Kentucky Wildcats Farmer's Almanac for Monday (3/14/11)
By Paul Jordan
What a weekend! The Cats had a great weekend but got their hopes crushed right after. The Cats won their 27th SEC Tournament yesterday in Catlanta beating Florida for the second time in less than a month. The Cats showed their strength and what they could do. The Cats had to players playing hurt following a mishap against Alabama on Saturday. The Cats played an amazing game against the Gators going on to win 70-54 the Cats was strong at the free throw line hitting 24-of-29 though Florida only missed five of their shots as well too bad they only hit 3-of-8 from the line. The Cats put three players on the All-Tournament team and also had the MVP of the tournament in Darius Miller. The other Cats on the list were Brandon Knight and Josh Harrellson. Miller averaged 13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds for the tournament, Knight had 15.3 points and 5.7 assist and Jorts had 10.3 and 8.3 rebounds.
Though the Cats won the SEC tournament and the last six games played in which included beating Florida twice the Cats was placed in the hardest bracket of the NCAA and given a fourth seed. Many including myself felt if Kentucky won the SEC tournament they would be given a three seed but that didn’t happen. So that Cats will take on Princeton on CBS on Thursday at 2:45. The Cats being a fourth seed has kind of sunk in we did play poorly on the road this season and they do look at the whole body of work. That being said what upset me the most was Florida being awarded a no. 2 seed. Florida while they did win the SEC regular season their non-conference schedule was weak and they had some loses that make me question them. They lost to Central Florida and a loss to Jacksonville. Their toughest game this season was against Ohio State where they lost 93-75. In the SEC Florida lost twice to Kentucky, once to Mississippi State and once to South Carolina. The Cats had a tougher non-conference than Florida since we was a part of the Maui Tournament. My point being, that Florida and Kentucky both was worthy of three seeds not two seeds.
Tonight is the selection show for the women on ESPNU at 7. The UK Hoops team finished the season 24-8 being the runner up in the SEC tournament to Tennessee. The Hoops are ranked 16th in the nation and have beat some pretty good teams but two teams that are ranked that they lost to are Duke and Tennessee. They also beat Notre Dame early in season and are currently ranked seventh in the nation. Hopefully the UK Hoops team will have better luck with the selection committee than the men did last night.
It looks like John Pelphrey was fired after his poor finish last season at Arkansas. Pelphrey had a 69-59 record at Arkansas and though he finished poorly in the SEC west he did have a winning record this past season of 18-12. Pelphry is a popular name in the SEC and will have a job before it is all said and done with another school. We wish the former Wildcat the best of luck.
Lastly I want to congratulate the UK rifle team for bring home a National Championship this is the first national championship won during the Mitch Barnhart Era at Kentucky. Though we hope to add him another one before the year is up.
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans