Kentucky Faces #18 LSU Tigers in another Must-Win

A season of “Must-Win” games continues for the Cats as they come off an embarrassing loss for first place in the SEC East, to take on the West Division champion LSU Tigers.

“We definitely need the win, but I don’t think it’s time to panic.” Said Jodie Meeks yesterday.

But panic should be setting in. Kentucky has lost five of their last seven and continues to struggle with the fundamentals of taking care of the ball. The Wildcats turn the ball over more than any team in the SEC and have a negative three turnover margin.

With massive amounts of turnovers, Kentucky has struggled in recent SEC play.

The LSU Tigers head into Rupp Arena on an 12 game win streak and look to clinch the SEC title outright with a victory against Kentucky. The Tigers have not won in Lexington since 1989, but Billy Gillispie knows that the history means nothing.

“They are very consistent and they have a great deal of composure. They never seem to crack. I think that has a lot to do with experience. They are a really solid team.” Said Coach GIllispie.

With the experience laden Tigers headed for Rupp Arena, Kentucky has a game which they must prove they belong.

Game Tips at 4 pm EST on CBS.

South Carolina Dominates--77-59

For the Cats, This One Hurts

Prior to the game, The State, Columbia’s newspaper deemed the game the biggest in years. It proved to be so big for the Gamecocks that South Carolina sold out their gym, the Colonial Life Arena, for just the third time ever.

The game began with a quick Devan Downey layup. Followed by two straight turnovers made by Kentucky—the tone was set.

South Carolina went on a roll in the first half leading by 18, 44-26.

In just the first half, South Carolina had blocked 8 Kentucky shots. They finished the game with 16.

The Cats struggled with holding onto the ball again Wednesday night. Maybe it was the tempo of play; quick and speedy, as dictated by the Cocks from the start but it was an obvious sloppy night. Kentucky and turnover tend to be synonymous with one another this season. In just the first 13 minutes of play the Wildcats had turned the ball over 10 times and finished the game with a grand total of 20.

The loss was embarrassing for Kentucky and after the game, dumbstruck South Carolina star Devan Downey, who led the Cocks with 21 points and 5 rebounds said after the game, ““I’m just speechless,”

Speechless is the way to describe the Wildcats too.

Following their most complete performance against Tennessee Saturday, this was definitiley a step in the wrong direction.

When asked on his teams play Coach Gillispie said after the game; “"We didn't take it personal enough."

And now, the Cats have fell back down in the standings and suffered a blow to their tournament resume. Kentucky now is in a three way tie for second with Tennessee and Florida with three games to play. The Cats come home to host LSU Saturday, in another must-win and resume builder. There is a need for a rebound especially with such a devastating and humiliating loss so fresh in memory.

Keys to Victory and Projections

Keys to a Kentucky Victory-

Short and simple. This game appears to be for all the marbles. If Kentucky loses they lose the tie break with South Carolina for first in the SEC East and land in a three-way tie for second. If Kentucky wins, they are not in the clear, but do hold a slight advantage with three games left. If Kentucky plans to come out on the winning side here is what they must do—

1) HOLD ON TO THE BALL- Although the turnovers have been lessened, the Cats turned the ball over 21 times in the last meeting with the Gamecocks. Kentucky must make smart decisions with the ball in order to stay competitive.

2) HIT THE BOARDS- Key to Kentucky coming out victorious is being physically dominant. That starts and stops in the post. Kentucky needs to rebound the ball on both ends to control this game.

PREDICTION

South Carolina traditionally has never been put in this position before. But, Columbia will be rocking, rolling, and extremely hostile. I see Devan Downey, South Carolina guard having another solid game and getting the victory. Although Kentucky is coming off their best performance of the season, this is a young and inexperienced team that will struggle in such a hostile environment.

KENTUCKY- 61
South Carolina- 64

DIFFERENCE MAKER—
A new installment for such a HUGE game in the Bluegrass.

MICHAEL PORTER

The junior point guard has began playing well in the past few weeks, hitting key three pointers, limiting turnovers, and being a leader on the floor. It is a foregone conclusion that all Gamecock focus will be on the two stars- Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks.

Michael Porter must continue his hot hand and leadership if Kentucky is to come out with a win and the SEC East lead.

Kentucky Heads to Columbia for Redemption

Last time Kentucky and South Carolina met, January 31st there was chaos.
Chaos not only on the court, Kentucky lost 78-77, but also across the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky as the state suffered massive power outages due to a historic ice storm.

The cold and powerless Commonwealth could also symbolize the Cats play on that Saturday. Jodie Meeks was slowed down and held to 20, and when other players were asked to step up they simply could not.

With Perry Stevenson fouled in the waning seconds and headed for the line, Kentucky could have taken the lead and snuck out a victory. But not used to shooting or being called on, Stevenson was unable to make any of the free throws as Kentucky lost its second straight SEC game.

After the game, sophomore Patrick Patterson was at a loss for what had just occurred at Rupp Arena.

"We need to be tougher and more physical out there," Patterson said. "We rush our opportunities and make careless mistakes."

Kentucky then lost again the following game to Mississippi State and the 3 game lead they had built between them and the remainder of the SEC East division was gone.
Now, the Cats head to Columbia in hopes for redemption.

Since the meeting at the end of January, the Cats have gone 3-2 and are tied with the Gamecocks for first place in the SEC East.

Coach Gillispie said Tuesday, ““You always want to win first place. There are only four games left. There is still 25 percent of our conference’s schedule left. So, it’s quite a bit, but we are very fortunate to be where we are.”

And where they are is in a position to regain the SEC lead and all but cinch a birth in the NCAA tournament.

Today’s South Carolina newspaper, The State, called this game the biggest home game in years. South Carolina has not been in such a position to hold sole possession of first in the SEC East since…well ever!

And so, with this game has major implications for who will win the East, get a first round bye in the SEC tournament and all but sew up a spot in the field of 65.

Coach Gillispie is confident in his team following their best team performance against Tennessee Saturday, but knows South Carolina is going to come out swinging and swinging hard.

“As far as production goes, they are getting a great deal of production,” said GIllispie of the Gamecock team. “They have a good, sound defense and sometimes that doesn’t show up in numbers. They rebound in a timely fashion and because of their experience in play-making ability they have won a lot of close games.”

A close game is what they had against Kentucky and they out victorious. Now, the pressure is on. Both teams are in need of a win for the NCAA tournament but also in need of a win for SEC East supremacy.

Game Tips off at 7 p.m EST

SEC's Judgement Week

ESPN has deemed this week “Judgment Week” in college basketball as a plethora of games have implications on in’s, outs, and seedings for the NCAA tournament that is less than three weeks away.

To deem call a week “Judgment Week” seems especially fitting for the SEC East Division, which has 3 teams tied with four –Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky as well as Tennessee just a game behind.

In the remaining two weeks of the regular season, the Kentucky Wildcats must face South Carolina in Columbia, host the #18 LSU, hosts the Georgia Bulldogs and travel to Florida for the finale.

Florida goes to Baton Rouge, faces Tennessee, travels to Mississippi State, and has Kentucky.
South Carolina hosts the Wildcats, goes to Vanderbilt, plays Tennessee, and finishes off with Georgia.

The Gators have the most difficult sleight having to play each of their remaining games against teams vying for one of the SEC’s tournament selections. South Carolina appears to have the easiest road to the SEC East title and track to the big dance. Other than Kentucky this week and Tennessee, the Gamecocks hold the scheduling advantage.

With the conference as a whole on a down year, just one team, LSU is ranked in the top-25, the number of teams that will be selected to make the tournament are down this year.

According to ESPN’s bracketology, the SEC should send 5 teams to the tournament, but a lot can still happen. Teams in contention for the five bids include; Mississippi State, LSU, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida, while Auburn is seemingly making a late push and could throw their resume to the table with a strong showing in the conference tournament.

Judgment Week, as it has been deemed promises to separate the contenders and pretenders. Florida’s trip to Baton Rouge and the SEC leading LSU Tigers kicks off the week, followed by a Kentucky and South Carolina showdown Wednesday.

By mid-week there might be one team alone in first in the East conference. And then it can all change again with the second games of the week Saturday and Sunday.

The term of March Madness, should be moved to February. Judgment Week will certainly drive teams and fans mad. With the games set to kick off Tuesday, a lot will be decided this week.

Kentucky Beats Tennessee

Kentucky plays most complete game of season

Missed shot, turnover, air ball.

That was the Tennessee Volunteer’s first three offensive possessions.

With the early struggles, the Kentucky Wildcats capitalized displaying their most complete game of the season starting the game on an 11-0 run and coming away with the crucial 77-58 victory.

The victory came without a ton of production by Jodie Meeks, as he was held by the Tennessee defense to shoot just 4 for 14 from the field and end with a total of 14 points. With the lacking of Kentucky’s main threat, the rest of the Cats were able to pick up the slack for the first time all year.

Point guard Michael Porter, freshman Darius Miller, Perry Stevenson, and Ramon Harris all made contributions to the Cat scoring efforts.

“They really did well.” Said Coach Gillespie after the game.

Not only did Kentucky have production from a vast majority of the team, they were also efficient. The Cats made nearly 60% of their shots and accumulated 23 turnovers in the 28 baskets made.

“We've never been a selfish team.” Coach Gillespie explained, “We've had some great passes this year but we didn't make the baskets. That's misleading. This time we got the ball in the paint more effectively.”

The win gives the Wildcats 8 in conference and keeps them in contention for the SEC East title. With the knocking off of Tennessee, there is now a three-way tie in the East with Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina all tied or first. The number of teams in first can be narrowed down once again on Wednesday as the Wildcats head to Columbia for a rematch against the Gamecocks.

The Tennessee victory was promising and displayed that the Wildcats do have the players to compete. If the production can continue from more than the two Kentucky stars, the Cats can be on the road to some great things.