Antonio Reeves stresses importance of double-bye in SEC Tournament

The difference between playing your first game of the SEC Tournament on Thursday compared to Friday is significant. Having to win four games in four days is a much more difficult task than three wins in three days.

In Kentucky’s case, their seeding in next week’s SEC Tournament is completely in their hands. Beat No. 4 Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville and you’ve locked up a top-four seed and the double-bye that comes with it. A two-seed is even on the table. Lose, and the Wildcats will need some help from the rest of the league to avoid slipping out of the top four.

Worst-case scenario, Kentucky is the five-seed playing its first game of the SEC Tournament on Thursday. Best case is starting on Friday and a much easier path to Sunday’s championship. With plenty at stake this weekend for UK, the matchup against Tennessee is going to be approached just like a tournament game.

“No, not at all,” Fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves said when asked if Saturday’s rematch against Tennessee will be treated like a regular-season game. “Definitely for seeding. It’s very important that you only play three games (in the SEC Tournament), it’s very important. That Thursday game — Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, it’s a little bit of a drag so definitely go out there and compete and try to get that top four.”

We've got your SEC Tournament scenarios. Simply put, the Tennessee game is huge.

Based on the outcome of that and other games, Kentucky could land in four spots. @AdamLuckettKSR details all the possibilities below ⬇️https://t.co/PekrIkY9iN pic.twitter.com/QjRV177AzY

— KSR (@KSRonX) March 7, 2024

Last time these two teams met, Tennessee stomped Kentucky in Rupp Arena, 103-92, back on Feb. 3. The only reason the Volunteers didn’t win by 20-plus was thanks to a scoring flurry from Rob Dillingham in the second half that kept UK from getting blown out.

But that was over a month ago now. Both teams have gotten better. While marginal, Kentucky’s defense has actually improved a bit since then. The offense remains as potent as ever.

“Definitely improved in some aspects,” Reeves said. “I’d say defensively, getting to the ball, and being more physical out there. Definitely improved in that every day in practice. Hopefully we can just bring it to this game.”

Tennessee hasn’t skipped a beat though. The Vols officially locked up the SEC regular-season championship on Wednesday night and are 8-1 since facing UK in Lexington.

Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena is going to be a battle. But also consider that Tennessee doesn’t have nearly as much to play for as Kentucky does at this stage. How much will that actually factor in the Volunteers’ effort? We’ll find out in a couple of days…