So much for Kentucky to save a miserable SEC tournament season.
The weak Wildcats are leaving Nashville without even winning a game.
The most disappointing season in John Calipari’s coaching career ended Thursday afternoon with a lament of a 74-73 loss to the state of Mississippi. Dontaie Allen lost a potential 3 point game win at the buzzer, condemning the Wildcats to end the season with a disappointing 9-16 record.
Kentucky spoke of trying to redeem itself by winning four games in four days to claim an NCAA tournament offer, but the Wildcats did not seem ready in the first half, when it was time to support this conversation. At one end of the floor, the ninth seed of the State of Mississippi intimidated Kentucky into painting. On the other, the eighth seeded Wildcats missed scoring opportunities at close range and struggled to respond.
Mississippi State’s lead increased to up to 15 points at the start of the second half, before Allen woke up Kentucky and led a rally in the second half. The sniper who set the Bulldogs on fire by seven points from 3 points in early January burned Ben Howland’s team again on Thursday, hitting 20 of his 23 points after the break.
It was Allen who gave Kentucky his lead in the second half with a 3-point goal six minutes from time. The Wildcats built that advantage to up to five at another 3 point from Davion Mintz, just under two minutes later.
But as quickly as Kentucky attacked back, it withered again. Mississippi State’s Iverson Molinar hit a consecutive trio and then hit the draw and advance free throws with 7.1 seconds to finish.
Kentucky’s defeat was a fitting conclusion to a season that disappointed from the start.
With six Rivals.com Top 50 freshmen joining a squad that also featured the return of Keion Brooks and the coveted transfers Jacob Toppin and Olivier Sarr, Kentucky started in the preseason Top 10 as usual. Then the Wildcats, who used to shoot cold and prone to turnover, fell to Richmond. And in Kansas. And Georgia Tech. And Notre Dame.
When the Wildcats ended the game outside the conference 1-6, it was clear that this was not a typical Calipari team. Only once before, in Calipari’s term, did Kentucky fail to attend the NCAA tournament or win at least 25 games.
Kentucky fought hard enough in the SEC game to win wins over LSU, Florida and Tennessee, but the Wildcats never scored easily enough to make a real run in the NCAA tournament bubble. For weeks, they pointed to the SEC tournament as their chance for redemption.
That’s what makes Thursday’s loss disappointing, but predictable.
The Wildcats showed everyone what they were for months. In March, with the season at stake, they were no different.
More from Yahoo Sports: