Wildcat Blue Nation
Fansided

Kentucky basketball: 5 bold predictions for the 2018 SEC tournament

By Drew Koch

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: The Kentucky Wildcats take the court against the Monmouth Hawks at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. This photo is part of a photo essay on three sporting events in a fifteen hour time span at Madison Square Garden. The three sports were an NCAA college basketball game between The University of Kentucky vs Monmouth College, followed by an NHL hockey game between the New York Rangers against the New Jersey Devils, followed by a boxing match for the WBO Lightweight Title between Vasiliy Lomachenko against Guillermo Rigondeaux. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: The Kentucky Wildcats take the court against the Monmouth Hawks at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. This photo is part of a photo essay on three sporting events in a fifteen hour time span at Madison Square Garden. The three sports were an NCAA college basketball game between The University of Kentucky vs Monmouth College, followed by an NHL hockey game between the New York Rangers against the New Jersey Devils, followed by a boxing match for the WBO Lightweight Title between Vasiliy Lomachenko against Guillermo Rigondeaux. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 09: Kevin Knox
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 09: Kevin Knox /

3. Kentucky will thrive on the neutral court

I love Rupp Arena. It’s one of the most iconic facilities in all of college basketball. The Kentucky Wildcats have most passionate college basketball fans in the country. No one travels like Big Blue Nation, and that’s going to be very good for the Kentucky basketball team this week.

John Calipari always calls games against his Cats “the opponents’ Super Bowl,” and he’s right. There is nowhere close to the vitriol and hatred for other programs that there is for UK. Do you think Florida sells out the O’Connell Center for a game against South Carolina? No way! Do you believe that College Station is as rowdy for Texas A&M versus Alabama as they are when the Aggies play the Wildcats? Heck no!

The Scottrade Center will be UK’s home away from home this week. Just like Cat-lanta is when the Wildcats play in the Georgia capital, St. Louis will be packed with Big Blue fans ready to cheer on their Wildcats.

I know that UK is 1-2 this season on a neutral floor, with their only win coming against Monmouth in New York City. However, this team has grown a lot since those early season losses, as is evidence by their comeback win against West Virginia on the road. This week’s game(s) on a neutral floor will go a long way toward preparing the Cats for the NCAA Tournament.

Home/Opinion