Welcome to the live game thread for the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores in the quarter-final game of the 2013 SEC Tournament.
Gameday Information |
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SECT Quarterfinals No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 7 Arkansas/No. 10 Vanderbilt Fri., March 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET Nashville, Tenn. Game Notes: UK | VU |
Coverage |
TV: SEC Network Via UKAthletics.com
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This game is literally rife with subplots and story lines, including the fact that to move on, Kentucky would have to beat the Commodores for the third straight time, something that didn’t work out too well in 2012 when presented with the same opportunity (or challenge, depending on your viewpoint).
It has worked out okay before, though, as UK was able to complete the sweep of the Gators in 2012, Tennessee in 2005, and both South Carolina and Florida in 2004, just to name a few.
Another subplot is the game being in the Commodores’ hometown of Nashville, albeit not at the painfully difficult Memorial Gymnasium, where so many Kentucky teams have gone to die horribly. But the Vanderbilt faithful will be well-represented, although given their team’s limited post-season hopes, they will probably be convincingly outnumbered by the Big Blue Mist.
Here’s what I’m looking for tonight:
Tight defense on the 3-point line. Let them drive to the hoop, I like our chances better in that kind of game.
Archie Goodwin to finally emerge. He’s due.
Kyle Wiltjer’s slump to end. He’s due.
Alex Poythress to finally have a good game against Vanderbilt. He’s due.
A low turnover affair. Kentucky almost always wins when they take good care of the ball.
If UK loses this game, it will put them in a bad place. They won’t be in, they won’t be out, they will be…
ON SLIPPERY SIDE OF THE BUBBLE!
That means this weekend will be spent in bemoaning the fate of this somewhat benighted team, or wiping our brows if they squeak in, and I don’t want to see that. I want to see at least one more SEC Tournament game featuring Kentucky, and preferably two.
Get past this game, and the Wildcats can probably count on an NCAA bid, which should be fairly cold comfort to the fans, considering how this season has gone, but we somehow have risen to the occasion to make it a worthwhile goal. If Kentucky gets in, I guess I’m saying they have a chance.
How far we have fallen from the clear, crystalline heights of last year. Oh well, let’s just win, baby! I didn’t mean to make this a lament.
Go, ’Cats!