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Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs Vanderbilt SEC Tournament Edition: TV/Streaming Info and Keys to the Game

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

After enjoying their double bye, the Kentucky Wildcats’ first SEC Tournament game comes against the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are coming off an easy 77-68 win over LSU in Thursday’s action.

This is an interesting matchup given that the season series was split, with Vandy getting the most recent win on Kentucky’s Senior Night last week.

This game will give Kentucky and their seniors the chance to avenge that loss and move into the semifinals, where they could grab another Quad 1 victory. However, Vanderbilt may have more on the line as it serves them a chance to move into the right side of the bubble heading into Selection Sunday weekend.

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This is the first SEC Tournament in Nashville — with a good Kentucky team — since 2019. Therefore, there should be a lot of blue in attendance, and if they make it to Saturday or Sunday, expect more fans to buy tickets and make the short trip.

Given that these two teams have matched up twice this season, both teams know the other relatively well. Let’s take a quick look at the game.

Take Advantage In the Paint, Make Free Throws

With Vanderbilt’s Liam Robbins out — he’s the SEC Defensive Player of the Year — the paint should open up for the Wildcats. However, this was something they didn’t take advantage of in their matchup last week.

In their first game of the season series, Kentucky scored 36 points in the paint, more than half of their total points (69). However, in the last week’s game, Kentucky scored just 18 points in the paint.

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One reason for that is a lack of aggression. When looking at attempts near the basket, Kentucky showed sixteen dunk/layup attempts in the first matchup, compared to just ten in the latter. However, it does need to be noted that Vanderbilt fouled quite a bit, forcing Kentucky to covert from the free throw line.

The game plan should be simple, get the ball inside and convert, and if they foul, make your free throws (preferably above a 71% clip).

Ball Movement and Shot Making

During Kentucky’s turnaround, one of the biggest keys for them has been their ball movement. Over their last seven games, the Wildcats had 14 or more assists in five of them, the two outliers being a foul fest against Tennessee and a season-low against Vanderbilt last week.

Of course, one reason for this was Kentucky’s lack of a point guard, as Cason Wallace sustained an ankle injury in that game. However, against Arkansas, the Wildcats showed they can move the ball as a team.

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If Kentucky can move the ball as they have done so recently, they will have open looks. With that said, they cannot shoot less than 25% from the field and less than 20% from three, as they did in their loss to Vandy. With Antonio Reeves coming off a 37-point performance, I expect him to contribute heavily to that, especially from the perimeter.

Overcoming Injuries

Injuries have been the biggest hindrance to this Kentucky team in their turnaround. CJ Fredrick, Cason Wallace, and Sahvir Wheeler have all missed time since the start of February. With Wallace and Wheeler both out, Kentucky has no point guard.

With that said, CJ Fredrick will continue to play through injury and Cason Wallace is expected to return this weekend. As proof, Cason Wallace was seen in practice gear on Thursday

For what it’s worth, Tucker has walked back on his belief and now believes Wallace is a true game-time decision, and it’s not a certainty he suits to Friday.

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Yet, there is a more surprising return that could potentially happen. According to Kyle Tucker of The Athleticthere’s “some chance that” Sahvir Wheeler could return. If Wheeler were to come back this season, it would ideally come this weekend, which would help him prepare for the NCAA Tournament next week.

Let’s ball.

Kentucky Basketball (21-10) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (19-13)

Time/Date: 9:30 EST (estimated) on Friday, March 10th, 2023
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee.
TV Channel: SEC Network
Online Stream: WatchESPNESPN+, SEC Network+ or ESPN app
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the UK radio network call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | VU
Team SheetsUK | VU
Stats To Know: UK | VU

Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook currently has Kentucky favored by 8.5 points. KenPom gives the Cats a 68% chance of winning, while Bart Torvik has it at 67%, and ESPN BPI is at 78.2%.

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PredictionsKenPom predicts a 77-72 win for the Wildcats, while Bart Torvik is going with a 76-71 decision for Big Blue Nation. TeamRankings (via ESPN) is projecting a 76-67 victory, Kentucky!

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Fans Call for Investigation of Official

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entucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope argues with an official.
Scott Wachter | Imagn

Officials are an indirect part of sports and competition. Having no names on the back of their uniform, they are there to keep things fair and controlled; and if they do their jobs correctly, they don’t become known.

When fans become to know an official by their name, it’s typically due to a pattern of inconsistent officiating and controversial calls. As is the case with Terry Oglelsby, who helped call the Alabama-Kentucky game this past weekend.

Oglesby has been calling Kentucky games for the better part of a decade, with a 20-12 overall record. However, of late, he has not been the most kind to Kentucky, having lost four of their last seven games he has called.

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While nearly every contest has their fair share of “bad” calls, what bothered many on Saturday didn’t involve a whistle. In the middle of the second half, Mark Pope voiced furstration about a call, to which Oglesby responded by delaying play to follow Mark Pope down the sideline.

Mark Pope’s, 6-foot-10, response; looking over top Oglesby with his one foot height advatnge. He took the high road, I guess you could say.

Since the game a group of Kentucky fans have started the hashtag: #InvestigateTerryOglesby

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Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Provides Positive Injury Update on Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson

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Kentucky guard Jaxon Robinson watching warmups as he sits with an injured wrist.
Tristan Pharis

Kentucky fans received a bit of good news today as Mark Pope previewed the Wildcats’ rematch with Alabama.

Asked about the status of Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, Pope had positive news to share rather than the not-so-good news he is growing accustomed to providing over recent weeks.

“Lamont is going to get a little bit of live action today,’ Pope said. “Jax (Jaxson Robinson) is gonna be in some skill stuff today”

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This is a very promising update for Kentucky as they are doing everything they can to get healthy for a run in March. However, it does sound like we are closer to a return of Lamont Butler than we are seeing Jaxson Robinson return.

Although the update did seem promising, it shouldn’t be expected for either player to suit up against Alabama. That said, an injury report will be released around 7 PM eastern tonight.

At this point in time, the most crucial thing is getting Lamont Butler, and Jaxson Robinson back healthy for a postseason run in March. Although Kentucky has had bright spots without Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, it is clear that they have missed both of these guys. Pope seems more hopeful with each day that we will see these guys back in uniform in the pretty near future.

The Cats will be back in action tomorrow at 6 PM on ESPN against an Alabama team who will be hungry after a road loss to Missouri.

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Men's Basketball

Koby Brea on Making Big Plays At Kentucky: “It’s Stuff You Dream of as a Little Kid”

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Koby Brea (4) reacts to the action from the bench in Rupp Arena.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Among a wave of feel-good storylines in the wake of Kentucky’s ranked home win over Tennessee last week, completing the season sweep, Koby Brea’s playmaking towards the end of the second half was the nail in the Volunteers’ coffin.

On back-to-back possessions, Brea led the charge with a depleted Wildcats offense, following the re-aggravation of Lamont Butler’s shoulder injury and the continued absence of Jaxson Robinson and Kerr Kriisa.

First, “Fuego,” as he’s been lovingly dubbed by the Big Blue Nation, executed a clutch step-back triple to extend Kentucky’s lead to six, 68-62. Then, after a defensive stop, Brea slashed into the lane and threw a no-look-lob to Otega Oweh that essentially sealed the deal.

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Kentucky led 70-62 with just over a minute to go, and would ultimately get out with a double-digit win, 75-64.

Bucket List Buckets

Asked about the deciding stretch after the game, Brea emphasized staying calm, and how the moment is the stuff of childhood dreams.

“I play hard throughout the game on both ends,” he said. “When it’s time for me to shoot, I have to just relax a little bit. That’s the one moment in the game where I’m just going to take my time and breathe a little bit.”

Brea finished the game with 11 points and shot a scorching 50% metric (3/6) from the three-point line. Whatever he’s doing, he’s doing it right.

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“It felt good,” he said regarding his third, and most crucial, triple. “To hit shots like that in such a big moment, in such a big game, it’s stuff that you dream of as a little kid.”

“It made me feel really good, and it just goes to show all the work that I’ve put in, and how confident I am in that moment, and how confident my team is in that moment with me as well… they knew I was going to go to work, and that meant a lot to me as well.”

With both Robinson and Butler likely to remain out against Texas on Saturday, Kentucky will likely rely on Brea to start, and produce, once more. No matter how tough the SEC has proven to be, this Kentucky team has responded every time; the “next man up” mentality in Lexington is like no other.

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