Kentucky's Beat-Down of Arkansas Proves It Is The Class of the SEC

Kentucky scored 10 straight points before Arkansas even made it on the scoreboard; a foreboding of what would be the once-proud Arkansas' worst SEC loss ever: 101-70.

It would be kind to say that the game was over at halftime because midway through the first half Kentucky was already up 36-13.

Coming into the game ranked No. 2, Kentucky was assured of the No. 1 spot after Texas fell to Connecticut on Jan. 23, with only Arkansas standing in their way.

Coach John Calipari had made it clear that a top ranking did not matter to him, but going into the locker room at halftime he acknowledged that it meant a lot for his freshmen-laden team.

From start to finish, the Kentucky squad played like it, avoiding lapses in focus that had plagued it in previous games against such teams as Auburn.

The fallout left Arkansas fans with another painful reminder that Kentucky is regaining its swagger of the 1990s, while Arkansas, which racked up a national championship and multiple Final Four appearances over the same time period, struggles to make even marginal improvements in its year-to-year record, let alone to make the NCAA playoffs.

What a difference one coach and one year can make.

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This article was written by Darius Pourceau of Born Hog Wild .
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