Kentucky has to get more from Oscar Tshiebwe to make the NCAA Tournament. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It’s crunch time for Kentucky.
Following an 88-73 loss to Arkansas Tuesday night, the Wildcats are in desperation mode just to finish in the upper echelon of the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky could finish anywhere from third to eighth in the final regular-season league standings.
Prior to the loss to the Razorbacks, Kentucky had won six straight conference games and was in position to make a serious run for one of the top four seeds in the league tournament that includes a double-bye. That all changed after a 15-point home loss to the Razorbacks.
The next two games — both on the road, starting Saturday at Georgia and Wednesday at Mississippi State — are winnable for the Wildcats. However, Kentucky closes out February with a home game against Tennessee (Feb. 18), a road game at Florida (Feb. 22) and home game with Auburn (Feb. 25).
Currently Kentucky is one game behind Tennessee and Texas A&M is two games ahead of the Wildcats in the conference standings.
It’s possible the Wildcats could open the league tournament on a Thursday in Nashville. During the past 25 years, Kentucky has played in the second round twice and is 4-4 when starting the tournament before the quarterfinal round.
The bigger picture is the NCAA Tournament, where the Wildcats are currently listed as one of the last two teams into the Big Dance with a resume that includes just one win over a Top 10 opponent.
A play-in game to open the NCAA Tournament in Dayton is not out of the equation.
According to ESPN bracket analyst Joe Lunardi, the Wildcats don’t have a “great resume” and cautions against Kentucky overlooking the Bulldogs in Athens.
“Going to Georgia, you’d think, ‘Hey, this is going to be a walkover,’ but it’s also the kind of game that can absolutely torpedo your season. If I’m a member of Big Blue Nation, I am a little bit apprehensive heading down to Athens.”
Cason Wallace said the Wildcats will move forward after the loss to the Razorbacks.
“We’re going to learn from this,” Wallace said. “We’re not going to hang our heads on it…we’re not going to let this define how the rest of our season goes. I feel like it’s going to help us stay more sharp and mentally locked in down the road.”
The Wildcats don’t have much time and will need to play with a greater sense of urgency down the stretch. They will need big performances from Oscar Tshiebwe, who has failed to score double figures in the past two games.
Coach John Calipari is optimistic Tshiebwe will get back on track.
“As a coach, you go with what got you there, and it was a bigger picture for Oscar than just this game. It was like, let’s get him going just to get him right,” Calipari said.
There’s time, but it’s running out on the Wildcats.
4 Responses
Not being excited for March is growing tiresome because this fraud can’t coach anymore.
We’re possibly going to miss the NCAAT for the 2nd time in three seasons with a first round loss to St Peter’s sandwiched in between.
I never thought I would live to see such a day for KY Basketball. It’s the worst times in my last time, worse than the probation years.
And it’s not changing with this coach.
It is not about this team, it is about this program, and
TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THIS PROGRAM!
I am far more excited for Kentucky Football. I’m not sure what John Calipari needs. He has far more money , perks , expense accounts than a ton of other coaches in college at his disposal. And sometimes after all the millions you get .10 cent excuses. The r.o.r. at least for this fan is clearly not where it should be. Looking down the road , while next years class on paper is really good , I have my doubts already about the finished product come March of the following year. John Calipari has forgotten more basketball than I will ever know , but my eyes don’t and aren’t deceiving me. I’ve been a UK fan my entire life which isn’t as long as some , and more than others . But I am admittedly drifting away from UK basketball. And let me say this , I don’t base my happiness in life on 18 to 20 year old kids in college who I don’t know , so I am never going to be mad at the players , but I never appreciate b.s. answers or excuse from a 9 million dollar a year coach .
Turn out the lights,
THE SEASON IS OVER!!!!!
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