Kentucky 'Very Hungry' for Florida Rematch: 'It's Definitely Personal'

Kentucky has done a better job against Florida than just about anyone in the SEC, but now it's time to actually get the win.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:00am

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Kentucky has played Florida tough in their two regular-season matchups, but came up short both times. Now the two teams will meet again in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, with Kentucky looking to finally get the win against the Gators, who are a serious national championship contender. The Wildcats know they need to play a complete 40-minute game to pull off the upset.

Why it matters

This is a chance for Kentucky to avenge their two regular-season losses to Florida and potentially set up a deep run in the SEC Tournament. A win would be a major upset and boost Kentucky's NCAA Tournament hopes, while a loss would end their season.

The details

Kentucky has played Florida close in their two regular-season meetings, coming back from big deficits in both games before ultimately falling short. The Wildcats know they need to play a complete 40-minute game to have a chance at pulling off the upset as 11.5-point underdogs in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

  • Kentucky and Florida played twice during the regular season, with Florida winning 92-83 in Gainesville and 84-77 in Lexington.
  • The two teams will meet again in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on March 13, 2026.

The players

Mark Pope

Kentucky's head coach.

Andrija Jelavic

A Kentucky player who spoke about the team's focus and preparation for the Florida rematch.

Brandon Garrison

A Kentucky player who expressed the team's hunger for the Florida game.

Mo Dioubate

A Kentucky player who discussed the team's need to match Florida's physicality.

Denzel Aberdeen

A Kentucky player who has a personal connection to the Florida team and coaches, having played for them previously.

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What they’re saying

“We must have our concentration for 40 minutes — especially against a team like Florida. They're the number one seed and we need 40 minutes of a good game to beat them tomorrow.”

— Andrija Jelavic, Kentucky player (KSR)

“Very hungry. We've been talking about this. We try not to get too big-headed coming into this game because we know we had to take care of those first two games. But we're here now, and we're just ready to get it on.”

— Brandon Garrison, Kentucky player (on3.com)

“We know Florida — Florida's a physical team. That ain't no secret. It's like every game is getting even more and more physical, so we just have to match their temperature. We have to match the game. We have to out-physical them tomorrow, be the aggressors.”

— Mo Dioubate, Kentucky player (on3.com)

“It's definitely the best environment we can look for — you lose and you go home, the pressure is on both of us. And it's definitely personal, but we are more experienced than ever, more smarter than ever. We just need the 40 minutes of us being ourselves, playing really good basketball to beat them.”

— Andrija Jelavic, Kentucky player (on3.com)

“We got to — we got no choice. They're a great team — great coach, great players. They won it last year. So we gotta come in, be ready, and be physical with them, too.”

— Denzel Aberdeen, Kentucky player (on3.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Kentucky-Florida matchup will advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated rematch between Kentucky and Florida in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals is a chance for the Wildcats to finally get over the hump and defeat the Gators, who have had their number in the regular season. Kentucky knows they need to play a complete 40-minute game to pull off the upset and keep their season alive.