GAINESVILLE, Fla.— The Gators return to the O'Dome Thursday evening to host No. 16 Kentucky. The matchup tips at 5 p.m. ET on SEC Network and serves as each team's third conference outing of the year (Florida 1-1 SEC; Kentucky 2-0 SEC).

Kentucky Wildcats (13-1, 2-0 SEC)

Date: Thurs., Jan. 9

Time: 5 p.m. ET

Site:

• Site: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center
• Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM
• Watch: SECN
• Live stats: Statbroadcast
• Tickets
• Promotion: Golden Gators Night
• Giveaway: 1,000 script Gators pins

What a Florida Victory Would Do



• Snap a ranked-opponent drought that dates to 2022
• Improve Florida’s home mark to 10-1 for the 2024–25 season
• Deliver UF’s first home win over Kentucky since 2016
• Move the Gators to 2-1 in SEC play
• Raise Florida’s all-time record to 834-671
• Make Kelly Rae Finley’s career SEC ledger 22-29
• Register Florida’s 422nd victory all-time inside the O’Dome

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Series Overview

The all-time head-to-head between Florida and Kentucky sits at 33-24, with the Wildcats holding a nine-game edge.

Gators vs Kentucky History

The rivalry dates to 1978 and now includes 57 recorded meetings. Of those games, 22 were played in Gainesville and 25 in Lexington. Thursday’s matchup will be Kentucky’s first return to the ‘Dome since Jan. 15, 2023 — the game that began UK’s current three-game run over Florida. Florida’s most recent victory in the series came in Lexington on Jan. 20, 2022, a 77-52 win about two months before Kentucky captured the 2022 SEC championship.

PROJECTED FLORIDA STARTERS:

Florida's Last Time Out

UF last played on Sunday, Jan. 5, earning a home win over the Georgia Bulldogs, 73-57, to notch their first SEC victory of the 2025 slate and even their conference mark at 1-1. Senior Ra Shaya Kyle paced the team with 18 points, while freshman Liv McGill contributed 15. After that game, McGill and Kyle have each reached double figures in scoring in 14 of Florida’s 16 games this season.

Gator Quick Hits

• Florida ranks No. 4 in the SEC and No. 15 nationally in field-goal percentage (48.1).
• The Gators sit inside the top 30 in the nation for scoring offense (79.8).
• Four players average double figures: McGill (16.2), Kyle (15.8), Jeriah Warren (12.8), and Laila Reynolds (10.4).
• McGill and Kyle are both among the SEC’s top-15 scorers
• McGill at No. 11 (16.2) and Kyle at No. 13 (15.8).
• Kyle ranks No. 6 nationally and No. 3 in the SEC for double-doubles.
• McGill leads all NCAA freshmen in total assists (81) and in assists per game (5.1).
• The Gators have posted 20+ points in 35 of 64 quarters this season.
• Kyle is No. 8 in the NCAA with a 64.1 field-goal percentage.
• Alexia Gassett tops the team in blocks with 15 for the season.
• Eriny Kindred leads Florida from the free-throw line at 89.5% (17-19).

UK Quick Hits

• Kentucky paces the nation in blocks per game (7.7 bpg)
• All five Wildcats starters average double-digit scoring
• Two UK players rank inside the SEC’s top 15 scorers: Amoore (17.9) and Strack (15.5)
• Strack is third in the conference in rebounding (10.1 rpg)
• Amoore leads the SEC in assists with 104 across 14 games (7.4 apg)
• Kentucky’s lone loss came at UNC (72-53)
• UK rides a six-game winning streak that began Dec. 9, 2024
• Hassett ranks No. 5 nationally in defensive rebounds (8.8 per game)