First, I spent the afternoon visiting my grandparents and missed the South Carolina game. I checked on the score a few times, but have no commentary to offer other than that it looked like the Vols took care of business in a meaningless game. The game I did see today while I walked off some pounds on the treadmill was the "Bubble Battle" between Florida and Kentucky. The Gators seem to have played themselves out of the tournament over the last few weeks, but Kentucky just keeps winning.
The Wildcats might be the most interesting case in NCAA Tournament history. They started the season with embarrassing home losses to Gardner-Webb, UAB and San Diego. After most people already had their NIT cards punched, Kentucky notched SEC wins over Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Arkansas.
So come next Sunday, is Kentucky in or out?
The case for Kentucky making the tournament field gets stronger by the day. The Kats are 12-4 in the SEC with wins over the aforementioned tournament-ready teams. The disappointing November/December can be chalked up to growing pains under new coach Billy Gillispie. The Wildcats have overcome a plethora of injuries this season, including the season-ending foot injury to freshmen stud Patrick Patterson. If the selection committee wants to put the best 65 teams into the tournament, Kentucky belongs in the field. They are playing as well as any team in the country right now.
The case against Kentucky is a strong one as well. There is a pre-season exhibition season before the games actually count, so there is no reason not to count the early Kentucky slip-ups against them. The Gardner-Webb game counted. So did San Diego. Furthermore, the Wildcats SEC run is hampered by the reality that the conference is down this year. Traditional powers like Florida and LSU have struggled with youth and injuries. Ole Miss started strong, but fizzled in the conference season. South Carolina and Georgia were occasionally competitive, but little more. Before Kentucky goes dancing on its 12-4 SEC record, the selection committee will take a tough look at the quality (or lack there of) of the conference this year.
So..in or out? If this was any other school than Kentucky, would there be a discussion right now? I doubt it, but I also doubt the committee will leave out one of the top programs in the nation as it rides a winning streak into March.
Cats have nine lives, and these cats are not dead yet. Expect to see Kentucky in the tournament.
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3 comments:
I think KY has played themselves into the tourney. An early exit at the SEC Tourney might keep them out, but that is a scrappy bunch who could be quite dangerous as a high seed.
Do you guys watch Real Sports on HBO? Bruce Pearl is going to be featured this week, I think the episode premiers tonight at 10:00pm.
I need to get HBO. I got into The Sopranos via DVDs and am now doing the same with The Wire. Thanks for mentioning the spot.
Tennessee got a nice draw for the SEC tourney. We get the winner of LSU/USC before facing either Vanderbilt or Arkansas, two teams we destroyed at home this year.
Kentucky will play Ole Miss on Friday night in what ought to be a play-in game. I think Kentucky is in, but they need to win that game.
Boy, Tennessee is getting no love nationally as a #1 seed. Billy Packer mentioned them as an after-thought and Dick Vitale says it will be either Kansas or Tennessee. I get it - there really is something to the name across the front of the uniform. There is no way UT isn't a 1 seed with our RPI and quality wins unless we choke on Friday afternoon.
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