Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky can clinch the No. 2 seed in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and also likely helps its NCAA Tournament seeding if it can avenge an earlier home loss and win at Tennessee this afternoon.
Kentucky assistant coach Chuck Martin, though, insisted on Friday that the team was not looking ahead to what might happen.
“We’re taking it one game at a time. Obviously, we’re excited about the opportunity to play against one of the best teams in the country, who happens to be in our league. It’s going to be an electric atmosphere, last game of the year. They’ll be fired up, we’ll be fired up. We’re excited to see what happens,” Martin said.
Kentucky has won four games in a row and would be on a seven-game streak if not for the last-second loss at LSU.
“I think the biggest thing, we’ve been healthy, so we’ve had depth, which we have not had throughout the year,” Martin said. “During this stretch, for the most part, we’ve had everyone.
“I think since January, our freshmen are starting to turn the corner. They’re learning from every game we play. Hence, the Tennessee game. Prior to that game, they didn’t understand the level of physicality. So, we’ve gotten better. We understand the level of physicality when you play against a team like Tennessee.”
When Tennessee beat the Cats on Feb. 3 the only real physical play was by the Vols as they bullied Kentucky from start to finish. Martin says the team has “grown” since that loss and realized what it takes to win physical games.
“The level of physicality in that game was unbelievable. I think the overall physicality and intensity of that game, we had not been in that type of game at that point. We learned a lot from that first encounter,” the UK assistant said Friday.
Martin understands what is at stake in today’s game but more importantly, it will be a great gauge from UK on how it is playing going into postseason play.
“Obviously, if we win the game, the double bye (in the SEC Tournament) is a by-product of that. But for us, it’s just simply, let’s compete. Let’s see who we are, let’s see how we measure up against one of the better teams in the country, on the road,” Martin said.
“We want to play well, we want to win the game so we have some momentum going into the SEC (Tournament) and the NCAA Tournament.”
20 Responses
When the Cats played the vols at home Wagner didn’t play and Mitchell was injured and ineffective. Wagner has become our best on ball defender and his shot has started to fall. Mitchell is not back in the groove yet, but I think the Cats will be fine there. Kentucky beat the experts at Auburn and Alabama. I think they can at Tennessee too. RAH! RAH! RAH! Go Cal’s Cats!!!
Pass the Cal Aid.
Guess you got a bid gulp of Cal Aid
Yes sir
Hope you are right Jimmy. Would be a huge win
Agree Jimmy
Z could be the key if we are to have a chance. He needs to recover his outside shot. You could tell after his missed his first 2 that the confidence waned, and he went back inside only.
I can’t understand the over under! These 2 teams scored almost 200 points last game.
We’re supposed to be a different team than we we’re in February when we lost 3 home games in a row.
Tennessee 29 points at half.
Like it or not. We are better with Reed in and Wagner out.
A huge win today for this team.
Yes it was professor!
hey Prof just wondering what the numbers say about this team over the last 8 games. Do they show us trending up? Do they indicate we can be more than a 1st weekend team like I believe we are. Just wondering.
What a game!
What an awesome win! For all of you Calipari lovers…enjoy this one. Calipari will still find a way to F up the postseason. This team will go as far as Reeves and Sheppard can carry them! Edwards had a decent game and Ugo ruled the paint! I hope this pisses off all of you Calipari lovers…I love to hear you SQUEAL!!!
Barry, you just upset that the cats won. You can squeal all you want loser. Go Cats!;
At this point in the season we’re all in the same boat. Like it or not.
Put a little Splenda in my Cal Aid and let’s win every game from here on out!
Same for everyone Cpt. Obvious. Their top guy had 40 and the still lost. I have heard "it’s better to stay silent and let people decide if your smart or not than to open your mouth and prove you are not" or something like that. Take the top guys from any team and they will struggle but our bench is the best in basketball and that is a big difference!
ROFLMOA BLAH BLAH BLAH THE KING OF ALL TROLLS! SQUEALS! THE LOUDEST.. GET A LIFE OR MAYBE TRY THE MIDOL YOU KEEP SQUEALING ABOUT!!!!!!!