Calipari Games with Gaudy SEC Records a Good Omen (BTI's R&R)

by: Bryan the Intern01/19/22BryantheIntern

On3 image — LEXINGTON, KY - DECEMBER 29: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats is seen during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena on December 29, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

You wouldn’t think it but Kentucky and Texas A&M are facing off tonight in College Station in a bit of a rare situation under John Calipari. Kentucky sports a 4-1 SEC record and A&M sports a 4-0 record. It will be just the 9th time in Calipari’s 11 seasons where Kentucky and its opponent face off with 1 or fewer league losses, with each team playing at least 4 games.

The results of those games:

Undefeated vs. Undefeated

2017: Kentucky (6-0) vs. South Carolina (5-0), Lexington
Result: Kentucky 85, South Carolina 69

Undefeated vs. 1-Loss Team

2010: Kentucky (4-1) vs. Vanderbilt (5-0), Lexington
Result: Kentucky 85, Vanderbilt 72

2012: Kentucky (9-0) vs. Florida (7-1), Lexington
Result: Kentucky 78, Florida 58

2017: Kentucky (5-0) vs. Mississippi State (3-1), Starkville
Result: Kentucky 88, Mississippi State 81

1-Loss Team vs. 1-Loss Team

2014: Kentucky (3-1) vs. Texas A&M (3-1), Lexington
Result: Kentucky 68, Texas A&M 51

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2014: Kentucky (4-1) vs. Georgia (4-1), Lexington
Result: Kentucky 79, Georgia 54

2019: Kentucky (9-1) vs. LSU (9-1), Lexington
Result: LSU 73, Kentucky 71

2020: Kentucky (3-1) vs. Arkansas (3-1), Fayetteville
Result: Kentucky 73, Arkansas 66

Kentucky has been quite dominant in these types of games under Calipari. A total record of 7-1, including a 2-0 mark on the road. In those 7 wins, the average margin of victory was 15 points. The only loss was the controversial tip-in loss at the buzzer in 2019.

And on paper, this Texas A&M team will probably be one of the worst that Kentucky will play of the other 8 opponents above. The fact the game is in College Station does bring some nervousness, but it seems that Calipari does seem to get his teams ready to go in games like this.

This team has the look of one of Calipari’s great squads but if that is the case, they don’t lose this game tonight. Maybe A&M is a tournament squad but they are not Final Four contenders. And we are now at the point in the season where the cream needs to rise to the top. A comfortable win tonight would prove that.

Prediction: Kentucky 74, Texas A&M 60