Kentucky moves to third place in SEC after Tennessee win
Kentucky’s 66-54 win over No. 10 Tennessee is big for many reasons. Not only does sweeping the Vols feel good, it helps solidify Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament chances with 22 days until Selection Sunday. It could also prove huge when it comes to SEC Tournament seeding.
Kentucky and Tennessee are now tied for third in the SEC standings at 9-5 behind Alabama (12-1) and Texas A&M (11-2). Thanks to today’s win, Kentucky owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Vols. Auburn (8-5) could join the two teams in third with a win over Vanderbilt tonight. Behind the Tigers is a logjam of teams at 7-6 (Missouri, Vanderbilt) and 7-7 (Arkansas, Florida). Mizzou is playing Texas A&M as we speak (type?). Arkansas beat Florida by 19 earlier today, a good omen as the Cats look ahead to next Wednesday’s game vs. the Gators in Gainesville.
With four games left in the regular season (five for the teams who haven’t played yet today), there are plenty of scenarios still in play, including Kentucky potentially getting the 2-seed in Nashville, which felt like a pipe dream a few weeks back. Texas A&M still has Missouri (away), Tennessee (home), Mississippi State (away), Ole Miss (away), and Alabama (home) left to play. If the Cats and the Aggies find themselves in a tie at the end of the season, Kentucky owns the tiebreaker thanks to the win on Jan. 21. Simply getting the double-bye would be huge.
Just keep winning. Also, cheer for Vandy to beat Auburn tonight.
SEC Standings (as of Saturday afternoon)
| TEAM | CONFERENCE | GAMES BACK | OVERALL |
| Alabama | 12-1 | – | 22-4 |
| Texas A&M | 11-2 | 1 | 19-7 |
| Tennessee | 9-5 | 3.5 | 20-7 |
| Kentucky | 9-5 | 3.5 | 18-9 |
| Auburn | 8-5 | 4 | 18-8 |
| Missouri | 7-6 | 5 | 19-7 |
| Vanderbilt | 7-6 | 5 | 14-12 |
| Arkansas | 7-7 | 5.5 | 18-9 |
| Florida | 7-7 | 5.5 | 14-13 |
| Georgia | 6-7 | 6 | 16-10 |
| Mississippi State | 5-8 | 7 | 17-9 |
| South Carolina | 3-11 | 9.5 | 10-17 |
| Ole Miss | 2-11 | 10 | 10-16 |
| LSU | 1-13 | 11.5 | 12-15 |
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