Kentucky didn’t do enough to win vs. Florida, but the refs sure didn’t help

Feb 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope disputes a call against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Look, Florida was the better team yesterday, and until right up until the end, it really wasn’t that close. The Gators came into a rocking Rupp Arena and broke Kentucky’s will in the first half. To the Cats’ credit, they did fight back and get back within 5. They should have had a possession there to cut it to a single-possession game, but a missed call gave Florida a chance to extend their lead. They did, and Kentucky could not get any closer.

Visit milkshake.it.com for more information.

With most of us being on the same page that Florida deserved the win, we have to talk about the SEC officiating crew. Joe Lindsay, Valdimir Voyard Tadal, and Jeb Hartness had an impact on the game.

SEC refs really blow too many calls

Being a referee is hard; you are asked to run up and down the floor with guys half your age and make judgment calls in a second. Of course, you are going to miss a few; that is just part of it. As a coach, you just hope that by the end of the day, it balances out. Well, it didn’t yesterday.

MISSED CALL!!: These #SEC officials just sold #Kentucky out of a win.#Florida clearly steps out of bounds and was given free throws.

A 5 pt game stretched into 8. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/Bewx7Mzg9j

— FirstDownMedia (@FirstDownMediaa) March 7, 2026

I mean, that is about as clear as it gets. He wasn’t even wearing white shoes. But that was only the last in a series of pretty questionable calls.

This was not called a travel on Florida.

He switched his pivot foot.

That’s a bad missed call. pic.twitter.com/Zyq9oDc73x

— That’s A Bad Call (@BadCallOfficial) March 7, 2026

This was not called an illegal screen on Florida.

Instead of calling that, they went to the monitor to review a possible flagrant foul on Kentucky.

That’s a bad call. pic.twitter.com/ZixicpEq4H

— That’s A Bad Call (@BadCallOfficial) March 7, 2026

Brandon Garrison is wrapped up going for the rebound.

It was not called.

Tap out leads to a fast break.

Florida player barely touched.

It was an And 1.

That’s a missed call and a bad call. pic.twitter.com/VVBOPdiZ8Z

— That’s A Bad Call (@BadCallOfficial) March 7, 2026

Neither of these players were called travels against Florida.

Both were absolutely travels.

The first one takes far more than two steps.

The second one lifts up his pivot foot before pivoting again.

These are missed calls. pic.twitter.com/l1gmtQlpja

— That’s A Bad Call (@BadCallOfficial) March 7, 2026

Again, I want to make it clear, I don’t think the Cats would have won if every call had gone perfectly. But I do think we deserve to see a better called game than that. Maybe we will see it in Nashville, maybe we won’t.

If I were a betting man, I’d lean toward the latter.

Read full story at source