Kentucky basketball: Game preview, 3 keys vs Alabama
By Drew Koch
3. The time is now
The Kentucky basketball team has 5 games remaining in the regular season. If this team has a run in them, it has to start now. They play 3 of their final 5 games at home, and all of them are vital to UK’s resume` heading into Selection Sunday.
Alabama presents the Cats with a challenge, but honestly, it’s one Kentucky should handle. The Bama backcourt can be problematic, but Kentucky’s perimeter defense and length inside should pose problems for the Crimson Tide.
Kentucky will likely be favored in at least 3 of their remaining 5 games. If the Cats take care of business, win on their home floor and finish above .500 in conference play, they should feel pretty safe come March 11th regardless of their play in the SEC Tournament.
If Kentucky stumbles on Saturday against Alabama, they’ll be sitting at 6-8 in the SEC and to this point in the season, not have defeated an in-conference team projected the make the NCAA Tournament. Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Florida all afford the Cats an opportunity to inflate their tournament seeding.
There’s no time left for Calipari to fiddle around with another tweak. This team is who they are. They struggle to shoot from the perimeter, they struggle at the foul line and they are devoid of leadership. Cal needs to focus on the things his team does well; points in the paint and perimeter defense.
If the Kentucky basketball team can keep teams from scoring in bunches from beyond the arc, score on the low block and rebound the basketball, they’ll win on Saturday and gain some momentum to close out SEC play. If the Wildcats drop a 5th straight game, let the “bubble team” talk begin.