Gators honor Johnson with ceremonial start, but UF loses to Kentucky
Florida forward Keyontae Johnson dribbled the ball several times near midcourt, handed it to an official and started hugging everyone around him, even his opponents. He then dropped to the court in a push-up pose and kissed the giant Gators logo — all while being overwhelmed by a standing ovation.
It was an emotional scene that was 15 months in the making.
Johnson, who collapsed during a game in December 2020 and hasn’t practiced or played since, got a ceremonial start on senior day against No. 7 Kentucky on Saturday.
“I wanted to stay out there a little bit longer, but had to get off,” Johnson said after the Wildcats beat the Gators 71-63.
Johnson was on the floor for the first of two opening tips. He officially played 10 seconds, moments that will last a lifetime.
“This is a day you’ll never forget,” he said.
Kentucky coach John Calipari was among the thousands clapping and even hugged Johnson as he checked out of the game. Johnson changed back into street clothes and assumed his usual spot on the bench as “Coach Key.”
“I’m all about fashion so I had to throw my clothes back on,” he quipped.
Calipari offered to let Johnson score the first bucket, but the Gators settled on a brief ballhandling exhibition and a quick exit.
“I got a little emotional because ... his whole life had been to be in this moment and these kind of games and it’s taken from him,” Calipari said. “But good for Florida for figuring out a way to really honor him and their fans for what they’ve done.”
Johnson was one of seven Florida seniors honored about 10 minutes before the game. He had his parents, grandparents, young daughter and even the Tallahassee doctor who “saved my life” on hand for the ceremony. In his No. 11 uniform, Johnson was on the floor for layup lines.
“I was trying to get a dunk in before [the trainer] came out,” Johnson said.
The 22-year-old senior from Norfolk, Virginia, is expected to turn pro and try to get medically cleared to work out for NBA teams or attend the NBA Combine. He also has a $5 million insurance policy that would pay out if he never plays pro ball.
He reiterated Saturday what those close to him have said for months: “I don’t know what the next [step] is.”
• No. 2 Arizona 89, California 61: Oumar Ballo scored 16 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 13 and the host Wildcats (28-3, 18-2) became the first Pac-12 team to win 18 conference games with a win over the Bears (12-19, 5-15).
• No. 5 Auburn 82, South Carolina 71: Jabari Smith scored 21 points, K.D. Johnson had 18 and the host Tigers (27-4, 15-3 SEC). won the Southeastern Conference regular season title by beating the
Gamecocks (18-12, 9-9).
• No. 6 Kansas 70, No. 21 Texas 63: Jalen Wilson had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Christian Braun had 13 points and 11 boards, helping to make up for an off game from Ochai Agbaji and help the host Jayhawks (25-6, 14-4) clinch the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament with a win over the Longhorns (21-10, 10-8).
• No. 8 Purdue 69, Indiana 67: Eric Hunter Jr. had 17 points, Trevion Williams made the tying basket with less than six minutes left and Sasha Stefanovic hit the go-ahead three-pointer as the host Boilermakers (25-6, 14-6 Big Ten) rallied past the Hoosiers (18-12, 9-11).
• No. 11 Villanova 78, Butler 59: Justin Moore scored 16 points and Jermaine Samuels added 15 as the Wildcats (23-7, 16-4
Big East) built a big early lead and handed the host Bulldogs (13-18, 6-14) their fifth straight loss.
• Oklahome St. 52, No. 12 Texas Tech 51: Bryce Thompson made a goahead three-pointer with 19.4 seconds left and the host Cowboys (15-15, 8-10) eliminated the Red Raiders (23-8, 12-6) from the Big 12 title race.
• No. 13 Tennessee 78, No. 14 Arkansas 74: Freshman guard Zakai Zeigler, whose family was left homeless by a fire in New York City last weekend, made two key free throws in the final seconds to help the host Volunteers hold on against the Razorbacks (24-7, 13-5). Tennessee (23-7, 14-4 Southeastern Conference) wrapped up the No. 2 seed for the SEC Tournament.
• No. 18 UConn 75, DePaul 68: Adama Sanogo scored a game-high 26 points as the host Huskies (22-8, 13-6 Big East) beat the Blue Demons (15-15, 6-14).
• LSU 80, No. 25 Alabama 77 (OT): Tari Eason scored 20 points and had a key block that led to his go-ahead dunk with 38 seconds left in overtime as the host Tigers (21-10, 9-9 Southeastern Conference) scored the final six points to upset the Crimson Tide (19-12, 9-9).
STATE SCHOOLS
• Florida State 89, N.C. State 76: Caleb Mills returned from a five-game absence and scored 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, redshirt senior Anthony Polite had his first career double-double and the host Seminoles never trailed, beating the Wolfpack (1119, 4-15 ACC). Polite finished with 13 points, a career-high tying 10 rebounds and two steals. Matthew Cleveland and John Butler scored 11 points apiece for Florida State (17-13, 10-10).
• FAU 84, FIU 76: Alijah Martin had a career-high 34 points as the host Owls defeated the Panthers. Bryan Greenlee had 17 points for Florida Atlantic (18-13, 11-7 Conference USA). Javaunte Hawkins had 21 points for the Panthers (15-16, 5-13), whose losing streak stretched to four games. Clevon Brown scored a career-high 20 points and had eight rebounds. Denver Jones had 17 points.
WOMEN’S TOP 25
No. 1 South Carolina 61, Mississippi 51: Aliyah Boston posted her 23rd consecutive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds as top-ranked Gamecocks (29-1) beat the Rebels (23-8) in the Southeastern Conference tournament semifinals.
• No. 3 N.C. State 70, No. 21 Virginia Tech 55: Elissa Cunane had 20 points and 13 rebounds and the Wolfpack (28-3) used a strong second half to pull away from the Hokies (23-9) and return to the ACC Tournament championship game.
• No. 7 UConn 84, Georgetown 38: Paige Bueckers came off the bench and scored 16 points in her third game back from knee surgery and the host Huskies (23-5) routed the Hoyas (10-19) in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.
• No. 9 Texas 65, Oklahoma St. 50: Senior Lauren Ebo scored a careerbest 17 points and Rori Harmon added 13 along and four steals to help the host Longhorns (23-6, 13-5 Big 12) extend their winning streak to eight games with a win over the Cowboys (8-19, 3-15) in the final regular season game at the 45-year-old Frank Erwin Center.
• No. 14 Indiana 70, No. 13 Ohio St. 62: Nicole Cardano-Hillary led a balanced attack with 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and the Hoosiers (22-7) moved within a game of making Big Ten Conference history with a win over the Buckeyes (23-6) in the semifinals.
• Kansas 73, No. 19 Oklahoma 67: Aniya Thomas shot 8 of 11 from the field and scored 10 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, Taiyanna Jackson added 17 points and Kansas gave up a 13-point second-half lead before the Jayhawks (20-8, 11-7 Big 12) used a late run to beat the host Sooners (23-7, 12-6).