Games #210-211. Does Alabama need to do more to show the Committee its worth? Can anyone stop the Gators?
1:00 pm. Kentucky/Alabama. While yesterday’s win over Georgia should have been enough to get Alabama into the tournament, the selection committee is fickle, granting immunity for losses to one team (Michigan State, Tennessee) and no reward for wins to another (Alabama). So that said, we can’t yet be sure that Alabama is in. However getting a second win over Kentucky probably puts them in where some doubt remains without the win. Both teams played tough games yesterday where the Tide’s JaMychal Green played 43 minutes, Trevor Releford 41, Chris Hines 36, and Charvez Davis 36 and Kentucky’s Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb played 39 minutes each while Josh Harrellson played 35. That’s a lot of minutes for consecutive day games. Let’s find out which team is more tired. Kentucky wins, 67-62.
3:30 pm. Florida/Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt played a nearly flawless game last night in the nightcap against Mississippi State. The Commodores shot 50 percent from the floor, 11-23 from three and 20-22 from the line while getting 14 assists to only five turnovers. Florida was a little up and down at times against Tennessee, but in the end played cool and calm and controlled the second half. Both of these teams are in, but they would also love to get an SEC Tournament championship under their belts to give a little bump to their NCAA Tournament seeding. Florida took the first two meetings and though it’s tough to beat a team three times I think I’ve got to take the Gators take this one, 72-68. But if Vandy wins, well then I meant Vandy, 74-70.