For a team that is undefeated, in the top 10 in the AP poll and in the best conference in college basketball, the Florida Gators have oddly flown under the radar. At 13-0, the Gators have steadily climbed up the rankings and have looked pretty dominant in doing so. However, Florida will face its biggest test to date on Saturday when it travels to Rupp Arena to face No. 10 Kentucky in the SEC opener for both teams.

Florida began the season ranked No. 26 in KenPom and currently sits at No. 6. The Gators’ NET ranking is even better at No. 4. The only thing missing from this resume is true marquee wins. The Gators have only one Quadrant 1 win, with their best coming at Florida State and on neutral courts over Wake Forest, Arizona State and North Carolina.

“This opportunity is incredibly exciting,” Florida head coach Todd Golden said on Thursday about the Kentucky game. “Two top ten teams going at it first game of league play and for us to get this opportunity in what we anticipate to be a really raucous environment I think will be a great challenge for us. We got a little bit of a taste of it in Charlotte. It wasn’t on Carolina’s home floor, but it was pretty close. We weathered the storm in that game. I think this one will be even more challenging.”

There is no question that a road contest versus Kentucky will be the Gators’ biggest test of the season, but we will learn a lot more about Florida — and Florida will learn more about itself — in the next two weeks. After Kentucky, the Gators will be home vs. Tennessee, at Arkansas and home vs. Missouri and Texas. How Florida handles the upcoming SEC gauntlet will go a long way toward determining the Gators’ long term viability.

“We’ve had some good wins,” Golden said. “We took care of the schedule in front of us. I think we’ve played really well for the majority of non-conference play. At some point this team will have to deal with some adversity. I would love to go 31-0 in the regular season, but I think that will be challenging this year in the SEC.”

The program’s greatest adversity thus far has come off the court. In September, a Title IX complaint was filed against Golden alleging sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking and cyberstalking multiple women, including students. The University of Florida is conducting an investigation into the complaint. Golden has maintained his innocence and has said he is considering defamation charges. It is unclear when the investigation will be completed and when or if any punishment will be levied.

Report: Florida Coach Todd Golden Accused of Sexual Harassment and Stalking
Report: Florida Coach Todd Golden Accused of Sexual Harassment and Stalking
 The school received a formal Title XI complaint on September 27, according to a student-owned newspaper

The team has not let Golden’s case impact its play on the court. The Gators are led by three seniors and a sophomore averaging double figures in points. Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. is averaging 17.2 points and 3.8 assists. Senior guard and Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin has fit right in, adding toughness and Final Four experience while putting 15.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Senior guard Will Richard is contributing 14.2 points and 5.0 rebounds and sophomore big Alex Condon is averaging 11.2 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Florida has been tough on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top 20 in both offensive and defensive adjusted efficiency, according to KenPom. Kentucky’s offense (ranked 11th in adjusted offensive efficiency) will pose problems for Florida’s defense. “They are hard to guard and they do some good things offensively,” Golden said of Kentucky. “They play through their bigs on the perimeter, they’re more 4 and 5 out. If we can execute and know (their) personnel, we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”