NCAA basketball rivalries: Ranking the top 25 college basketball rivalries

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: A fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels (L) and the Duke Blue Devils pose for a photo while holding a sign referring to the Duke/UNC rivalry during the semifinals of the ACC Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

No. 16 – Florida Gators vs. Kentucky Wildcats

All-Time Series: Kentucky leads 102-40

These SEC powerhouses and national contenders square off twice annually in SEC play in what has proved to be one of the more dynamic rivalries in college hoops. While the overall series is lopsided in favor of the Wildcats, much of that advantage took place before Florida’s rise on the national scene.

Florida’s national successes came in the mid-2000s winning back to back NCAA Championships under Billy Donovan. Since then, the Gators have endured up and down seasons, but have been successful under head coach Mike White, and have recruited talented freshmen and upper-tier graduate transfers in recent seasons. Kentucky is one of the elite Blue Blood programs in all of college basketball and through high-level recruiting, Kentucky consistently replenishes its stock of talented incoming freshmen. These teams play meaningful conference games every year and occasionally do battle at the highest levels of the SEC Tournament.

Game of Note: March 10, 2012 – SEC Tournament Semifinals – No. 1 Kentucky def No. 22 Florida 74-71

En route to winning the 2012 National Championship, Kentucky met a tough road in the SEC tournament, where it would eventually fall to surprise winner, Vanderbilt. In the semifinals of that tournament, Kentucky and Florida squared off in a slugfest reminiscent of the battles typifying this rivalry. This game featured prominent players and coaches as Kentucky was led by future NBA superstar Anthony Davis and hall of fame coach John Calipari, while Florida touted NBA all-star Bradley Beal and was coached by current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan.