The Kentucky women's basketball team is officially in panic mode following a 77-52 crushing at the hands of Florida on Thursday.
Down the team's leading rebounder and one of the top scorers, Dre'Una Edwards, the Wildcats were unable to compete with the Gators. Edwards was held out due to disciplinary reasons.
On course with the rest of the season, Kentucky was competitive in the first quarter as Florida held a slim 20-16 lead following the first 10 minutes of action. Kentucky stayed true to their standard this season and proceeded to get dominated in the second quarter by a margin of 24-10.
The 23rd ranked Wildcats stayed with the Gators in the second half, but Florida's dominant second quarter made the margin of victory substantial.
Kentucky once again had no answer for the physicality of another team, as Florida outrebounded the Wildcats 48-31.
The most disappointing part of Thursday's loss was the inefficiency on offense. Kentucky shot a concerning 27.3% from the floor and was never in the flow of the game.
Watching the game, it was clear that Florida came with energy that Kentucky simply could not match. The Gators were bringing the intensity in all facets of the game and the Wildcats seemed to be a step behind everything Florida was doing. As a fan, that was extremely disappointing because of the importance of the game. With the loss, Kentucky would likely not find themselves in the NCAA tournament if it were to start tomorrow. The resume that Kyra Elzy's squad currently possess is one that would not impress any member of the selection committee.
These words may seem harsh, but tonight's game was a glaring reminder of where the program is. The effort on the court is simply not there and that ultimately falls on the coaching of Kyra Elzy. Kentucky has way too much talent to be 8-6 and Rhyne Howard's senior season is being wasted. This may seem like an overreaction, but tonight's game may be the one that puts Kyra Elzy firmly on the hot seat.