SEC Tournament: How does everyone feel about it?

[UKWildcats#8]

Florida or Bama in game 1.

A&M or LSU in game 2.

And then who knows in the title game.

Thoughts?

I am hoping Bama wins, as I think that will be an easier win, but I think UK would beat FL pretty easily as well if they play them. I highly prefer A&M over LSU, but LSU plays about six guys so that may play a bigger role in this type of tourney format. The good news is, UK is not playing A&M or LSU in their houses this time. The game is on "neutral" ground so to speak so UK should play a lot better, and will have the home crowd advantage.

 

[JerseyCat84_rivals57050]

Florida, then A&M, then Arkansas.

 

[wildcatdonf]

I feel a whole lot more like I do now than I did before we whupped the Gators.

 

[Askeladden]

PARTY TIME!!!

 

[Crawfords Corner]

I feel I hope nothing goes awry. No you know what's to any players. Undefeated is nice, but health means everything. Other than 3 steps closer to undefeated this tournament means absolutely nothing.

 

[KingOfBBN]

I just want to hurry up and get it over with. I hate conference tournaments as does Cal. We don't gain anything from it at all. The only thing it does is add more chance of an injury and a loss.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

That's actually a pretty tough draw. We may play UF, LSU and UGA in three days. It isn't like we owned them during the season. It's gonna be a tough tournament and may be our most likely spot to drop a game. I don't think we'll lose, but it won't be easy either.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Originally posted by BigBlueFanGA:
That's actually a pretty tough draw. We may play UF, LSU and UGA in three days. It isn't like we owned them during the season. It's gonna be a tough tournament and may be our most likely spot to drop a game. I don't think we'll lose, but it won't be easy either.

True.

I think those teams will be on fumes when we play them though in comparison to UK. Cal should platoon for the last time in this tourney IMO.

 

[Willahelm]

I hate feeling this way about the conference tournament, but it's a waste of time for the most part. On the plus side, it's a nice trip for retired UK fans to go to Nashville. It's a good money raiser for the SEC. It's just not worth the risk of injury to any of our players before the NCAAT.

 

[lawrencekash]

I like the line up because I did not want to see UGA or Vandy again.

 

[Hjack]

Originally posted by HeismanWildcat85:
I just want to hurry up and get it over with. I hate conference tournaments as does Cal. We don't gain anything from it at all. The only thing it does is add more chance of an injury and a loss.

I do agree, but without it, we couldn't be 40-0.

 

[ukalumni00]

Glad KY avoids UGA, Vandy, and Ark until the final game. Think if KY gets LSU they paste them like they did last season. It's going to be basically home games for KY throughout the tournament. No more away game advantages for any team.

Think folks just need to relax some. If this team comes focus to play they are not losing to anyone in this tournament or NCAA.

 

[Classof71]

I don't mean to burn bread, but how many injuries have UK players sustained in the SEC Tournaments since Cal arrived? The risk is very, very low. Maybe we should have forfeited to the Gators to reduce the risk of injury?

SEC Tournament championships matter. Playing three games in three days prepares the players for the NCAA Tournament grind ... and yes, the tournaments in Nashville provide a great opportunity for UK fans to see the team in person. I love seeing BBN swarm into places such as Atlanta, New Orleans and Nashville.

Let's enjoy this march to, hopefully, 40 and done!!

 

[Huma1894]

Here is the bracket if anyone needs it:

SEC Tournament Bracket

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Originally posted by D8dlo:
I don't mean to burn bread, but how many injuries have UK players sustained in the SEC Tournaments since Cal arrived? The risk is very, very low. Maybe we should have forfeited to the Gators to reduce the risk of injury?

SEC Tournament championships matter. Playing three games in three days prepares the players for the NCAA Tournament grind ... and yes, the tournaments in Nashville provide a great opportunity for UK fans to see the team in person. I love seeing BBN swarm into places such as Atlanta, New Orleans and Nashville.

Let's enjoy this march to, hopefully, 40 and done!!

Not really. The two are nothing alike. 48 hours in between games with long TV timeouts is not the same as a game every 24 hours for 3 straight days. To your point, it may make the guys appreciate how easy the NCAA is by comparison as far as being tired.

Fortunately this team played in the Bahamas so we have a huge advantage (as if UK needs another) over the rest of the SEC.

And to the one poster who says he is glad we are on the other side from UGA, Vandy and Arkansas? Any reason why Arkansas scares you at all? They do not worry me due to their hectic style. I get what you are saying about the other two though, two very ANNOYING teams.

 

[TheDude73]

Originally posted by UKWildcats#8:

Originally posted by BigBlueFanGA:
That's actually a pretty tough draw. We may play UF, LSU and UGA in three days. It isn't like we owned them during the season. It's gonna be a tough tournament and may be our most likely spot to drop a game. I don't think we'll lose, but it won't be easy either.

True.

I think those teams will be on fumes when we play them though in comparison to UK. Cal should platoon for the last time in this tourney IMO.

I think Cal can still platoon for the first two games in the NCAAs. I'm thinking LSU and UGA will be similar to our 8/9, and of course we'll be playing the worst 16-seed from the play-in game, so that will likely end up being a 30-pt slamming perfect for the platoon (and even Willis and Hawkins time).

Get to the Sweet 16 and then it will be time to buckle down with non-platooon-type substitutions.

 

[jrm693]

Originally posted by wildcatdonf:
I feel a whole lot more like I do now than I did before we whupped the Gators.

"Huh"

 

[docholiday51]

We are going to have to play either Ala or UF for a 3rd time,Ala would be my choice since we just played UF.Palying a team in back to back games seems sorta strange.

If we have learned anything about the SEC this year it should be that anyone not named UK can lose to anyone else.Everyone has 5 losses so a few upsets is probably a given at this point.

VU is playing pretty good ball right now,UGA does some things that gives us problems for some reason..These neutral court games put a new twist on things to a degree.I hope we use the SECT to sharpen our tourney mindset and refine our rotation for the NCAT.
This post was edited on 3/8 11:21 AM by docholiday51

 

[songsungblue]

These may be essentially home games crowd-wise, but remember that we're still going to be stuck with the inept, D-list, bottom-feeding refs that are endemic to SEC basketball.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[Willahelm]

Originally posted by D8dlo:
I don't mean to burn bread, but how many injuries have UK players sustained in the SEC Tournaments since Cal arrived? The risk is very, very low. Maybe we should have forfeited to the Gators to reduce the risk of injury?

D8dlo, I can see what you're saying and I promise I'm not trying to be a jerk. We came within a gnat's *** of losing both Lamb and Liggins in the 2011 SEC Tournament when both of them injured their ankles in the final minute of a blowout against Bama. I new that we'd be OK after the game when Cal said something to the effect that "today's kids have the pain threshold of a fourth-grader". We bounced back the next day an won the tournament handily.

 

[caneintally]

just a note - the bracket provided above has the times as central time so i know many if not most of the fans on this board live in eastern time zone so make sure to add an hour to everything it says.

 

[caneintally]

love the story lines of this tourney -
Can Texas A&M get onto the right side on the dance card ?
Can UF get to .500 so they have something to do beyond this weekend?
Can Arkansas prove it is the 2nd best SEC team and get to the finals ?
and of coarse does UK stay undefeated ?

I think this tourney will be sorta wild and i will not be surprised to see a final of UK vs . Vandy or Ole Miss ( in fact i bet it is one of those 2 )

 

[Waterview Catfan]

It's a pretty good tourney, but I personally like the NCAA'S better.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

Originally posted by UKWildcats#8:

I think those teams will be on fumes when we play them though in comparison to UK. Cal should platoon for the last time in this tourney IMO.

Agreed, that's what he should do - if the objective is to win the SECT. Which is where the rub is, and is why IMO Cal isn't crazy about conference tournaments. By this time of year, everything should be done in perpetration for advancing in the NCAAT. That's how Cal thinks, and by now - with an 18-3 record - he's established himself as the best tournament coach in the country at UK and is due much deference. Does he go platoon, playing as many as he can to take advantage of our depth in a 3 games in 3 days format? Or does he go further without interruption towards establishing the 8 man rotation he clearly prefers in the NCAAT?

I'll remind others of what Vitale has said repeatedly the last week or so: "it's amazing, UK hasn't won the conference tournament the last 3 years, it has not been their friend!!" And, again, while not winning the SECT in the last 3 years, Cal has an NCAAT record of 11-1. He cares about one, and not the other....

 

[ukcatsfan1]

New Season!

Not Done Yet!

 

[G-PIP]

I like watching any game, but I don't have anymore excitement about the SEC tournament this season than watching UK play EKU. For me, I just want to get it over with no injuries; and get on to the real tournament. If a loss in the SEC helps the focus for the stretch run, then I'm fine with that too.

 

[Seth C]

The thought of playing Florida in back-to-back games bores me to tears and frankly, it probably does for the team as well. Our bracket is like must nap TV. Not interested.

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

Good! We all know Cal doesn't put much stock it in, but this year with UK chasing an historic record for the program and him I think he will. I don't like the prospect of playing Florida twice in a row, and for a 3rd time. Whatever their record they've played us tough both times. Then again I'd like to beat them a 3rd time like they did us last year. It's also possible Georgia could beat Arkansas now that they are at full strength, and we might have to play them a 3rd time. They also played us tough both times.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Our depth will shine more in the 3 gms in 3 days format than any other point in the season.
Factor in Bama/UF will play the day before and UK will have nearly a full week of rest and the tip on Fri is early and I think we wear out whoever we play by half.

The depth will continue to benefit UK thru the weekend as we wear teams down in this day by day format.

UK is going into the NCAAs 34-0.

 

[fla.cat]

How I feel, isn't the norm. As far as I care, we could just go home, rest up, and get ready for 6 very hard pressure packed games.

I am not much in favor of the league championship.
It's not needed, we know Kentucky is the best team.m thT why we have played all those conference games.......it's just spinning people's wheels, for all I care.

Go Cats.

 

[GermantownDawg]

Originally posted by BoulderCat:

Good! We all know Cal doesn't put much stock it in, but this year with UK chasing an historic record for the program and him I think he will. I don't like the prospect of playing Florida twice in a row, and for a 3rd time. Whatever their record they've played us tough both times. Then again I'd like to beat them a 3rd time like they did us last year. It's also possible Georgia could beat Arkansas now that they are at full strength, and we might have to play them a 3rd time. They also played us tough both times.

Juwan Parker is now likely done for the season filling in for Gaines yesterday against Auburn. We've heard that game really set him back (Achilles) again unfortunately. We're hoping to have Gaines back for the SECT. Even if we get him back though, he probably won't be 100%.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

UK is 2-0 in neutral court games this season, outscoring opponents 155 to 84, with a margin of victory of 77.5 to 42.