This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Holding Serve at Home

Never take winning conference games for granted. It may sound like coach-speak, but it gets proven time and time again. Last week the Kentucky Basketball team, and its fans, learned that lesson firsthand. Tuesday night’s home loss to South Carolina was added to a list of worst losses in the Coach Calipari era. However, the Wildcats responded on Saturday with an incredibly impressive win at #5 ranked Tennessee 63-56. It was a much-needed Quad 1 win to add to what was essentially a blank NCAA Tournament resume. Now the ‘Cats are back in Lexington for the week with two overachieving opponents coming to town. There is a newfound excitement and meaning to these two games after Saturday’s upset victory.

Above all else, it was great to see the Wildcats’ effort at Thompson-Boling arena. Despite missing starting point guard Sahvir Wheeler and Daimion Collins, plus getting just 22 minutes and zero points from Cason Wallace, Kentucky turned in by far its best defensive performance of the season. Offensively, the overall shot-making wasn’t great and 19 turnovers gave the Volunteers plenty of chances, but a 22-25 mark at the free throw line sealed the game. It is hard to bank on a 65%-66% free throw shooting team all of the sudden becoming an 88% free throw shooting team. However, the effort and urgency we saw from the ‘Cats is something that should carry over into this week’s games. If it does then we will likely look back at Saturday, January 14 in Knoxville as the turning point of this Kentucky Basketball season.

As we do every Monday it is time to take a look at the week ahead. The Wildcats are coming off of their best win, by far, of the season. However, they also have two huge opportunities at home this week in games that they really need to win. There is a chance to build some positive momentum during this portion of the SEC schedule. We will address the biggest storyline surrounding the program, preview Georgia and Texas A&M, talk about the current SEC standings, and highlight the top games to watch nationally. Let’s dive on into another edition of this week in Kentucky Basketball.

Top Kentucky Basketball Storyline: Building Positive Momentum

Looking ahead at the SEC schedule is a fool’s errand. Fans of the Wildcats know that as well as anybody after what they experienced last week. Going 1-1 was probably on everybody’s mind. However, getting there by losing at home to South Carolina and winning at Tennessee wouldn’t have been the assumed path. You cannot take winning for granted. That will be true once again this week as Kentucky plays host to Georgia and Texas A&M. On paper, those are two wins, but both teams have been playing good basketball of late. Taking it one game at a time and stacking up one win at a time will be the manta for the Kentucky Basketball program this week.

Despite the difference in outcomes, the ‘Cats were actually much better offensively in the loss to South Carolina than they were in their win at Tennessee. The game against the Volunteers was won with effort, rebounding, and by making free throws. If the Wildcats can simply bring the toughness that they displayed in Knoxville back to Rupp Arena it will likely be a good week for the Big Blue Nation. Saturday proved that you don’t have to shoot the lights out or execute perfectly to win basketball games. However, you have to play with enough urgency to cover up your mistakes along the way. For really the first time this season Kentucky did that on Saturday and it led to an impressive road victory against a Top 5 team.

This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Georgia Bulldogs & Texas A&M Aggies

After seven seasons at Florida, Coach Mike White was run out of Gainesville for essentially being too average. He never finished below .500, went to four NCAA Tournaments (would have likely been five if not for the canceled tournament), and was consistently finishing in the top half of the Southeastern Conference. However, expectations were higher for the Gators and it was time for a change. Coach White found a soft landing spot at Georgia and has the Bulldogs playing good basketball. For a team coming off of a six-win season, being “average” would be a win for Georgia. In year one they have built a 13-4 record including a 3-1 mark in the SEC. The Bulldogs’ only loss came on the road at Florida. Georgia is very good defensively and has found success grinding games out thanks to their free throw shooting.

Texas A&M was considered the biggest snub from last season’s NCAA Tournament. The Aggies won their last four games of the regular season, and made a surprise run to the SEC Tournament championship game, but missed out on the Big Dance. However, they went on to finish with 27 wins and lost to Xavier in the NIT Championship game. Their postseason success has been carried over into a solid year four for Coach Buzz Williams in College Station. This is by far the best offensive team he has coached at A&M led by an impressive sophomore breakout season by Wade Taylor. The frontcourt tandem of Henry Coleman and Julius Marble has been excellent for the Aggies as well.

These are two must-win games for a Kentucky Basketball team coming off of its big win in Knoxville. The Wildcats have injected some life into their NCAA Tournament resume but that can be erased quickly by losing again at Rupp Arena. If they can simply hold serve at home in the games they are supposed to win it will set up one heck of an atmosphere for next Saturday’s matchup with Kansas. However, the ‘Cats have to earn that atmosphere by winning at home this week.

Around the Southeastern Conference

• Alabama continues to pace the league with a perfect 5-0 record. They are just blasting people, including Saturday’s 40-point win over LSU, and look like they might be the best team in the country.
• The Aggies of Texas A&M are off to a strong, and surprising 4-0 start. They host Florida on Wednesday before traveling to Lexington to take on the Wildcats on Saturday.
• Speaking of the Kentucky Basketball team, the ‘Cats made headlines over the weekend with a win at #5 Tennessee. They have an opportunity to really climb the standings with five consecutive very winnable SEC matchups.
• Arkansas might be in trouble after Saturday’s loss to Vanderbilt. They have really struggled defensively in league play and now find themselves at 1-4 with a trip to Missouri looming on Wednesday.
• Mississippi State is also at 1-4 having lost five of their last six games overall. It is looking more and more like that 11-0 start to the season was fraudulent due to one of the easiest schedules in the country.

Games to Watch Nationally

Monday, January 16th

Michigan State vs. #3 Purdue @ 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FOX)

#18 Charleston vs. William & Mary @ 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

#17 Miami (FL) vs. Syracuse @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ACC Network)

Tuesday, January 17th

Tulane vs. #1 Houston @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#13 Kansas State vs. #2 Kanas @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

Mississippi State vs. #9 Tennessee @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

#12 Iowa State vs. #7 Texas @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

Vanderbilt vs. #4 Alabama @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

Wednesday, January 18th

Seton Hall vs. #15 UConn @ 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

#10 Virginia vs. Virginia Tech @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPNU)

West Virginia vs. #14 TCU @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

LSU vs. #16 Auburn @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

DePaul vs. #8 Xavier @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

Missouri vs. #25 Arkansas @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

#20 Marquette vs. #22 Providence @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (CBS Sports Network)

Thursday, January 19th

Michigan State vs. #23 Rutgers @ 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

Minnesota vs. #3 Purdue @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

Monmouth vs. #18 Charleston @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

UTSA vs. #24 Florida Atlantic @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#6 Gonzaga vs. Loyola Marymount @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time

#11 Arizona vs. USC @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Pac 12 Network)

Arizona State vs. #5 UCLA @ 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

Saturday, January 21st

#6 Xavier vs. Georgetown @ Noon Eastern Time (FS1)

Duke vs. #17 Miami (FL) @ Noon Eastern Time (ESPN)

Northeastern vs. #18 Charleston @ Noon Eastern Time

#2 Kansas vs. #14 TCU @ 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (CBS)

#11 Arizona vs. #5 UCLA @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ABC)

#13 Kansas State vs. Texas Tech @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Wake Forest vs. #10 Virginia @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Oklahoma State vs. #12 Iowa State @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#22 Providence vs. DePaul @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

South Carolina vs. #16 Auburn @ 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

LSU vs. #9 Tennessee @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

Seton Hall vs. #20 Marquette @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (CBS Sports Network)

Missouri vs. #4 Alabama @ 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

West Virginia vs. #7 Texas @ 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Pacific vs. #6 Gonzaga @ 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Sunday, January 22nd

#3 Purdue vs. Maryland @ TBD (FS1)

#15 UConn vs. Butler @ Noon Eastern Time (FOX)

#1 Houston vs. Temple @ 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)