Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports photo
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports photo
Now in a three-game winning streak after defeating the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, the Kentucky Wildcats gained momentum in the stretch leading to the SEC tournament. They are still only 8-13 in the year, but with three more games on the official schedule for the regular season, along with the possibility of “some games” being added in the last week of the season, they could make a pretty solid game winning streak before to run a race in Nashville.
“They are in a very good position, but now, you have to finish,” said UK coach John Calipari during his post-game radio program. “You have to play the next game, and you have to play well or you will be defeated.”
As of today, the next Kentucky game is scheduled for Tuesday against Texas A&M at the Rupp Arena, although the Aggies have postponed their sixth consecutive game, with five delays due to positive results from the COVID-19 test, tracking contact and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the program.
With the program still paused, it is unclear whether A&M will be released in time to make a trip to Lexington in just three days. And judging by Calipari’s comments after the game, there doesn’t seem to be much optimism on the Kentucky side about the things they will do.
When asked about the possibility of adding new opponents to the lineup, as he discussed Friday morning, Calipari dodged these comments just a little, adding that the UK could only play three SEC games in the last week of the season.
“Yes (we could add new games), but the challenge these kids just went through, I’m not sure if it won’t take us a few days to catch their breath,” said Calipari. “So try to play A&M and South Carolina that last week, where we had three games. Play in Mississippi, then two games at home before our conference tournament. That is what I would like to do. These kids need a breather, come on. They went through a challenge. “
With this proposal, Kentucky would only play on Saturday, when the Wildcats would face the Florida Gators at the Rupp Arena, followed by the team’s trip to Oxford, MS for a battle with Ole Miss on Tuesday, March 2. So, according to Calipari’s suggestion, The UK would fit in the spare games for Texas A&M and South Carolina between March 3 and 7, giving Kentucky four more games on the schedule.
And from there, the UK would head to Nashville the following week for the SEC tournament, hopefully staying from March 10 to March 14 and returning home with a conference championship trophy.
Do fans prefer a week off before two consecutive weeks of chaos?