Past history does not project a big NCAA run for Cats even with extra rest after SEC tourney loss

Kentucky will take a so-so 21-11 record into the NCAA Tournament and past results when the Cats go into NCAA play with less than a 70 percent winning mark during the season are not encouraging.

Kentucky basketball stat guru Corey Price noted that six times UK had less than a .700 winning percentage six times between 1985 and 2008. In 1987 and 2008, UK lost in the first round. In 2006 and 2007, UK won its first game and lost in the second round. In 1985 and 2002, the Cats won two and went out in the Sweet 16.

Kentucky lost in the first round of the SEC Tournament Friday to drop its record to 1-4 in their last five SEC games. But maybe losing was not such a big thing considering the Cats are not 100 percent physically. Every team has aches and pains in March but UK has had players consistently miss playing time and Cason Wallace,  Jacob Toppin and CJ Fredrick played with injuries and Sahvir Wheeler was out again with his injury.

Losing and getting an extra two days of rest before starting NCAA Tournament play might not have been ideal for UK fans in Nashville but it might be what the Cats needed to have any chance to win two games this week and advance.

“It sucks losing. Obviously, we wanted to win. But you can look at the bright side and say we have more time for guys to get healthy, work on their bodies,” Toppin said after the loss. “We can watch film, understand what we gotta get better at, so we can be ready for the tournament.”

Coach John Calipari said not having Wheeler “hurt” UK in the loss to Vanderbilt like it did in some other games.

“But he went through some practice stuff the other day. So I think he’s getting closer. Hopefully he’s going to be able to give us some minutes (in the NCAA),” Calipari said. “Again you’re not going to play 30 minutes, but he can give us minutes, just like CJ gave us minutes down in Arkansas.”

Wheeler has been out with an ankle injury and then had surgery on his tailbone two weeks ago. Fredrick missed games with cracked ribs but has managed to play about 15 minutes in each of the last two games.

Many thought Wallace might not play against Vanderbilt. He was obviously  not 100 percent but still played 37 minutes despite having to briefly limp off the court in the second half. He was only 3-for-10 from the field but did have five assists and four rebounds.

He missed UK’s previous game against Arkansas with an ankle injury. However, he wanted to play against Vanderbilt rather than watching and resting.

“Because I want to play every game I can,” Wallace said. “I feel like I’m a good piece to the team, and I’ll do whatever I can to help us win.

“I feel like if I can play, I’m gonna play. I’m not gonna sit out a game that I can play in.”

That’s the kind of fight/heart the best players have and what UK will need a lot more of in NCAA Tournament play.

“More than anything, I’m upset that we lost,” Wallace said. “I’m all right, though.”