Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats delivered a stunning performance in their SEC opener, narrowly missing a 26-year-old record while handing the previously undefeated Florida Gators their first loss of the season. No. 10 Kentucky pulled out a 106-100 win over No. 6 Florida, a high-scoring thriller at Rupp Arena.

The first half was especially bad for the Kentucky defense as they saw the opposition set the offense alight. The Wildcats put up 37 points in the last 11 minutes of the first half paving their way to score. Kentucky scored out on this one, scoring 52 first-half points, the most points Kentucky has put up against Florida in the first half since January 2, 1999 when the Wildcats netted 55 points.

This victory is a remarkable feat for Mark Pope as he becomes the first Kentucky coach since the legendary Adolph Rupp to win his first three games against AP Top-10 opponents. Rupp had set the bar high by winning his first seven such games from 1948-51.

This win not only guarantees Kentucky as one of the favourite teams in the SEC, but also spoils the perfect run that Florida had earlier in the season. The Gators, who started the game with the 13-0 and was atop the SEC, will have to refocus as they encounter the conference foes.