SEC Hoops: Kentucky Closing In On Nashville Double-Bye

Following Saturday’s results around the SEC we have a much better idea of what Kentucky’s final two mid-week games will look like. If the Cats hold serve, a double-bye and a Friday debut in the SEC Tournament is on the horizon.

Playing in their first game without Colin Castleton, Florida got ran off the court at Bud Walton Arena. Trailing by six at halftime, Arkansas opened the second period on a 17-2 run to take complete control of the game. Jalen Graham scored a career-high 26 points in the 84-65 Razorback win. Florida center Jason Jitoboh had only 4 points, 2 rebounds and 2 turnovers in Castleton’s absence. The Gators host Kentucky Wednesday at 7 pm on ESPN.

While Florida struggles down the stretch, Vanderbilt is looking like one of the best teams in the SEC. Since falling to Alabama 101-44, the Commodores have won five straight, including wins over Tennessee and Auburn. Liam Robbins is averaging 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game during the win streak. He had 24 and 12 yesterday, but the real hero for Vandy was Ezra Manjon. His left-handed layup banked in off the glass with less than a second remaining to give Jerry Stackhouse the longest win streak of his coaching career.

EZRA MANJON FOR THE WIN 😱

First 5-game SEC win streak in 8 years for @VandyMBB. pic.twitter.com/F2PNuZ9sJ0

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 19, 2023

The final Wednesday of the regular season at Rupp Arena could be dangerous for the Wildcats. Kentucky has bolstered its NCAA Tournament resume, but the Cats cannot afford a Quad 3 loss… unless a Vanderbilt victory propels them into the Top 75 of the NET rankings and makes UK’s first victory over the Commodores a Quad 1 win. Wrap your brain around that, or don’t and keep your fingers crossed that Kentucky can contain Liam Robbins at Rupp.

KenPom Projected SEC Finish

KSR’s Adam Luckett crunched the numbers and deciphered potential tiebreakers and this is what KenPom believes will be the Wildcats’ path to an SEC Tournament title.

Overtime Egg Bowl

Ole Miss put Mississippi State on the ropes for 40 minutes. They could not keep it up for the final five minutes. In overtime D.J. Jeffries banked in a three-pointer to push the Bulldogs ahead by five. Miss. State (-3.5) out-scored Ole Miss 13-5 in the extra period to complete the late cover with a 69-61 win. Other scores from around the SEC:

• No. 1 Alabama 108, Georgia 59
• Texas A&M 69, Missouri 60
• South Carolina 82, LSU 73

Current SEC Standings

	CONF	OVERALL	HOME	ROAD	NEUTRAL	PF	PA	STRK
Alabama	13-1	23-4	13-0	8-2	2-2	2253	1845	W1
Texas A&M	12-2	20-7	13-1	6-3	1-3	2007	1779	W5
Tennessee	9-5	20-7	12-2	4-4	4-1	1935	1532	L-1
Kentucky	9-5	18-9	13-3	4-4	1-2	2007	1822	W2
Auburn	8-6	18-9	12-2	4-6	2-1	1958	1750	L-1
Vanderbilt	8-6	15-12	10-5	4-5	1-2	1923	1929	W5
Missouri	7-7	19-8	14-3	3-5	2-0	2169	2038	L-2
Arkansas	7-7	18-9	12-2	2-6	4-1	2003	1770	W1
Florida	7-7	14-13	9-4	3-6	2-3	1932	1824	L-1
Mississippi State	6-8	18-9	10-4	4-4	4-1	1778	1600	W1
Georgia	6-8	16-11	13-2	1-8	2-1	1876	1897	L-1
South Carolina	3-11	10-17	6-7	4-6	0-4	1748	1965	W1
Ole Miss	2-12	10-17	6-9	2-7	2-1	1811	1850	L-3
LSU	1-13	12-15	9-7	0-7	3-1	1795	1871	L-14