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Kentucky Wildcats SEC Tournament preview

By Austin Sutcliffe

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Another week has passed and the Kentucky Wildcats have still yet to lose a game. The typical power house Florida hoisted a challenge for most of the game until the Cats finally decided to put their feet on the pedal, cruising to a 31-0 regular season.

Single elimination time is upon us as it is finally time for the Kentucky Wildcats to compete for the SEC tournament. Although the Kentucky Wildcats have been a lock at the number 1 seed since the win against Arkansas, the rest of the SEC was in a scramble as to where they would finish.

The LSU Tigers were in dyer need of a signature win and secured it with a win on the road against the 18th ranked Razorbacks. The win will be huge, but one more win against Texas A&M (hypothetically) should be enough to push them into the Big Dance.

The biggest surprise came from the Rebels of Ole Miss. As the Kentucky Wildcats found out earlier this season, when the Rebels are hot from the field they can beat anyone. A surprise from the Vanderbilt Commodores dropped Ole Miss to a 6 seed but that could be the motivation they need to make a run from the “other side” of the bracket.

"The Wildcats will get a bye to the quarterfinals – the top four seeds get a bye to the quarterfinals in the SEC Tournament – and they will await the winner of No. 8 seed Florida and No. 9 seed Alabama.Perhaps the seeding surprise is Ole Miss, which had the chance to claim the No. 3 seed Saturday night with the last remaining game of the conference’s regular season schedule, but the Rebels lost at home to a hot Vanderbilt team, 86-77."

The first possible match up for the Kentucky Wildcats is either the Florida Gators or the Alabama Crimson Tide. With the unpredictable play of Florida it is tough to predict who will take this one. No matter the circumstances, it is tough to beat one team 3 times in one season, but revenge for Florida’s sweep last season would be nice. Because of Billy Donovan’s experience, the Gators have the slight edge in Thursdays contest.

Mar 7, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; LSU Tigers guard Keith Hornsby (center) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. LSU won 81-78. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

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Down the road the one team in the SEC that Kentucky did not want to see again popped up right on their side of the bracket… The LSU Tigers. The Kentucky Wildcats are very good a playing great against great competition. However, LSU is in the merky middle where they are not a really good team but by no means a bad team. If Kentucky plays down to their competition against the Tigers there undefeated season could come to an end. LSU has the size to bang inside, the guard play will have to be at its best if the Kentucky Wildcats match up with the Tigers again to avoid an upset.

The Kentucky Wildcats are the favorite to win the SEC and I will make no such claim against them doing anything other than taking home the conference title. I will however be bold and venture into who I think will meet up with the Cats on Selection Sunday.

Arkansas is too easy of a pick to make and Georgia seems to only bring their A game when they are playing against the Cats. My eggs are in the Ole Miss basket to come out of the other side of the bracket. Having a guard who can take over a game like Stefan Moody is exactly what you need to make a run in a tournament… hint last years Connecticut Huskies.

Who are your favorites to make it to Sunday and who will take it home? If you need time to look over the menu some before you decide the printable bracket is here below… I recommend the Kentucky Wildcats.

2015SECTourneyWBN

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