Photo by Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
The Kentucky Wildcats are now on a three-game winning streak after beating the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville and have built momentum leading up to the SEC tournament. They’re only 8-13 a year, but with three more games on the official regular season schedule and the possibility of adding ‘a few games’ in the last week of the season, they can have a pretty solid winning streak before you go running in Nashville.
“They are in a pretty good position, but now you have to finish,” said British head coach John Calipari during his post-race radio show. “You have to play the next game and you have to play well or you will be beaten.”
As of today, Kentucky’s next game is currently scheduled for next Tuesday against Texas A&M at Rupp Arena, although the Aggies have just postponed their sixth consecutive game, with five delays due to positive COVID-19 test results, contact tracking and subsequent quarantine. of individuals within the program.
With the program still on hiatus, it’s not clear if A&M will be free in time to make a trip to Lexington in just three days. And judging by Calipari’s post-game comments, there doesn’t seem to be much optimism on the Kentucky side.
When asked about the possibility of adding new opponents to the schedule, as he discussed Friday morning, Calipari backed off just a little bit from those comments, adding that the UK may only be playing three SEC games in the last week of the season.
“Yes (we could add new games), but the gauntlet these kids just got through, I’m not sure we won’t take a few days to catch our breath,” said Calipari. “Then try playing both A&M and South Carolina last week, where we get three games. Play in Mississippi and then two home games for our conference tournament. That’s what I would like to do. These kids need breath, come on. They’ve been through a glove. “
With this proposal, Kentucky wouldn’t play until Saturday when the Wildcats face the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena, followed by the team’s journey to Oxford, MS for a fight with Ole Miss on Tuesday, March 2. Then, according to Calipari’s suggestion, UK would fit in the Texas A&M and South Carolina make-up games between March 3-7, leaving Kentucky for four more games.
And from there, the UK would head to Nashville for the SEC tournament the following week, hopefully March 10-14, and come home with a conference championship trophy.
Would fans rather have a week off than two consecutive weeks of chaos?