LEAD STORY: Kentucky Bows Out of SEC Tournament After Dominant Florida Performance
The Kentucky Wildcats' run in the SEC Tournament came to an abrupt end Friday in Nashville, as they were overpowered by the Florida Gators, 71-63, in the quarterfinals. The decisive factor was a relentless effort on the glass by Florida, which saw the Gators outrebound the Wildcats by a staggering 50-29 margin. The loss marks Kentucky's third defeat to Florida this season and sends the Wildcats back to Lexington to await their NCAA Tournament fate.
The disparity on the boards was the story of the game. Florida pulled down 18 offensive rebounds, leading to 21 second-chance points that continually thwarted any Kentucky momentum. Gators forward Alex Condon was a force, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds. For Kentucky, no player managed more than five rebounds. The offensive struggles were compounded by shooting just 35.6% from the field.
Adding to the Wildcats' woes, freshman center Malachi Moreno exited the game with 9:43 remaining in the second half due to soreness in his right leg and did not return. His absence was felt immediately as Florida controlled the paint down the stretch. Postgame, the coaching staff indicated the injury was not serious, stating Moreno should be fine with a few days of rest and is expected to be ready for the NCAA Tournament. Moreno finished with six points and five rebounds in 21 minutes of play.
QUICK HITS
- Alabama Faces Upstart Ole Miss: The 2-seed Alabama Crimson Tide will begin their SEC tournament journey against a surprising 15-seed Ole Miss. The Rebels, who lost 12 of their last 13 regular-season games, have won two straight in Nashville to earn a quarterfinal matchup. Alabama handily defeated Ole Miss 93-74 in their only meeting this season in February. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
- Vanderbilt and LSU Open SEC Baseball Play: Two baseball programs looking to find their form, Vanderbilt (11-7) and LSU (13-5), kick off their conference schedule with a weekend series in Nashville. The defending champion Tigers have lost three of their last five games. The Friday night pitching matchup features Vanderbilt junior RHP Connor Fennell against LSU sophomore RHP Casan Evans.
- Tennessee Rowing Opens Season: The fourth-ranked Tennessee women's rowing team begins its 2026 campaign on Saturday, hosting the No. 11 Michigan Wolverines in Clinton, Tennessee.
- Aggie Tennis Hosts Gamecocks: In a top-25 matchup, the No. 5 Texas A&M Women's tennis team is set to host No. 22 South Carolina on Saturday at the Mitchell Tennis Center.
- Ole Miss Rifle Takes Day One Lead: The Ole Miss rifle team is in first place after day one of the NCAA Tournament, securing the team smallbore championship on Friday.
PORTAL WATCH
There has been no new transfer portal activity across the SEC in the last 12 hours.
RECRUITING BUZZ
There were no new commitments reported for SEC programs today.
GAMES TO WATCH
- Men's Basketball (SEC Tournament): Ole Miss vs. No. 15 Alabama, 6:00 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
- Baseball: LSU at Vanderbilt, 6:00 p.m. CT (SECN+)