Kentucky Receives Glowing Reviews Following Tennessee Win
Winning has a way of curing all ills. The national media is not falling all the way back in love with the Wildcats, but John Calipari’s Kentucky basketball team has certainly earned respect from those who closely follow the sport.
After beating Tennessee for the second time this season and picking up a Quad 1 win at Mississippi State, most believe the Cats are firmly in the field of 68. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi took UK off his daily bubble sheet, no longer including Kentucky as one of his “Last Four In” or “First Four Byes.” His ESPN colleague, John Gasaway, believes the Wildcats have put enough on their resume to earn an invite to the Big Dance.
With additional time to view the bubble as a zero-sum whole coming out of a wall-to-wall Saturday, Bubble Watch is bumping Kentucky up to “Should be in.” Sweeping Tennessee and winning at Mississippi State effectively rates a promotion, even with the loss at Georgia and of course the one at home to South Carolina. UK has now, apparently, rebounded from those losses. The second victory over the Vols lifted John Calipari’s team into the top 35 in both the NET and strength of record, which is also roughly where this group can be found at KenPom. If the Wildcats can take care of business the rest of the way, they will hear their name called on Selection Sunday.
ESPN Bubble Watch
Over at CBS Sports, Kentucky received an A+ on its weekly “report card.”
“Kentucky moved up to No. 33 in the latest NET rankings after recording two Quad 1 wins this week, first on the road vs. Mississippi State then at home vs. Tennessee,” writes Kyle Boone. “Neither win was all that aesthetically pleasing, but for an on-the-bubble UK team, it’ll take what it can get with Selection Sunday fast approaching.”
Jeff Goodman believes Kentucky’s at its best when Cason Wallace is playing well. He’s the straw that stirs the Cats’ drink.
“When he plays well, they have a chance. He’s hit a little bit of a freshman wall. He’s been banged up lately, but it allows for Oscar Tshiebwe to have an okay night,” Goodman said on Field of 68 After Dark.
“I don’t think (Oscar’s) the only one banged up on this team,” said Rob Dauster. “Obviously Sahvir Wheeler‘s missing time. They can’t get CJ Fredrick to be healthy for more than a week straight. At the end of the day, there’s always going to be a ceiling for what this Kentucky team can be when you don’t have CJ and (Antonio) Reeves both available.”
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard