TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Is Florida a threat to the Cats?

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 10-29-2019, 02:21 PM:

Among most observers, Kentucky and Florida are a clear 1-2 in the SEC entering the season. Are you buying or selling the Gators as legitimate, consistent threats to the Wildcats going forward?
Jeff Borzello, college basketball insider: I think Florida is a top-five team nationally heading into the season, so I think the Gators will be a legitimate, consistent threat to Kentucky -- at least in 2019-20 (whether the Gators will be able to replace Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Scottie Lewis next season is a different conversation). This season, I think Florida is right there.

Andrew Nembhard's stellar freshman season at the point guard spot flew under the radar nationally, and early returns on incoming freshman Tre Mann are overwhelmingly positive. Lewis is a two-way impact player and a one-and-done talent. Blackshear is arguably the best player in the league. There are certainly going to be some kinks to work out early on, with two freshmen and a transfer likely starting. But this is a team that has won at least one NCAA tournament game in three straight seasons and a program that has advanced to the Elite Eight in five of nine seasons. Success isn't foreign to Gainesville.

Myron Medcalf, senior college basketball writer: I'm buying. Mike White's Florida squads have finished 14th, fifth, 24th and 16th in adjusted defensive efficiency (per KenPom) in his four years with the program. Now he adds Blackshear and Lewis, two players who should help the Gators battle Kentucky and the rest of the SEC. Florida could end this season with a national title. All the pieces are there. But competing against Kentucky in the John Calipari Era has come in waves for teams within the league. As long as Calipari is in Lexington, he'll continue to sign top-three recruiting classes. White is positioned, however, to keep pace with Kentucky as he continues to strengthen an excellent program that could take the next step by making the Final Four this season.

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