Kentucky Basketball: Slow Starts a Big Concern Going into SEC Play

The Kentucky Wildcats need to be careful heading into their Southeastern Conference schedule.

They have been having some slow starts this season, and that could be dangerous when they start playing bigger, faster and more physical teams than they have become accustomed to over the first 15 games of the year.

On Tuesday night, they went into the home locker room at halftime down three points to Arkansas-Little Rock before ripping off a 23-1 run in the second half to put their weaker opponent away. Those small deficits are going to be a lot harder to overcome against the likes of Florida, Mississippi State, Alabama, LSU and the powerhouses in the conference. They cannot afford to be down and expect their inexperienced freshman to consistently bail them out with big runs late in the game.

It’s been a luxury that they have been able to use when matched up against Loyola (MD) and other lesser opponents from small conferences, but that style of play simply won’t fly in the SEC.

Freshman phenom Anthony Davis, a lock to go towards the top of the 2012 NBA draft if he declares, understands this as well: "I heard it's very physical," Davis said. "The way we came out and played in the first half is not going to be acceptable in SEC play."

Teammate Darius Miller, now a senior with the Wildcats, also knows by now that they need more consistent play:

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In the beginning of the game, we came out and we had no intensity and we were very sluggish. We have to do a better job of coming out and taking care of business from the beginning.

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Well see, starting Saturday against South Carolina, if coach John Calipari can get a solid 40 minutes of basketball out of his boys in SEC matchups.