SEC Tournament Night 1: Notes from Wednesday's Session

Good evening from the 2023 SEC Tournament, the part of it with the really bad teams. Kentucky Sports Radio is here for the Wednesday night doubleheader two nights before Kentucky Basketball plays its first game in the last quarterfinal Friday night. We’ll talk about that one plenty over the next 48 hours. Right now, I’m checking in from Bridgestone Arena to say hi and to test the WiFi strength. I’ll tell you a few things about Day 1 while we’re here…

— We’ll start with the order of events here in Nashville and the road leading up to KSR’s arrival. First, this morning’s show at 5 Broke Girls restaurant in Horse Cave, Kentucky, was a lot of fun and the burger we heard so much about did not disappoint. Thanks to Jackie and her team, and to our new friend James, for welcoming us into Hart County for our Wednesday morning SEC Tournament pit stop.

Here’s a photo of the Flaming Hart with onion rings. It was wonderful. Maybe not the best idea on a road trip but I recommend paying 5 Broke Girls a visit if you’re ever in the area.

— Once we got to Nashville, the first stop after checking into the hotel was Tin Roof on Broadway to scout the scene for KSR’s shows. Tin Roof had a major renovation since we were last down here, so be prepared for a different setup than the usual one if you’re attending. We’ll be on the second floor Friday morning. I highly encourage early arrival. Remember, it’s 9 a.m. central.

— Back in Bridgestone Arena for the first time since the Wednesday night action in 2020–that was a wild night, if you remember (COVID)–everything is pretty much as we left it, but the scene outside the arena is much different. You been to Nashville lately? Holy bachelorette party, this place is crazier than ever and growing by the minute. As someone who’s been visiting Broadway since before I was legal, it’s unbelievable to see the difference in this city from 15 and 10, and even five years ago. RIP, original Paradise Park.

— Now for some actual SEC Tournament talk. Right now, Ole Miss and South Carolina are opening the tournament in a game nobody outside of these walls cares about. However, it is one of the better Wednesday night crowds in the 14 years I’ve been attending the tournament. It’s a good mixture of all teams, too–not just Kentucky fans in early or the locals. We have a wide range of team clothing with Ole Miss slightly edging out Kentucky and Tennessee fans from my perspective.

— The Sunkist is actually kissed by the sun at the SEC Tournament.

Golden Flake is no longer a sponsor, sadly. It was a great run.

— For the many who have asked, no, you cannot buy beer in the common areas of the SEC Tournament. There is plenty of beer in the suites and bar areas with premium tickets, but the SEC still prohibits the sale of alcohol throughout the entire building.

— The in-house DJ is electric. I could really use a beer.

— Before the Rebels and Gamecocks tipped off, the KSR crew caught up with the SEC Network crew for some pregame bantering courtside. Tom Hart is here and says hello to Big Blue Nation, and we have Sean Farnham calling tonight’s games in Nashville after he was in Las Vegas last night on the broadcast for the West Coast Conference Tournament.

There’s a good story behind this picture that we’ll tell another time.

A picture of @PeterBurnsESPN taking a picture of @SeanFarnham and @tom_hart butts pic.twitter.com/XZK58RdqqR

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 8, 2023

— As No. 1 recruit GG Jackson takes his 14th shot for South Carolina, I wonder how much he regrets de-committing from North Carolina to stay home for the Gamecocks. Both he and UNC would be better off. His draft stock has completely plummeted since November.

— The crowd has filled in even more since we started talking. LSU and Georgia fans are stumbling in from outside to get ready for what’ll be the last game of the season for one of them. I will not still be here when that one ends. Gotta see if I still have the fastball in Nashville.

— It’s looking like Ole Miss is going to take Game 1 to set up a run-in with Tennessee tomorrow. Game 2 will determine which team Vanderbilt will face and Kentucky will get the winner of that one. Until we speak again, Go Cats and keep following KSR for plenty of coverage from the scene here in Nashville. We’re just getting started.