Things were going okay heading into Florida. Kentucky had found a little mojo; they were feeling good. Then the Gators knocked the Cats off by 9 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated. You still felt good coming off that performance, but these last two? No chance.
Georgia had lost 5 of 6, but won in Rupp for the first time since 2009. Auburn had lost 5 straight, but knocked Kentucky off in Neville, sending Kentucky to a third straight defeat. Mark Pope is defiant; the team is all saying they are taking it one game at a time. But now firmly on the bubble at 17-10, we gotta discuss something none of us saw coming back in August; how does Kentucky make the NCAA Tournament?
Kentucky has a hard road to .500 in the SEC
Up first is the no-brainer, South Carolina. And that is exactly what makes it so dangerous. Just 3 days after a game that you feel was stolen from you by a flop, how do you respond? South Carolina is going to play inspired because they can spoil your season. At just 12- 15 (3-11), the Gamecocks don't have a lot left to play for except pride.
And boy do they love beating Kentucky.
So the team better show up and get a victory here moving to 18-10 (9-6).
The win doesn't move you any closer to tournament safety, but a loss moves you into real danger. Then comes a game in Lexington that the Cats desperately need: Vanderbilt.
After the Commodores beat Kentucky by 25 in Nashville, Mark Pope and company ran off 3 straight wins, including a stunner over Arkansas on the road. They will need to play more like that team than the team that just lost to Auburn. Win that game, and you are 19-10 (10-6), and in a much better place.
But for argument's sake, let's say you lose that one. 18-11 (9-7) is not a great place to be heading into Reed Arena, where the Aggies are 13-3 on the year.
That is a tough matchup for Kentucky, as Bucky Ball will push the pace and force Kentucky to confront those fatigue issues Mark Pope has been going on about. Lose that game, and you are one game above .500 in the league with the Gators coming to your place to close the season.
To feel good Kentucky basketball must go 2-2 down the stretch at worst
With 4 games left, Kentucky MUST win 2 games to feel good about their chances. Win only 1 and things will get dicey. Lose all 4, which is not out of the realm of possibility, and the SEC Tournament just got a whole lot more important.