Kentucky hits a three game stretch beginning tonight that is of the utmost importance for its ultimate goal of making the NCAA Tournament.  As I see things, the Cats need to go 9-7 in conference in order to insure an NCAA bid.  That would put them at 19-11 going into the SEC and with one win in the tourney, I think it would be tough for the NCAA to leave out a 20 win Kentucky team.
 
However Kentucky has a brutal stretch of games still to come....2 games against Florida, 2 against Tennessee, one on the road at Vandy, on the road at South Carolina and on the road at LSU.  7 games, all loseable.  Kentucky, even as they stand now, needs to go 2-5 during that stretch.

However between those games and now comes three games that are needed wins....at Auburn, home to Arkansas and at Mississippi St.  As I see it, these games are CRUCIAL, not only for momentum purposes (winning all would give us 5 straight going into Florida), but also to give some breathing room before the hard stretch at the end.  One hates to put the fear of god into big games, but the schedule is such that tonight's game (like Rondo's three the other night) must be successful.

KSR Blue Blooded Opinions

Auburn game another must win

In Episode 61 of The Memorial Memo, KSR's Phoenix Stevens talks about Kentucky women's basketball first-round victory over James Madison as well as

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The Memorial Memo (EP. 61): Cats are feeling... Sweet?

No. 7 seed Kentucky survived and advanced on Friday afternoon in St. Louis. That gives Mark Pope's team another opportunity. The reward for that win

Kentucky G Aaron Harrison hits a game-winner in the Elight Eight at Lucas Oil Stadium, via Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

KSR Basketball

This is how Kentucky has performed against No. 2 seeds in NCAA Tournament

Following 5-seed Kentucky's 71-56 first-round victory over 12-seed James Madison, the Cats had to wait a few hours to see who they would play in the

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Kentucky will play West Virginia in second round of NCAA Tournament

The last few years notwithstanding, Mark Stoops had a tremendous run as the head football coach of the University of Kentucky. But, prior to the

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Could Oweh's shot be Mark Pope's Austin MacGinnis kick moment?

Kentucky got out to a 32-10 lead in the first quarter of its 15-point win over James Madison, but when you look at that, that tells you that James

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Kenny Brooks purposefully 'went very vanilla' in second half in James Madison win

Mistakes in almost every phase of the game cost No. 15 Kentucky a chance to win its second straight series to open SEC play.  No. 19 Ole Miss (19-6,

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Ole Miss comes back to win Game 3, take series from Kentucky

The first crossover episode of Sources Say, Happy Hour and Zoom Action was a massive success in St. Louis -- and it led to a tournament-opening

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It's time for another Sources Say/Happy Hour crossover, LIVE from St. Louis!

Friday was a very fun day for Otega Oweh and the Kentucky Basketball team, but the Cats have turned the page to Iowa State; in fact, Mark Pope said

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WATCH: Kentucky talks Otega Oweh's big shot, previews Iowa State

5-seed Kentucky women's basketball began its NCAA Tournament run on Saturday, taking on 12-seed James Madison in the first round. The Dukes entered

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Kentucky rolls to second round with 71-56 victory over James Madison

Iowa State superstar Joshua Jefferson is one of the biggest storylines of March Madness right now, going down with an ankle injury in the team's

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For the third time in five years, George Rogers Clark is playing in the final game of the high school season.  On Saturday afternoon in Rupp Arena,

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KSR Preps

GRC survives with thrilling 53-45 victory over North Oldham in Sweet 16 semifinals

Kentucky and Iowa State will meet in the NCAA Tournament for the third time on Sunday afternoon. The No. 2 seed Cyclones will have to beat the No. 7

Mar 7, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) reacts during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa State All-American Joshua Jefferson 'is unlikely to play' against Kentucky

Otega Oweh put his cape on and saved the day for Kentucky while Brandon Garrison and Mo Dioubate also anchored the frontcourt with a combined 27

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Kentucky guard Otega Oweh's game-tying shot vs. Santa Clara

On3 NIL

Kentucky's Otega Oweh inks NIL deal with Buffalo Wild Wings to celebrate game-tying shot vs. Santa Clara

Tayshaun Prince had one of the most famous blocks in all of former Kentucky player history back in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons. Actually, forget

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KSR Cats in the NBA

WATCH: Reed Sheppard had a Tayshaun-like chasedown block

The Rupp Arena seats aren't used to being coated in orange, but Grayson County's rowdy and loyal fanbase couldn't quite help overpower the state's

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Otega Oweh's halfcourt heave to force overtime vs. Santa Clara is the shot of the NCAA Tournament so far, the No. 1 play on SportsCenter's Top 10.

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Otega Oweh breaks down his big shot on College Gameday: 'I just let it fly'

Miami (Oh) became America's darlings as Travis Steele's basketball team completed an undefeated regular season. On the same day their run ended in

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KSR Football Recruiting

Tayden Lorenzen Commits to MACtion

Underdogs had a strong day on Thursday at the NCAA Tournament. There were even some double-digit seed from non-power conference advancing with No. 11

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Friday was absolute chalk, making NCAA Tournament history

Cardiologists around the Commonwealth of Kentucky do not have to worry about job security. Hearts were palpitating, and blood pressure was sky-high

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Kentucky's first game of the NCAA Tournament will be against James Madison where, as you probably know by now, Kenny Brooks played and coached.

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PREVIEW: Kentucky begins NCAA Tournament run against James Madison in Morgantown

The greatest thing about March Madness is how one moment can change an entire season. When Allen Graves hit a three-pointer to put Santa Clara up by

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'We're not done yet': Kentucky rallies around Otega Oweh’s clutch shot

Just like they drew it up, right? Otega Oweh is known for putting on his Superman cape and saving the day for the Kentucky Wildcats, but never on a

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Otega Oweh's teammates react to miracle heave at the buzzer: 'It was destiny.'

Big Blue Nation is jubilant. That was not always the case in the heat of the battle between Kentucky and Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament.   Let's

Kentucky SG Otega Oweh hits a buzzer-beater to force overtime in the NCAA Tournament, Jeff Le, Imagn Images

"That's a bucket." Otega Oweh Never had a Doubt

We have a tipoff time for Kentucky's Round of 32 matchup in the NCAA Tournament.  The (7) Wildcats will face the (2) Iowa State Cyclones on Sunday at

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) celebrates with teammates after shooting a three point basket to tie the game against the Santa Clara Broncos as time expired in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

Auburn game another must win

Discuss This Article

Kentucky will play West Virginia in second round of NCAA Tournament

Could Oweh's shot be Mark Pope's Austin MacGinnis kick moment?

Kenny Brooks purposefully 'went very vanilla' in second half in James Madison win

Ole Miss comes back to win Game 3, take series from Kentucky

It's time for another Sources Say/Happy Hour crossover, LIVE from St. Louis!

WATCH: Kentucky talks Otega Oweh's big shot, previews Iowa State

Kentucky rolls to second round with 71-56 victory over James Madison

Joshua Jefferson 'happy' with ankle progress, still undecided on playing vs. Kentucky

KENTUCKY 89, SANTA CLARA 85

Oweh Buzzer-Beater

WBB advances!

Tipoff time

"That's a bucket."