Kentucky had a chance to win at Alabama but let it slip away the final four minutes. (SEC Photo)
Remember how John Calipari almost always talks about having his team peak for NCAA Tournament play and has made no attempt to hide his dislike of conference tournaments. After Tuesday’s 70-59 loss at Alabama, Kentucky is 5-10 overall and 4-4 in Southeastern Conference play with 11 games left. Kentucky would have to finish 9-2 to have a winning record in regular-season play.
So does that mean Calipari might change his mind about the SEC Tournament knowing UK’s only chance to play in the NCAA this year might be by winning the league tourney? And what about the possibility COVID-19 issues might influence the NCAA to call off conference tournaments?
“You guys know I love conference tournaments, one of my favorite times of the year,” Calipari sarcastically said after the loss. “I will be very disappointed if we are not playing conference tournaments.”
Kentucky fans are going to be “very disappointed” if a team ranked in the top 10 of preseason polls is not in the NCAA for the first time since 2013?
“Just trying to think next game,” UK senior center Olivier Sarr said when asked how troubling it is that UK might not make the NCAA field.
Calipari said it was too early to talk about not making the tournament. He said the Cats still have “all kinds of games left” to get back in position to make the tournament field.
He’s counting on beating ranked teams Missouri, Tennessee and Texas and also getting freshman guard Terrence Clarke back from an ankle injury that has kept him out of every SEC game because he will make UK a “better team,” something that did not happen the first seven games when he played.
“We have games to put ourselves in position (to make the tournament). This was one of them,” Calipari said. “We are just not ready to finish a game off. We are inexperienced. We don’t have the mental toughness, physical toughness to make shots late.
“They know they let go of this game.”
Just like everyone else knows that loss probably also let go of UK’s chances to make the NCAA Tournament unless there is a SEC Tournament and unless Kentucky does win that tournament.
