SEC Update

Kentucky bounced back from its disappointing loss at College Station by throttling a pretty good Alabama team, 78 to 53, at Rupp Arena.  The Cats led 33-21 at the half, and simply kept expanding their lead the rest of the way.

LSU suffered its third loss in a row, 85-65 at Arkansas, and the Tigers fell two games behind the Big Blue.

Texas A & M, having edged UK with a last-second tip-in, beat Mississippi State 68-66 on two late free throws, to remain just one game off the pace.

South Carolina was also just one game behind after the Gamecocks clobbered Tennessee 84 to 58.

And Vandy remained within two games of first place after going to Florida and winning 87 to 74.  ESPN has Vandy projected as an 11-seed, so the Dores' NCAA hopes remain alive for now.

Here are the latest standings.  For the record, I can't tell if Andy Kennedy at Ole Miss is a great coach with poor players or a poor coach with great players:

8.  Kentucky:  11-4

22.  Texas A & M:  10-5
52.  S. Carolina:  10-5

24.  Vanderbilt:  9-6
77.  Louisiana St:  9-6

44.  Florida:  8-7
80.  Mississippi:  8-7

76.  Arkansas:  7-8
78.  Alabama:  7-8
87.  Georgia:  7-8

97.  Tennessee:  6-9

79.  Mississippi St:  5-10
184.  Auburn:  5-10

169.  Missouri:  3-12

Once again, Kentucky has a brutal Saturday road trip.  This time, the Cats are going to Memorial Gym in Nashville -- the best sports facility in America -- to play a Vandy team that has won six straight games at home.  The Dores are shooting almost 40 percent from three-point range, which is usually a very good sign for Vandy.  With a record of 17-11, Vandy really needs this game, and I expect them to play well.  Meanwhile, the young Cats have gone 3-4 on the perilous SEC road this year -- although they played very well in losses at Kansas and Texas A & M.  It's a huge game, and the winner will be very happy.