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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) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 06: Nick Richards
LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 06: Nick Richards /

5. Kentucky will make the final, but lose to the Vols

This is the prediction I most hope to be wrong about, but I’m afraid it’s going to happen. Tennessee just seems to the Wildcats’ number this year, and the odds are favorable that these two will play in the SEC Tournament final on Sunday.

The Vols have been on a tear of late. Since their unexpected loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Tennessee has ripped off 4 straight wins, including their most recent win against the aforementioned Georgia team. Kentucky was riding a similar winning streak, until they ran into the buzz saw which was the Florida Gators this past Saturday.

Tennessee is a well-coached, physical team, who can shoot and score the ball well. Grant Williams was unstoppable in the Cats first match up against the Vols, scoring 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Lamont Turner hit the dagger three-pointer in the closing seconds against UK at Rupp to seal the season sweep for the Volunteers this year.

While BBN would love to see the Cats get revenge on Tennessee for the two previous losses, I don’t think it’s in the cards for Kentucky this season. The good news is, if the Wildcats make the SEC Tournament final, they will likely have sewn up whatever seed they were going to get at that point anyway.

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