They are not good. They are filthy. A few of them are snitches. In addition, this is Kentucky’s last regular season game of this crazy 2023–24 basketball season. Big Blue Nation, good morning, and lock in. It’s going to get real now.
The Wildcats’ remaining games of the season may not be win-or-go-home affairs, but Kentucky’s matchup with Tennessee today will have a significant impact on the Wildcats’ seeding in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.
Win, and a two-seed on the table in Nashville. Lose, and the ‘Cats could fall all the way down to a five-seed; not ideal considering that would thwart the double-bye. I might be in the minority here, but I’m kind of with John Calipari’s old-school mindset this season more than ever before in that I’m not overly concerned about the SEC Tournament. Of course, it would be awesome to win it, and if by doing so Kentucky gets a few more Quad-1 wins to boost their NCAA Tourney resume, then even better. However, the primary prize is the 3-seed in the Big Dance. A win over Tennessee today puts Kentucky in much better shape to that a reality.
There is not a huge difference between the 2-seed and 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but in my opinion, there is a huge difference between a 3-seed and 4-seed. With a 4, assuming chalk lines hold, Kentucky would face the 1-seed in the Sweet 16 whereas they would avoid the 1-seed until the Elite 8 with a 3-seed.
Of course, it ultimately boils down to matchups and a tinge of luck, but this group is the most exciting team in many years. Gearing up for a favorable March run is all that matters, and that all starts today against Tennessee.
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