Kentucky Wildcats 5 for Monday: Second Seed in SEC East still Wildcat's destiny

Here are are folks, with just four games left in the SEC season, and I have to say that I am filled with optimism that Kentucky can pass up Vanderbilt for that second seed in the SEC East and I will have to like UK’s chances of winning three games in the SEC Tournament, rather than four.  As of now, Kentucky is one game behind Vandy with a March 1 date at Rupp remaining.  Kentucky’s toughest games, Vandy and Florida are at Rupp, while they have road games versus Arkansas and Tennessee.  Tennessee will be tough, but if the Vols continue to self destruct, they may not even be a bubble team at that point and you have to wonder how into the game they will be.

Vandy on the other hand, has a home game against Tennessee and Florida on their schedule along with a road trip to LSU.  Vandy is tough to beat at home, but it looks like things are in Kentucky’s hands and they just need to finish the table 4-0 to earn that second SEC seed.  At the moment, Georgia is tied as well, but they already have 5 SEC East losses and have tough road games at Florida and Alabama left.  Even if Georgia goes 4-0, those SEC East losses are a killer.

If Kentucky and Vanderbilt end up tied for second in the SEC East, the first tie breaker will be the head to head matchup, which would obviously be 1-1.  Assuming that Kentucky wins out and Vandy finishes 3-1, Kentucky would win the second tiebreaker due to a 7-3 SEC East mark and Vandy would be 6-4.

So it is in the Wildcat’s hands.

Keyla Snowden had 22 points to lead the UK Hoops squad to a 80-71 win over the Vanderbilt Lady Commodores at Nashville.  The win is notable beacuse it was the first time UK had won at Vanderbilt in 25 seasons.  The win moves Kentucky (20-7, 9-5) into third place in the SEC East.

Saturday’s win over South Carolina was a star studded event at Rupp Arena as they was a very impressive list of visitors.  Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks were sighted, as were former football Wildcats (and Super Bowl champion) Tim Masthay and Trevard Lindley.  The crowd was also represented by the 2011 class as Anthony Davis was there.  Last but not least, recruit Trevor Lacey was making an unofficial visit.

As we know, the Kentucky Derby Basketball Classic is in danger of not having a Kentucky Wildcat commit participate for the first time since 1972.  Seems there is a limit of all star games the commits can participate in and the entire 2011 class seems headed to the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald’s All American game.  Well, a Louisville lawyer and organizer has reached out to UK for help in landing a UK recruit.  Supposedly Michael Gilchrist has expressed a desire to play in a Kentucky based All Star game, but who knows if he can be convinced to change his plans to play in the Aprill 22 Derby Classic.  

It’s interesting that with the buzz that Randall Cobb may go in the first round of the NFL draft and Derrick Locke possible in the third, that this years UK NFL draft may be comparitive with some SEC NCAA champs.  If that 1st and 3rd round scenario holds out, Kentucky will have a better initial NFL daft thatn the 2008 Florida Gators and the 2007 LSU Tigers as neither of those teams could boast a 1st and 3rd round combo. 

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