by Andrew Hardison
If Georgia has it their way in tonight’s matchup between the Bulldogs and No. 3 Kentucky, they’ll send the pesky Wildcats home with another loss on their resume.
It’s something the ‘Dawgs are used to by now.
In fact, they have accomplished a feat the rest of the SEC East can’t boast about. During SEC conference play, Georgia is the only team in the league to have defeated every SEC East opponent who they’ve faced with the lone unbeaten being Kentucky.
All of that could change in the blink of an eye Wednesday night as the two ‘enemies’ clash one more time. If anything, the Cats should be used to it by now.
Over the past two seasons, Georgia has been a thorn in Kentucky’s side, beating the Wildcats on two separate, but still notable occasions.
The first being the 2008 SEC Tournament that went absolutely hey-wire due to an unforeseen tornado that caused severe structural damage to the Georgia Dome, moving the quarterfinal matchup between Georgia-Kentucky to the next day. The game was filled with various theatrics on both sides, but it was a three-point dagger by a relatively unknown Georgia point guard Zack Swansey that left the Wildcats reeling and eventually bouncing them out of the SEC Tournament.
Fast forward a year and the Bulldogs would have their way with the Cats once more, as they defeated Kentucky during the team’s 2009 Senior Day held at Rupp Arena. Kentucky was looking for not only a win, but a chance to push itself through to the round of 65. The game was unbearable, namely because Georgia at the time was (11-18, 2-12) on the season and quite possibly one of the worst teams in any of the major conferences.
Georgia forward Terrance Woodbury went off for 30 points on 7-13 shooting, while knocking down four three-pointers along the way. There was no stopping Woodbury or the Bulldogs for that matter, as Kentucky went on to ‘shoot’ themselves in the foot while making headway towards the NIT.
While the names and faces all aren’t there, tonight’s game will feature some of the same theatrics as year’s past.
Having defeated Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt and South Carolina already, the Bulldogs won’t be intimidated by what they’ll see tonight in the Kentucky Wildcats. Georgia boasts a 13-3 record at home making it known that coming out of Stegeman Coliseum with a victory is as tough as it gets.
A victory would go a long way for a ‘stunned’ Wildcats team after their loss to Tennessee last Saturday.
It would also further increase the team’s lead in the SEC East and give Kentucky some confidence going into the final game of the year against Florida on Senior Day. Not only that, but it would give the NCAA Tournament committee another reason to place the Cats as a 1-seed for the tourney coming up at the end of March.
One thing is for certain.
If Kentucky looks past Georgia, they will come away from Stegeman Coliseum with their third loss on the season.
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans