Kentucky WBB using last season's SEC Tournament run as momentum for '23-24

Finishing 2-14 in the Southeastern Conference and 12-19 overall wasn’t exactly what was expected from Kyra Elzy and her team in 2022-23. Especially when Kentucky started 7-1 with the lone loss coming to a very talented Virginia Tech squad. It seemed like UK was in for an impressive season after winning the 2022 SEC Tournament. However, the Wildcats would finish 5-18 over their last 23 games.

In the 2023 SEC Tournament, however, Elzy’s team made an unexpected mini-run. The 14-seeded ‘Cats blew out the 11-seed Florida Gators 72-57 in the opening round. Then, Kentucky would advance to the quarterfinals after beating 6-seed Alabama 71-58. Kentucky’s run would end after falling to 3-seed Tennessee, but that Tennessee team would upset the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in the next round.

Even after an abysmal regular season, Kentucky made a run in the SEC Tournament once again. Last season, many thought that the ‘Cats would have a solid year after seeing postseason success, but they did not. The same story creeps back into play this year: can Kentucky use its SEC Tournament momentum to power them into the new season? Kyra Elzy thinks so.

Carrying Momentum Over

With a couple of runs in the SEC Tournament under Kyra Elzy’s belt, she is confident heading into the 2023-24 season. Not only did the end of last season heal up some wounds from the regular season, but it also gave the team confidence as they embark on a new campaign.

“That was the momentum that we needed at the end of the year, get our players more confident, and something that we can build on over the summer. Now, they knew what they were capable of. They didn’t have to question or doubt it,” Elzy said during SEC Media Days on Thursday.

“They took that into the summer, along with a lot of hard work. Coming into this season, new mindset, new team, new energy, new goals.” This isn’t going to be the same team we saw a year ago. It’ll be interesting to see how far that momentum and hard work can carry them.

Battling in the SEC

It’s no secret that the SEC is one of the toughest conferences in all of women’s college basketball. Between South Carolina and LSU, the last two national champions came from the SEC. Teams such as Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State are also very good year in and year out.

Kyra Elzy knows that it will be tough to run through the gauntlet that is the SEC. “This league is the best league in the country for a reason,” Elzy explained. “Unbelievable coaches, a lot of talented players, it is a gauntlet.”

On top of that, Elzy noted, “Every day, you have to bring your ‘A’ game, but I just think that the caliber of teams we have, when you look at the reigning national champions, they have been from the SEC. So, in order to be the best, you have to play the best. And the best is the SEC conference.”

Last season, the ‘Cats endured a lot of struggling and ultimately, a lot of losing. However, the season ended on a high note with yet another run in the SEC Tournament. That gave Kyra Elzy and the team confidence that they can compete in the SEC and have a successful season in 2023-24.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.