We here at UKWC love us some hyperbole, so try this one on for size.

Tonight’s game will determine how the rest of the season goes. I haven’t been worried about how the season will finish out yet because even though the last three games have been so terrible, the Wildcats still control their own destiny. They have three conference losses. Florida has two. A win by Kentucky creates a four-way tie in the East with seven games to go, including rematches with Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina. I’m not sure how the tiebreaker would work in that situation, but the situation is infinitely greater than being in 4th place, which would happen with a loss.

Two things need to happen to guarantee a win – make shots and limit the effectiveness of the pick and roll. Florida is undersized and soft down low. That’s why they mainly play a 2-3 zone. Having not watched the last three games, I don’t know how much zone has been used against Kentucky. Georgia tried a little, and failed miserably because that’s what Georgia does this season. I do know that teams have been throwing 3-4 guys at Patterson every trip down the floor, then had their best guys shadowing Meeks, with the strategy of making somebody other than those guys win the game. The strategy has been flawless so far. Good ball movement beats any 2-3 zone. Unfortunately, Kentucky only has 3-4 guys who can pass, and they rarely if ever play together. As for the pick and roll, it’s been Florida’s ace in the hole since 2005. They set great screens (so great, they’re probably offensive fouls), their point guards always seem to make the right decisions and the Gators are never short on big money shooters.

Maybe I’m being naive here, but I think a win turns this whole thing around. College basketball is all about momentum, and a win switches the momentum around, which I believe would lead to a 12-4 overall record, maybe even 13-3 if the breaks go the way of the good guys. A loss here would be devastating in ways that I don’t think we’ve ever seen here. Think the ‘86 Angels after the Donnie Moore game. Or, if you want something more current, think last year’s Hornets after the David West injury.

That’s why when I say tonight is the biggest game of the year, I actually mean it this time.