Checking In From SEC Tournament Night 1

Wednesday is my favorite day at the SEC Tournament. Excitement is high, I can enjoy the action without the pressure of Kentucky playing, Broadway is manageable, and that first hangover is still a sleep away. It’s no vacation; we have several Kentucky Sports Radio duties, but until the Cats play a game, there is some free time around Nashville during the calm before the storm later in the week.

This year, the storm arrived a little earlier than in years past because Bridgestone Arena saw a record Wednesday night crowd. Maybe the secret’s out.

In the first game, the local team, Vanderbilt, blew a big first-half lead against Arkansas, only to come back to force OT in the end, then lose. We loved the free basketball.

In front of me now, Georgia and Missouri are entertaining the packed house in the nightcap. Mizzou is seeking its first win since Dec. 30 following an 0-18 year in league play, so people are excited. Or, they seem excited. I’m excited. We’re going to find some karaoke when it ends.

For now, here are some Wednesday evening notes from the Music City as I try to contain this SEC Tournament excitement.

Thank you, LaRue County

Let’s work chronologically here and start with KSR’s morning in LaRue County before we touched down on Broadway. We broadcast today’s show from the track at LaRue County High School, which needs some upgrades to its athletics facilities. Learn more about CHAMP here. There are still spots in the raffle for Friday’s SEC Tournament tickets, too.

As for the show, we were welcomed by a wonderful crowd, complete with live performances from the band to bring us in and out of breaks. After the show, we finally tried the famous Laha’s Red Castle burgers, voted best in the state. I’m not ready to crown them No. 1, but they belong in the conversation. Thank you, Hodgenville, for a fun morning on our way down.

Straight to Bridgestone Arena

Not counting Ryan Lemond’s bathroom breaks, we (just the two of us in my car) drove straight from LaRue County to Bridgestone Arena to check in for a week of basketball. Navigating Nashville was a fun time, as always, but once we found a spot and checked in, the Sunkist fountain was waiting for us inside. I believe this is my fourteenth year writing about Sunkist at the SEC Tournament. It’s the only time all year that I drink it.

Tom Hart sighting

Ryan and I thought we’d take a sneak peek at Texas A&M’s practice, and Tom Hart was there courtside doing the same. It’s only right that he was the first person we saw, and he was happy to share the good news that he will be on the mic for all of Kentucky’s games this week. It’ll be his first championship Sunday in Nashville. Hopefully, Kentucky will be one of the participating teams in that game. It’s only right. (Ryan made him do that goofy pose.)

A new Fade This podcast

After bugging Tom and distracting him from his work, Matt Jones and I recorded a new episode of the Fade This podcast from the media room in Bridgestone Arena. You can give it a listen here like the other people in the room were forced to do when we recorded it.

I like these Hatch Show Print posters in the back of the arena

I wonder if they’d notice one of those missing. Just wondering, though.

Team dinner at Jeff Ruby’s in Nashville

The players ate good for their first team dinner in town. Jeff Ruby’s was the move, according to Jeff Ruby himself.

Welcome to ⁦⁦@TheRealJeffRuby⁩ Steakhouse, Music City USA Thanks for dining with us again this year ⁦@KentuckyMBB⁩ Go cats ⁦@UKBasketbalI⁩ pic.twitter.com/Ex4jx3dMMI

— Jeff Ruby (@TheRealJeffRuby) March 14, 2024

Confession: I bet on the Cats to win the whole damn thing

I did it Saturday night, not long after Kentucky stomped Tennessee in Knoxville. I’m on the Wildcats at +400 to win the SEC Tournament and looking forward to it finally starting on Friday. This group feels special and the program is currently on its longest drought without playing on Sunday of the SEC Tournament. Time to win one again.

Until they get started, we’ll keep checking in from the scene. If you’re down here, come by Tin Roof on Friday morning for the show.

Whatever you do, Go Cats. It’s SEC Tournament time.