KSR Today: One final battle in Knoxville before the real fun begins

It feels like just yesterday we were speculating whether or not Lil Wayne would be in attendance for Big Blue Madness, watching DeMarcus Cousins introduce “the GOAT” John Calipari and Big Z walk down the runway and soak in the roar from BBN for the first time. You can go back a bit from there too with Toronto — weren’t we just in Canada meeting these kids and finding out how fun they are?

In the blink of an eye, the end of the regular season is here, one final test in Knoxville against the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers coming on Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.

Then we’re in win-or-go-home territory the rest of the way, only two more games promised in the SEC and NCAA Tournament openers. No more setbacks or do-overs or tweaks, time to fix mistakes or figure out lineups. What we see is what we get with this group from Sunday on. And Tennessee almost has a postseason feel to the matchup anyway considering what’s on the line for both teams — the Volunteers battling for a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance and the Wildcats fighting to earn a double-bye in Nashville while pushing for a No. 3 seed a week later. Maybe a statement win for Kentucky in Knoxville plus a run to Sunday in the SEC Tournament forces the Selection Committee’s hand to over-seed the Cats at No. 2?

It all starts Saturday.

SEC Tournament ramifications

There is currently a four-way tie for second place in the SEC heading into the final weekend of games, but only three double-byes up for grabs with the Vols securing the first. What needs to happen to avoid dropping to that No. 5 seed and a dreaded Thursday start in Nashville? Here are the scenarios.

NO. 2 SEED

• Beat Tennessee + South Carolina loses to Mississippi State OR
• Beat Tennessee + South Carolina beats Mississippi State + Auburn beats Georgia + Alabama beats Arkansas
• Kentucky + Alabama + Auburn + South Carolina all lose on Saturday

NO. 3 SEED

• Kentucky beats Tennessee + South Carolina beats Mississippi State + one of Alabama or Auburn loses
• South Carolina beats Mississippi State + Alabama, Auburn, and Kentucky all lose

NO. 4 SEED

• One of Alabama or Auburn wins + Kentucky loses to Tennessee + South Carolina loses to Mississippi
• Kentucky loses to Tennessee + South Carolina beats Mississippi State + One of Alabama or Auburn loses

NO. 5 SEED

• Kentucky loses to Tennessee + South Carolina, Alabama, and Auburn each win.

The odds technically favor that final single-bye scenario considering the Volunteers are seen as the expected favorite to win in Knoxville — KenPom gives the Cats just a 21% shot — while a win would lock in a Friday slot in Nashville no matter how the other games unfold.

Chuck Martin to preview Tennessee

You won’t have to wait long to hear what Kentucky’s side has to say about the matchup in Knoxville. Assistant coach Chuck Martin is set to speak to the media starting at 9:30 a.m. ET, breaking down the first meeting in Lexington and keys to the matchup in the regular-season finale. What is the mood around the locker room entering postseason play?

KSR will be in attendance with coverage throughout the day and into the weekend.

Sources Say breaks down Senior Day win, what’s at stake in Knoxville

Need something to get your morning started off the right way? How about the latest Sources Say Podcast.

We discussed everything that went well for the Cats vs. Vanderbilt on Senior Day and what we know about this team heading into the final game of the regular season. Just how important is a win for seeding purposes? What is this team’s ceiling in March?

Listen below.

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No March Magic for Kyra Elzy

As the men’s program prepares to head to Nashville, the women’s team is already on its way home from Greenville. Kyra Elzy has been a surprising force in the SEC Tournament her first two seasons as head coach, racking up seven wins in three years including the title in 2021-22. This time around, though, the Cats could only survive-and-advance one time before Tennessee knocked them out of postseason play and ended the team’s season.

Kentucky shot just 35.5% from the field and 23.5% from three in the 76-62 loss, a game that was within reach going into halftime before things fell apart coming out of the locker room. Ajae Petty led the way with 12 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Eniya Russell with 11 and Cassidy Rowe with seven.

With that comes the start of the offseason where big decisions must be made after finishing 12-20 overall and 4-12 in the SEC.

What about a Yahtzee?

How about some added recruiting momentum for the football Cats heading into the weekend? Kentucky added a commitment from the nation’s No. 24 overall quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, Brennen Ward. Considered a three-star, the 6-2, 205-pound prospect joined the program following an unofficial visit to Lexington earlier in the week.

Ward becomes the fourth pledge in the ’25 class, joining blue-chip QB Stone Saunders, four-star wide receiver Quintin Simmons and RB Isaiah West.

The dice are hot, folks.

Can the BatCats stay hot?

Speaking of staying hot, Nick Mingione’s got things rolling on the diamond with a 12-1 start and an eight-game winning streak. The No. 25 BatCats are coming off a mid-week sweep over Eastern Kentucky and will now host Kennesaw State in a three-game series this weekend.

Kentucky will get things rolling Friday with first pitch set for 4 p.m. ET on the UK Sports Network and SEC Network+. From there, we’ve got 1 p.m. ET first pitches on Saturday and Sunday, both matchups broadcast on SECN+.

After a mid-week battle vs. Murray State, the SEC schedule will begin next weekend with the Georgia Bulldogs coming to town for the three-game series.

First, though, it’s time to beat up on the Owls at Kentucky Proud Park.