KSR Gameday: Kentucky looks to start postseason with revenge vs. Texas A&M

Blue has been getting into Nashville since Wednesday as Kentucky fans prepare for what could be a special postseason run. The energy on Broadway yesterday was off the charts, with Vince Marrow even taking the stage with Shannon the Dude and Alice Blue Gown at Tin Roof to sing “Simple Man” by Lynard Skynard. The fun will reach a fever pitch tonight when the Cats finally take the floor at Bridgestone Arena to face Texas A&M.

The Aggies beat the Cats on January 13 in overtime in College Station 97-92 back on January 13. Kentucky’s a very different team now than then, as Zvonimir Ivisic hadn’t yet been cleared to play by the NCAA, Adou Thiero was out with a back injury, and the Cats’ offense is now firing on all cylinders. Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford carried Texas A&M to victory, combining for 59 points, the only Aggies to finish in double figures. Last night, Taylor provided Big Z with some very mild bulletin board material.

“I’m not sure that Big Z will determine if we change our game plan for the better. I’m pretty sure he’s a terrific player, but I just feel like we going to focus on things we need to focus on to win the game.”

Hopefully, Big Z is reading this, although I think Adou Thiero could be more of a difference-maker vs. the physical Aggies. Texas A&M outrebounded Kentucky 54-46 in the first matchup. The Aggies beat Ole Miss 80-71 last night to advance to the quarterfinals in a game that saw 49 fouls. If that isn’t indication enough, it was an ugly affair, with Texas A&M shooting just 37% (24-65) from the field and 24% (5-21) from three-point range. The Aggies scored 27 of their 80 points from the free-throw line.

Texas A&M is on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the last team in the field in Joe Lunardi’s latest projections. John Calipari has been downplaying the importance of the SEC Tournament to his team all week. Although Kentucky’s offense is elite, tonight’s game could come down to who wants it more. Cats better be ready.

How To Watch, Listen

No. 2 seed Kentucky (23-8, 13-5) vs. No. 7 seed Texas A&M (18-13, 9-9)
7 p.m. ET | Friday, March 15 | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville TN

• TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart, Dane Bradshaw, Alyssa Lang)
• Streaming: WatchESPN
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 90 and on the SiriusXM App
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Updated SEC Tournament Bracket

Texas A&M players talk about Kentucky rematch

Sights and Scenes from Thursday at the SEC Tournament

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Schedule for the Day

• 10:00 a.m. ET: KSR Show at Tin Roof Broadway
• 10:00 a.m. ET: UK Alumni Association/Greater Nashville UK Alumni Club Pregame Party (Assembly Foot Hall Skydeck)
• 1:00 p.m. ET: Game 7: No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 9 Mississippi State – ESPN
• 25 minutes after: Game 8: No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 5 South Carolina – ESPN
• 4:30 p.m. ET: KSR Pregame Show (Location TBD)
• 30 minutes after Game 8: Gates open at Bridgestone Arena
• 7:00 p.m. ET: Game 9: No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Kentucky – SEC Network
• 25 minutes after: Game 10: No. 6 Florida vs. No. 3 Alabama – SEC Network

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The radio show is about to begin at Tin Roof Broadway, where fans lined up around the block this morning to get in. Tune in for the fun on 630 WLAP (iHeart Radio) or affiliates throughout the state.