Wildcat fans react to Kentucky blowing a shot at SEC Tournament title after Tennessee loss
When Tennessee lost early on Friday, it made Kentucky the top remaining seed at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, but John Calipari's Wildcats fell to seventh-seeded Texas A&M.
By Josh Yourish
When Tennessee started the SEC Tournament quarterfinals with a blowout loss to Mississippi State in the early session, the door swung wide open for John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats to take the conference crown. Instead, Kentucky couldn't get defensive stops against Texas A&M and now the top 2 seeds are out of the SEC tourney.
A&M's Wade Taylor IV led the way for the Aggies with 32 points on 11-24 shooting in the Aggies' 97-87 win over the Wildcats. Rob Dillingham responded with 27 points off the bench, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Kentucky will still be in a good position for the NCAA Tournament and will likely be either a three or a four-seed, but no team has ever lost its first conference tournament game and gone on to win the national title. That's bad news for Kentucky and for coach Cal, who needs to go on a deep tournament run to regain favor with an impatient big blue nation.
John Calipari strikes again. No need to win for fans. The SEC(fans) do not matter.
— JJenkins (@jjwildcat79) March 16, 2024
Kentucky entered the tournament allowing 79.1 points per game this season which ranked 339th in the country. Despite a five-game win streak to end the year, Kentucky still ranked 188th in defensive efficiency at 1.029 and over the final three games of the regular season allowed 1.090 points per possession.
Kentucky absolutely allergic to playing defense it’s maddening
— Justin Edwards Revenge Tour (@cuarenta_dos) March 16, 2024
Most Kentucky fans have pointed the finger at Calipari for his recent SEC Tournament struggles.
FINAL: Texas A&M 97, Kentucky 87
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 16, 2024
John Calipari has won two total games in the last five SEC tournaments.
Calipari and UK has a MASSIVE advantage EVERY year in Nashville in the SEC tournament and Calipari has done NOTHING with it since 2018. Unacceptable. This continued lack of success in tournament play is joke and not anything I want to follow. #BBN
— tgh3316 (@tgh3316) March 16, 2024
The last time that Kentucky won the SEC Tournament was 2018 when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was leading the Cats as a freshman. SGA is now an NBA superstar on his second contract.
Calipari and UK has a MASSIVE advantage EVERY year in Nashville in the SEC tournament and Calipari has done NOTHING with it since 2018. Unacceptable. This continued lack of success in tournament play is joke and not anything I want to follow. #BBN
— tgh3316 (@tgh3316) March 16, 2024
However, others decided to target the officiating crew. Kentucky was whistled for 24 fouls to 17 for Texas A&M and the Aggies shot 30 free throws.
When 99% of American people fail to do their job at an adequate level, they get fired.
— Big Blue Nation #BBN (@UKBasketbalI) March 16, 2024
When Doug Shows fails to do his job at an adequate level, nothing happens
Others decided to target the Wildcat's leading scorer for a lack of effort on the other end of the floor. The young Cats have been fantastic on the offensive end, but have struggled to get stops and that just cost the most talented team in the conference a shot at the SEC title.
This isn't about attacking players, this has been the most fun team in a long time.
— Lance 'Doc' Pearson 🅙 (@DocLanceP) March 16, 2024
Rob Dillingham, who has been terrific, had at least 4 plays on D this game where he didn't run back, didn't get back into the action, generally showed terrible effort. Can't have that next week.
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