Rhyne Howard named 2022 SEC Tournament MVP

I don’t know about you all, but it’s a struggle to type with my fingers right now. But I’m going to do my best because there is plenty to talk about. So how about we start with honoring Rhyne Howard, the greatest basketball player to ever come through Kentucky Women’s Basketball. If there was ever any doubt about that before, it was squashed on Sunday afternoon.

With four wins in four days, Kentucky ran the table at the 2022 SEC Tournament, taking down three ranked opponents, including No. 1 South Carolina in the championship round, 64-62. Dre’Una Edwards hit the go-ahead game-winning shot with under five seconds left, but Howard had the stretch of a lifetime this past weekend. As a result, the senior guard has been deservedly tabbed as the SEC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Your All-SEC Tournament member Dre’Una Edwards and SEC Tournament MVP Rhyne Howard pic.twitter.com/EcCYn1WxCs

— Grant Grubbs (@grant_grubbs_) March 6, 2022

Rhyne Howard celebrates with family after winning SEC Tournament MVP. It’s been a long time coming for this Kentucky legend. pic.twitter.com/xCGve1jkpB

— Grant Grubbs (@grant_grubbs_) March 6, 2022

Additionally, junior forward was named to the All-SEC Tournament team, along with Howard.

Howard went for 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals during Sunday’s win over top-ranked South Carolina. She finishes the tournament with impressive averages of 22 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 52.7 percent from the field, 50 percent from deep, and 77 percent from the free-throw line.

The two-time All-SEC First-Team member was particularly clutch for Kentucky, scoring 25 total fourth-quarter points over the four tournament outings. Her best outing was on Saturday in a revenge opportunity against No. 18 Tennessee, where she posted 24 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Or was it her 32 points in another revenge game against No. 6 LSU on Friday? How about we just say they’re equal.