Kentucky Wildcats Fall to Florida Gators in Regular Season Finale

Otega Oweh's 28 points not enough as Kentucky drops regular season finale at Rupp Arena

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Kentucky Wildcats fell to the Florida Gators 84-77 in their regular season finale at Rupp Arena. Florida used big runs of 11-0 and 13-0 in the first half to build a lead they would not relinquish, despite a late push from Kentucky. Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 28 points, but it was not enough as all five Florida starters scored in double figures.

Why it matters

The loss caps off a disappointing regular season for Kentucky, who will now head to the SEC Tournament in Nashville looking to salvage their NCAA Tournament hopes. The Wildcats' struggles this season have been a surprise, as they were expected to be one of the top teams in the SEC.

The details

Florida raced out to an 11-0 lead to start the game, but Kentucky answered with a 9-0 run to keep it close early. The Gators then used a 13-0 run later in the first half to build a 33-19 lead, and they led 32-19 at the break. Kentucky cut the deficit to 13 points in the second half, but could not complete the comeback as Florida held on for the 84-77 victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Kentucky will now head to the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee starting on Wednesday.

The players

Otega Oweh

A senior guard for the Kentucky Wildcats who led the team with 28 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.

Thomas Haugh

A junior guard for the Florida Gators who scored 17 points, including 3 three-pointers, to lead Florida.

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What they’re saying

“We must play better if we want to make a run in the SEC Tournament and keep our NCAA Tournament hopes alive.”

— John Calipari, Head Coach, Kentucky Wildcats (Twitter)

“Our guys really responded well to the early runs by Kentucky. I'm proud of the way we kept our composure and made the plays we needed to get the win.”

— Mike White, Head Coach, Florida Gators (Twitter)

What’s next

Kentucky will now head to the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee starting on Wednesday, where they will look to make a deep run and secure an NCAA Tournament bid.

The takeaway

This loss is a tough end to the regular season for Kentucky, who have struggled to live up to preseason expectations. However, they still have a chance to turn things around in the postseason, starting with the SEC Tournament next week in Nashville.