bid farewell to seniors Lee Humphrey and Chris Richard, and possibly several of its juniors, with an 85-72 victory in the sold-out O'Connell Center.

Florida became the first SEC school to win six consecutive games against the Wildcats and completed an undefeated season at home at 18-0.

"I'm really proud of this team, proud of what they've accomplished," coach Billy Donovan said. "They've accomplished so much with so much expectation on them. And to close out the regular season this way, considering every game they were supposed to win, give these kids a lot of credit for what they've been able to do."

What they did was make a solid effort toward transforming back into the team that compiled a 17-game winning streak, with multiple passes for baskets, an up-tempo style and an improved offense that had gone stagnant with three losses in four games the past two weeks.

Joakim Noah and Al Horford each had double doubles. They and Corey Brewer, all juniors and finalists for the Wooden Award, are considered candidates to leave early for the NBA.

Guard Taurean Green, 6-of-32 in four games before Sunday, was 6-of-11 from the field 3-of-4 from 3-point range and scored 17 while adding five assists. Humphrey was 4-of-9 for 11 points.

"I've shot the ball as well this week as I have in a long time," said Humphrey, who admitted he was filled with emotion as he walked off the O'Dome floor for the last time. "Our guys are extremely excited. We know it's tournament time. It's time to step things up."

After trailing by double digits at halftime in its previous two games, the Gators (26-5, 13-3) were tied with Wildcats (20-10, 9-7) Sunday. Then it outscored Kentucky 42-29 in the second half; for the game UF outscored the Wildcats 44-26 in the paint and outrebounded them 35-23.

Kentucky forward Randolph Morris picked up his third foul 14 seconds into the second half, then had to sit with his fourth with 8:47 remaining, which coach Tubby Smith said contributed to the Wildcats' problems scoring inside. Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford each scored 14, Morris had 13.

Horford, who scored his 1,000th career point with 1:41 remaining, missed several minutes in the second half when he was hit on his sore left ankle. He returned with 10:12 left.

Noah, the emotional forward and target of much criticism during the Gators' recent losses, had 17 points and 10 rebounds with his family looking on.

"We felt like it was going to be his last game here, so we wanted to come see it," said Noah's father, Yannick, the former professional tennis champion.

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3389.

UF 85

Kentucky 72

[Last modified March 5, 2007, 05:57:14]