No. 6 Kentucky rallies from 18 down, stuns Florida 71-70

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Kentucky coach John Calipari went around the locker room at halftime and picked on just about everyone. His harshest criticism was directed toward star forward Nick Richards.

“Nick, you are so bad right now," Calipari recalled. "We're not going away from you, so you can either be the player you've been all year or look like this.”

Richards chose option No. 1. The junior scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half, leading the way as the sixth-ranked Wildcats rallied from an 18-point deficit and stunned Florida 71-70 on Saturday.

The shorthanded Wildcats (25-6, 15-3 Southeastern Conference) needed the comeback to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time in nearly three months. They blew an 17-point lead against Tennessee on Tuesday night.

Richards, Keion Brooks Jr. and EJ Montgomery provided the spark in this one, helping make up for the absence of point guard Ashton Hagans.

Hagans didn't make the trip three days after arguing with Calipari on the bench against the Volunteers.

“Just personal,” Calipari said. “Here's what I'll tell you about these kids: In the last three years, this has totally changed. What is on these players . ... The clutter that they got to deal with, the lists, what's out there, not being able to stay in the moment, the anxiety of worrying a year from now, everyone around them.

"And then you're at Kentucky, where every game is someone's Super Bowl, every game is sold out and now all of a sudden you start struggling four of five games and now you don't know how to deal with stuff.”

Calipari said he expects Hagans to return before next week's SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. Kentucky is the No. 1 seed and opens play Friday following a double bye.

“Hopefully what you'll see is an inspired young man," Calipari said. "And if he doesn't think he's ready for that, then he's not ready. We're going to go without whoever we have.”

Kentucky showed a little depth without Hagans and guard Immanuel Quickley, who fouled out with about nine minutes remaining. Quickley finished with 12 points. Freshman guard Johnny Juzang scored 10 points while playing a sea