Florida basketball: We will play it anyway, the 2020 SEC championship game

That is right why should we Florida basketball fans have our chance at a title in the SEC tournament be taken away?

Face it, we know the way Florida basketball was playing they would have been in that title game.

Yeah, I know Kentucky would have been in our bracket but I stick by my prediction. so let’s take a look at what I believe would have been the outcome of the SEC tournament for the Gators.

Round two, UF vs UGA

The first game that was on the schedule for the Gators was against the Bulldogs of Georgia in the second round.

This would have been a tough match-up as always but Florida basketball beat them twice this year, and handily. The first game the Gators won by six points but it was the Gators game all night. Andrew Nembhard came up big on that night with 25 points and four boards.

This is an important fact for the second-round match-up. In their second game of the season against UGA, the Gators won again and this time Keyontae Johnson had a good game with 18 points and 11 boards.

The second time around Florida basketball won running away by 14 points. Again, the team played great and came together in the second half to take control.

This is how the second-round game would have been as well. With or without Blackshear, the Gators run away with the game, winning 75-59.

With Nembhard and Locke, each in double figures for the game and once again Johnson would have a big night ending with 26 and 12 boards. Next round they will take on Miss. State.

Quarterfinals, UF vs Miss.St

This is another match-up that looks good for the Gators. In game one this year the Bulldogs won 78-71 in a game that saw Reggie Perry go off for 27 points.

This time around, Kerry Blackshear Jr. returns from an injured wrist but plays sparingly.

The Bulldogs also had three other players hitting in double figures as well.  Scottie Lewis led the way for the Gators with 17 and the Gators also had four in double figures.

It was not the Gators night as the Bulldogs got the win. Although they lost that game it was not the kind of game that was not indicative of the way they play.

Blackshear Jr. only had 13 points and Johnson only 10. The third-round game would have much better turn out for the Gators. The third round would start off like the first game they played.

The bulldogs come out fast and take a led in the first half. A much better night for Johnson as he gets 10 in the first half alone this time.

Nembhard has a good first half as he gets four assists to lead all players. The second half starts with a big run for Florida basketball where they take the lead and never give it back.

Johnson ends with 24 and 10 with Lewis giving a big 17 points. Big win for the Gators 65-61. Next up Kentucky in Semifinals.

Semi-Finals UF vs UK

This game had epic written all over it. The crowd was electric 20 minutes before game time.

Yes, I know the Wildcats won both games this year, but both those games where fights to the end. Game one was a tight game, tied at the half with 31 apiece.

The second half gave more of the same as the WIld cats pulled off a victory 65-59.

Game two was a game of two halves. The first half was all Florida basketball while the second half was all WIldcats.

Nick Richards ends up leading the Wildcats with 19 points and they squeak out a win 71-70. The game was close with Johnson only getting 12 points and no real help upfront.

The Gators are ready for the big game this time as there is no slow down in them. They jump right out of the gate with a lead they never give up in the first. At the half, the game is 41-40 UF. After a good halftime speech, the Gators come out on fire!

They go up by 10 on a three by Lewis. Lewis and Locke take control in the second half and lead the Gators to a big win 78-76. Next up the title game against Auburn.

Championship game UF vs Auburn

We can really just throw the first game out the door. Sure if you are a Florida basketball fan then no way do you want to forget it. The fact is Auburn did not play their game that night.

Shooting 25.5 percent from the field 17.4 percent from three. That was the game right there, well that and Florida shooting 50 percent from the field and 47 percent from deep. The title game was much closer and more exciting by far.

The Gators come into the game on a high after beating Kentucky to earn the championship shot. Auburn has been steady all-tournament as they have had no trouble getting to the championship game.

They had a tough run against LSU but win going away. This is a big night for both squads as an automatic trip to the dance is at stake.

The first half is a hard-fought game with both teams going back and forth with the lead.

Auburn’s Samir Doughty was not held down this time as he has a 15 point first half. J’Von McCormick also has a big first half with eight points and hustle plays.

The diving on the floor for a ball does not go into the books but does a lot for a team.

For Florida basketball Blackshear, who showed up for the championship n game, comes out firing and looking like a guy wanting to be drafted high.

He seemed to be unstoppable at times and with 14 points in the first half he was a force. The surprise for the Gators was Tre Mann, he came in and it seemed someone had lit a fire in him.

He was the hustle factor for Florida basketball and his three steals were key.

The second half was as good as the first. Neither team wanted to give an inch. Nembhard and Johnson had a great two-man game going that Auburn could not get a grasp on.

Johnson ends up with 21 on the night with 12 in the second half. It is late in the second half and the game is a one-point game. Florida has the ball down by one and the shot clock off. With10 on the clock they start the play.

once again Nembhard and Johnson appear to be running the two-man game again when Newbhand hits Locke in the corner, he shoots the three and with two seconds on the clock, it hits the rim, as it comes off Blackshear grabs the ball and with authority slams it home for the win!

Just like that, the Gators win and they are headed to the dance with momentum.

They take home the title and Blackshear proves to be all they wanted when he transferred here. The team comes together for a hard-fought win.

This is the way I see Florida basketball and the 2020 SEC tournament result. Why should we as fans be denied this happiness, this joy? So there it is Gators fans, WE WIN!!