Kentucky basketball looks for 28th SEC Tournament Title

Today may be just another game in Kentucky’s quest for perfection, but this one has more depth than any game the Wildcats have played this season, why? Well obviously, as everyone in the BBN knows, it is the SEC title game.

Kentucky has played on Selection Sunday in the SEC title game three out of the last four years, and have yet to capture the win in each of those outings. Including Anthony Davis and company’s title team of 2012, and of course last year’s matchup against Florida. Today’s game however, will be played against Arkansas, who unlike Kentucky, hasn’t experienced a SEC tourney title since 2000. In that span, UK has went on to win five of those same titles, and even accomplished 6 regular season champions.

While all of that talk is history, the Razorbacks and Wildcats have met this season, and as most teams have experienced, the game was all in Kentucky’s favor (Feb. 28th 84-67). Despite the previous meeting, Arkansas has proven to be fierce against many pieces this on this current UK squad, handing Kentucky a season sweep last year, and I’m sure the 2014-15 SEC player of the year would love to hand the Wildcats their first loss. That player being sophomore Bobby Portis who had quite the outing in the SEC quarterfinals, tallying a double-double of 26 points and 11 boards. Yesterday however, was a slightly different story of the sophomore, as he flat out couldn’t find his groove from the floor, shooting 1-14. He ended his day against Georgia with 12 boards and four points. That kind of performance is rare for Portis, as he has only scored single digits in one other outing this season.

Another impact performer for the Razorbacks will be junior Michael Qualls, as he was able to perform quite well against the Wildcats last outing, scoring 17 points and 9 rebounds. Portis and Qualls lead the majority of the main statistical categories, and will be essential to helping an Arkansas effort to bring down the Wildcats.

Arkansas Head Coach Mike Anderson shared his views on the impending game.

"It’s going to be a great opportunity, but it’s a tremendous challenge to play the best team in the country. I feel we’re a much better team than when we played them early in the year."

The win over Auburn yesterday trumped Kentucky’s 60 year old winning streak record that stood at 32, spanning from 1953-55. The Wildcats now look to win their 34th consecutive game with a win over Arkansas. While most of the nation continues to utter perfection about this squad, Coach Cal expressed his thoughts on entering today’s game.

"I’ll live with the results if we’re at our best, if we have high energy, if we’re creating. Maybe we have a bad shooting day. You don’t know how this stuff plays out. I want them just focused on being at your best."

We will now have to wait and see if their best is enough to top #21 ranked Arkansas. The SEC Title game gets underway in Nashville at 1 PM ET.