Assessing Kentucky’s probabilities within the SEC Event

[ad_1] Following a Candy 16 look in Mark Pope's first season as the top coach of Kentucky, there have been excessive expectations heading into 12 months 2 in Lexington.

In spite of everything, final season's leading-scorer, Otega Oweh, and sharp-shooter Collin Chandler returned for an additional season, whereas a number of key transfers have been introduced in to fill the void left behind from final season's outgoing class.

Whereas that mix of expertise, together with native freshmen Malachi Moreno and Jasper Johnson, was sufficient to offer Kentucky (19-12, 10-8 SEC) the preseason No. 9 rating, it didn't take lengthy to appreciate this was not a top-10 staff and that it had work to do.

Accidents have been a problem with level guard Jaland Lowe present process season-ending shoulder surgical procedure in January, Tulane switch Kam Williams struggling a damaged left foot and sophomore ahead Jayden Quaintance — a projected first-round NBA Draft choose in accordance with ESPN's Jeremy Woo — showing in solely 4 video games attributable to lingering swelling in his proper knee after tearing his ACL whereas at Arizona State final season.

How ought to Kentucky be anticipated to carry out within the SEC Event? Though Kentucky has wins over ranked Tennessee (twice), Arkansas and Vanderbilt groups, 5 losses in its final seven regular-season video games dropped it to the nine-seed within the upcoming SEC Event in Nashville.

The Wildcats will face the 16-seed LSU (15-16, 3-15 SEC) within the first spherical on Wednesday (12:30 p.m. ET, SEC Community). The one time these groups squared off this season — a 75-74 win for Kentucky — ended with a miraculous buzzer-beater from Moreno.

That isn't precisely encouraging in opposition to the underside staff within the league standings, however the Wildcats ought to pull that one out if they don't beat themselves. It could solely get harder from there, although, with No. 8-seed Missouri (20-11, 10-8 SEC) ready within the second spherical and a possible date with No. 1-seed Florida (25-6, 16-2 SEC) within the quarterfinals.

Kentucky went a mixed 0-3 in opposition to these two groups this season, so making a run via the SEC Event goes to be a tall job no matter what number of video games the Wildcats are capable of win.

The truth that they're even enjoying within the first spherical of the SEC Event is mind-blowing contemplating this system had $22M in Identify, Picture and Likeness (NIL) cash to assemble its roster, one thing longtime school basketball analyst Dick Vitale referred to as out through the ESPN broadcast of the Florida-Kentucky recreation on Saturday.

ESPN's Joe Lunardi at present tasks Kentucky to be a seven-seed within the NCAA Event regardless of its up-and-down season. With an NCAA Analysis Device (NET) rating of 28, the Wildcats ought to solidly be within the 68-team area even when they've a poor exhibiting within the SEC Event.

Nonetheless, a 5-10 file in opposition to Quad 1 opponents and an inclination to fall behind by double-digits make it onerous to ascertain a prolonged run in each the SEC and NCAA Event. Of their final two video games alone in opposition to Texas A&M and then-No. 5 Florida, the Wildcats confronted deficits of 21 and 20, respectively, which isn't what you wish to see this late within the season.

Oweh (18.2 PPG) has been instrumental to Kentucky's success as soon as once more, but when he doesn't get some assist round him and the Wildcats preserve enjoying from behind, it might be a tough March for Huge Blue.