So now we go into league play looking like a completely different team...and in fact looking like the team we all thought we would see coming out of the Bahamas.
The SEC is tougher than it usually is but I'm not sure it's as rugged as people thought it might be when they looked at it back in October. The problem for Kentucky is that the top of the league is very good. There might be four Final Four caliber teams. The upshot is that the bottom of the league is about as mediocre as it usually is, and there are a bunch of games in there that Kentucky has to win.
What UK is hunting now is a top 2 seed, and because of our play over the last three weeks--and because we have so many resume-building wins left, including that game against Kansas in about a month--we're still in play for that.
The NET had us right outside the top 20 before yesterday, and they rank Louisville as a top 20 win. So we'll be right around the top 15 tomorrow, which is much better than we were coming into December.
If you look at the SEC you still have to talk about Tennessee. They are the best team and outside of Mississippi St. the most veteran team. They have two legitimate stars in Schofield and Grant WIlliams, and if Kentucky unseats them then it will take a major effort. They'll be the best team Kentucky will have played outside of Duke, but we don't get them until the middle of February.
Auburn and Mississippi St. are the next two teams--I actually think Mississippi St. could be a Final Four team with some breaks--and, lucky us, we get both of them twice.
LSU and Arkansas are probably on the next rung of dangerous teams, and after that it gets a little dicey--but Florida did just maul Butler yesterday. Florida is one of those teams who has been hovering around the bottom half of the league, and that's where the SEC gets a little soft. Mizzou, Vandy without Darius Garland, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Georgia are all teams we have to beat.
Kentucky will not come out of this league unscathed obviously; what you have to hope for is that we can keep this momentum going, beat the teams we should beat, and protect our home court against Tennessee/Auburn/Mississippi St.
A record of 14-4 probably wins the SEC this season. If Kentucky can be there with a win over Kansas at home then we'll be in play for a 1/2 seed on Selection Sunday.
With the team we've seen the last two weeks in mind, I'm predicting 13-5 in the league. Losses against Tennessee (twice), Auburn on the road, Mississippi St. on the road, and Florida on the road.
The SEC is tougher than it usually is but I'm not sure it's as rugged as people thought it might be when they looked at it back in October. The problem for Kentucky is that the top of the league is very good. There might be four Final Four caliber teams. The upshot is that the bottom of the league is about as mediocre as it usually is, and there are a bunch of games in there that Kentucky has to win.
What UK is hunting now is a top 2 seed, and because of our play over the last three weeks--and because we have so many resume-building wins left, including that game against Kansas in about a month--we're still in play for that.
The NET had us right outside the top 20 before yesterday, and they rank Louisville as a top 20 win. So we'll be right around the top 15 tomorrow, which is much better than we were coming into December.
If you look at the SEC you still have to talk about Tennessee. They are the best team and outside of Mississippi St. the most veteran team. They have two legitimate stars in Schofield and Grant WIlliams, and if Kentucky unseats them then it will take a major effort. They'll be the best team Kentucky will have played outside of Duke, but we don't get them until the middle of February.
Auburn and Mississippi St. are the next two teams--I actually think Mississippi St. could be a Final Four team with some breaks--and, lucky us, we get both of them twice.
LSU and Arkansas are probably on the next rung of dangerous teams, and after that it gets a little dicey--but Florida did just maul Butler yesterday. Florida is one of those teams who has been hovering around the bottom half of the league, and that's where the SEC gets a little soft. Mizzou, Vandy without Darius Garland, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Georgia are all teams we have to beat.
Kentucky will not come out of this league unscathed obviously; what you have to hope for is that we can keep this momentum going, beat the teams we should beat, and protect our home court against Tennessee/Auburn/Mississippi St.
A record of 14-4 probably wins the SEC this season. If Kentucky can be there with a win over Kansas at home then we'll be in play for a 1/2 seed on Selection Sunday.
With the team we've seen the last two weeks in mind, I'm predicting 13-5 in the league. Losses against Tennessee (twice), Auburn on the road, Mississippi St. on the road, and Florida on the road.
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