Kentucky Wildcats fall to Florida Gators in regular season finale

Kentucky's late comeback bid falls short in 84-77 loss to top-5 rival

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team lost to the No. 5 Florida Gators 84-77 in the regular season finale on Saturday at Rupp Arena in Lexington. The Wildcats made a late comeback attempt but ultimately came up short against their SEC rival.

Why it matters

This loss is a disappointing end to Kentucky's regular season, as they had hoped to build momentum heading into the postseason conference tournament. The Wildcats have struggled with consistency throughout the year and this defeat to a top-5 opponent highlights the work they still need to do to compete with the elite teams in the SEC.

The details

Kentucky trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half before making a late push to get within 4 points in the final minute. However, they were unable to complete the comeback, as Florida held on for the 84-77 victory. The Wildcats were led by junior guard Davion Mintz, who scored a team-high 21 points, while the Gators were paced by senior forward Colin Castleton's 24 points and 12 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
  • Kentucky trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half.

The players

Davion Mintz

A junior guard for the Kentucky Wildcats who scored a team-high 21 points in the loss.

Colin Castleton

A senior forward for the Florida Gators who led all scorers with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We fought hard to the end, but just couldn't quite get over the hump against a very good Florida team. We'll learn from this and get ready for the tournament.”

— John Calipari, Head Coach, Kentucky Wildcats (on3.com)

What’s next

Kentucky will now turn its attention to the SEC Tournament, where they will look to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Florida has clinched a top-4 seed in the SEC Tournament with this win.

The takeaway

This loss is a setback for Kentucky, who had hoped to build momentum heading into postseason play. However, the Wildcats have shown the ability to compete with top teams when they are at their best, and they will look to regroup and make a strong run in the conference tournament.