by Paul Jordan
The last thing I really wanted to do was to write another article about the Kentucky/Tennessee game but for some odd reason, I feel the need to put closure to this issue and get some last thoughts off my chest, so allow me the indulgence.
I am glad that these pictures of Scotty Hopson doing the John Wall dance and JP Prince puffing out his jersey exist. Please, let’s publish all the pictures of the Tennessee players acting like they never won a big game before. All it is doing is providing locker room material for Kentucky when these teams meet in the SEC semi-finals on March 13. Oh wait … the Vols may have to face Kentucky again? You bet your sweet ass. Fact is, UK played as bad as they could possibly play and Tennessee played as well as they could possibly play — and Tennessee still blew a 19 point lead. And the next meeting will be on a nuetral court and even possibly a pro Kentucky crowd, even though this game will be in the state of Tennessee. So keep your fond memories and your smack talk flowing Vols … Kentucky will be ready for the rematch.
In the end, the loss cost Kentucky very little. At worst, Kentucky will fall to third as Syracuse should be the number one team, and Kansas would be second. Even at third, Kentucky would keep it’s travel plans the same … UK will still likely be going to the Syracuse regional. Tennessee needed the win to break a tie for third place in the SEC East and to prevent from falling to a possible 8 or 9 seed in the tournament. How many times have we seen a desperate team pull a win out of their ass over the higher ranked team? Its a fact of college basketball. Three of the top four teams lost this weekend on the road. Kentucky will still win the SEC East. Vols will still look forward to playing Thursday in the SEC Tourney and facing UK on tired legs.
Can the Tennessee writers simply shut up about Bruce Pearl being the better coach than John Calipari based on this one win? No team has been a better case of wasted potential the last four years than Bruce Pearl and his Volunteers. Need proof? Bruce Pearl likes to brag about how his Vols have finished ahead of Kentucky the last four years, but what has he really down with that? Let’s take a look:
This year, the Vols were ranked number 12 pre-season. To date, they have lost seven games and are in a battle with Florida for the third spot in the SEC East. When the poll comes out on Monday, they will still only be ranked around 17th due to their embarrassing loss at Florida this week.
Last season, the Vols started the season as the 12th ranked team, and bumbled their way to 13 losses — including two blowout losses to a NIT team, Kentucky — and made the NCAA Tournament as a #9 seed and Tennessee was a “one and done” in the NCAA.
In 2007, the Vols started out as the number 7 team in the country and moved their way to number 2 in the polls. Any thought of this being the Vol’s year ended when they were blown out in the sweet 16 game.
The 2006 version of the Vols also lost in the sweet 16. And what about the 2005 Vols? well they ended the regular season ranked as high as #11 and made the NCAA as a #2 seed, yet were shocked by the Wichita State Shockers in the second round of the tournament. So in the four years of Tennessee’s “dominance” of Kentucky in the SEC has resulted in zero trips past the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament and a tepid 8-8 record in the SEC and the NCAA Tournaments. Meanwhile, the “lesser” coach, Calipari has taken teams to Final Fours and Title games. Chew on that, Bruce.
Whew. OK. Thanks for letting me vent and get that off my chest. I think I am finally over the Tennessee loss. Keep those cute pics coming Vol fans. We’re be ready for March 13. Hope you’re still around because it would really suck for Wall and Patterson to not get their vengeance then.
Go Cats. Beat the Bulldogs.
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