By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky coach John Calipari admitted Monday that Tennessee’s win over Florida and Arkansas’ victory over Mississippi State “caught everyone’s eye†on the first day of Southeastern Conference play Saturday.
Both Florida and Mississippi State are ranked in the top 25 and are expected to challenge Kentucky (15-1), Vanderbilt and Alabama for the SEC championship.
Calipari says Tennessee’s upset “was a surprise†but that both wins by the home teams were not that unexpected.
“Both of those teams are being well coached. Both teams have talent to do it and must have played great basketball games,†said Calipari. “I have not seen the tapes and did not watch the games, but those two scores surprised me. But nothing on the road in this league should surprise you.
“Last year we were 2-6 on the road (in SEC play) and were only a basket or two away from winning the national title. People do not give these teams and coaches enough credit. It’s hard to win on the road (in the SEC).â€
Calipari’s team starts SEC road play Wednesday at Auburn (10-5) and then goes to Tennessee Saturday.
“The good news is that playing at Indiana gives them an idea of what the game are going to be like,†Calipari said. “Everyone of them will be like the Indiana game. Sold out. Standing room. One o’clock people out in front of the building (waiting to get into the game). Are you ready for this type of challenge? Do you understand you have to bring it?
“The execution of last year’s team cost us more than anything. We just were not ready (for SEC road play). We were not very good and were not playing the right way. That’s my fault. I hope this year’s team is a little more advanced because I had a better idea how to play. But when last year’s team came together and figured it out, we were one of the better teams in the country.â€
15 Responses to Early upsets show Calipari SEC road games will be “hard” to win again this season
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Tennessee over Florida, yes, but Arkansas over Mississippi State, no.
One real upset out of 6 SEC games. Upsets happen, but not so much more in the SEC than the NCAA in general.
So far this season, there have been 2496 D1 basketball games, and the favored team lost to the underdog in 556 of them, 22.3% of the games. This past week end, which marked the beginning of conference play for many conferences, there were 161 D1 games, with 46 upsets, about 28% of the games. Therefore, the SEC upset rate this weekend, about 17%, is below the national average for the weekend, and below the national average on the season.
Another Calipari issue to simply distort the true picture. No question, life on the road in the SEC is tough, but life on the road in college basketball is tough period. Teams that go out and play their game get road wins, and teams that dwell on the disadvantages that road trips pose tend to win less.
Great teams play their game regardless of the venue, regardless of the opponent’s ranking.
And, Professor, they all play their best when they are playing against the Wildcats! The Wildcats have to play 150% on the road to beat their opponent. No slacking, no mistakes and no prima donna play. Go Cats!
Pat Benetar sang, “Hit me with your best shot” and that is what I want the UK team to adopt as a philosophy, to mean it, and to expect it, and to defeat it.
Do you ever wonder why so many SEC teams fizzle away their rare post season chances while UK seems to survive and advance more than any other SEC team, year after year? I believe it is because UK is tested by fire in the SEC, but the rest of the SEC don’t get the benefit of that experience. Yes, that will translate into some UK losses during the SEC season, but more times than not, those SEC opponents that give their best against the Cats, are so spent afterwards, that they lose the next game they play, and sometimes 2 or 3 in a row after confronting the mighty wildcats.
Headed to Auburn on Wednesday for my second year of trekking thru the SEC to watch UK play basketball at the various venues. I am once again excited. I bought “new” good luck socks because the others didn’t get us a whole lot of wins on the road. I have been threatened if I mess up our home winning streak by attending the UK vs. AL game.
Sarah we need a game report on what it is like at Auburn
Professor, I like that, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, maybe they could play that at the beginning of all the home games! Go Cats!
Like Hit Me with Your Best Shot as well
There is the definite possibility of two losses in the road schedule. That would be 2/11 @ that travesty called a basketball court in Nashville and on 3/4 @ the mini gym in Florida.
Outside possibilies exist this coming Saturday in Knoxville where UT is suddenly playing well and on 2/21 in Cowbell heaven. I’ll give my grandaughter a shoutout for the game at Athens on 1/24 but I don’t really think so.
Now. come mid-February Cal will have one very, very good team of Wildcats, they are getting close as this is being typed. That may cancel my thought for the entire first paragraph as well as the outcome of the trip to MSU.
What’s that leave? Aha—the game in Knoxville on Saturday !!
Ok! ——-one road loss (but not on Saturday) and a 29 – 2 record going into the conference tournament in Atlanta.
Ah—the eternal optimist.
Hit me with your best shot would beat the heck out of the music they play before introducing the team now, IMO.
Can’t find fault with Hit me with you best shot but after these (predicted) back to back road wins I think Thin Lizzy’s “THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN” would be more appropriate. IMO
The boys are definitely back in town, and that is another terrific theme. I was responding directly to Linda’s observation that opponents hit UK with their best shot every time, and my response is that is the way it is, bring it on.
I hope Cal and the staff get wind of these songs! Go Cats!
You bet Prof.These CATS are ready for the road. I want to play the best here, there and anywhere. I’m hoping for my first trip to the Big Easy this spring.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME.
In Syracuse NY on business until thursday. Hoping to find a bar to watch tomorrow nights game but i am comfortable with the fact that Larry will have GREAT COVERAGE FOR ME TO READ ABOUT ON THURSDAY
good luck on finding a bar UKFMLY. Interesting to see what the talk up there is on the Orangemen
The talk is final four. They are very cocky but have a true respect for the CATS. They like our recruits and mentioned the one and dones but said to a man that Jim would take them also if he could. And they hate uconn like the BBN hates ul. It’s actually GREAT bb country with knowledgable fans.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME