Kentucky Basketball: Previewing Every SEC Game for the Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats entered conference play with a stout 14-1 record, with one hiccup on the road against Indiana. They currently sit at 17-1, 3-0 in conference play.

As the second-ranked team in the nation (via B/R's top 25), Kentucky will be favored in any venue they travel to across the Southeastern Conference.

Kentucky will get each team's best shot. The proverbial bull's-eye has not left the back of Kentucky's program since John Calipari landed in Lexington. Seemingly easy opponents (I'm looking at you, Arkansas-Little Rock) will stick around longer than expected and give the Big Blue Nation a few tense moments.

Talent-wise, Kentucky is second to none in the SEC. Florida, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Alabama all have solid squads that could deal Kentucky a loss if Calipari's squad comes out flat. Depth will almost certainly force Calipari's hand into playing reserves more often, which may make games closer than usual.

The Wildcats kicked off their conference play with a win against South Carolina on January 7th. Here's a look at what the rest of their schedule looks like.

Records and analysis in this list will be updated weekly, so check back to see what you Kentucky Wildcats are up against.

Jan. 7 vs. South Carolina W, 79-64

South Carolina: 8-9 (0-3)

Kentucky won their January 7 meeting with South Carolina, 79-64, starting conference play on the right foot. Terrence Jones led Kentucky with 20 points on an 8-of-9 shooting performance.

It should be noted that South Carolina is the second team to out-rebound Kentucky this year. Offensive rebounds favored South Carolina 16 to six, a whopping difference considering the Wildcats have been great on the glass so far.

South Carolina only has two wins at Rupp Arena in the history of their program, so a win was expected.

Jan. 11 at Auburn W, 68-53

Auburn: 11-6 (1-2)

Another rough game on the road for Kentucky. Auburn stayed within four points by halftime, and were in the game throughout.

This game showed that Kentucky is not immune to slow starts on the road, and that is a very pressing matter moving forward.

Kentucky shot well from the free-throw line and only turned the ball over eight times, both of which have been less than adequate thus far this year.

Auburn out-rebounded the Wildcats, marking only the third time all year (second in conference) that Kentucky hasn't led in rebounding.

Jan. 14 at Tennessee W, 65-62

Tennessee: 8-9 (1-2)

In the coming out party for Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee proved they are capable of producing another upset on their home floor, though they fell four points short. 

Tennessee started the season slow but proved tough to beat at home, although Kentucky once again started slow. Down 28-34 at halftime, the Wildcats once again proved they are a second half team.

You can view my rapid reaction to Kentucky's win here.

Jan. 17 vs. Arkansas

Arkansas: 13-4 (2-1)

Arkansas opened SEC play with a big win over Mississippi State, winning 98-88. Their second conference win came at home against a surprising LSU squad, 69-60. 

Playing at home, Kentucky should have no trouble with the Razorbacks. Marshawn Powell will be out for the Razorbacks, so look for other players to step up. Against Mississippi State, Julysses Nobles and B.J. young each scored 24 points. If Arkansas has any chance, they will need big performances from those two.

Arkansas has played three road games as of this writing, and has lost all three. January 17 should be no different. 

Jan. 21 vs. Alabama

Alabama: 13-4 (2-1)

This game will be one to keep your eye on. Alabama has a great defensive squad, and should keep this game close. A JaMychal Green/Terrence Jones matchup will be a good one to watch.

The Crimson Tide played at Georgia in their first SEC game, winning 74-59. If their scoring can match their great defense, they will be a force in the SEC West. Their second win came against LSU at home, 69-53. 

Alabama's first loss in SEC play came at the hands of Dee Bost and Mississippi State, 56-52.

Alabama will have to keep the pace slow, because they can't score like Kentucky can.

Jan. 24 at Georgia

Georgia: 9-8 (0-3)

Georgia sports a young squad that is very streaky. They boast wins over squads like Notre Dame and USC, but have a tendency to play down to their competition. 

That won't be necessary against Kentucky, where the Bulldogs will be underdogs. If Georgia can't stay within 15 points against Alabama at home, Kentucky should have no trouble.

Jan. 28 at LSU

LSU: 11-6 (1-2)

LSU has been a pleasant surprise for the SEC, sporting wins at Rutgers (something Florida couldn't do) and against Marquette. The Tigers dismantled Mississippi in their SEC opener and should play Kentucky tough.

In their last two games, LSU has lost to Alabama and Arkansas, both on the road.

Kentucky needs to get out to a fast start to take the crowd out of the game. The longer LSU stays in the game, the louder it will be. LSU has shown they can take down the big boys at home, so Kentucky may be in for a close game.

Jan. 31 vs. Tennessee

Tennessee: 8-9 (1-2)

In Kentucky's first rematch of the year, they will play Tennessee at home. In Tennessee's next four games, it will be interesting to see how much they can improve.

Expect Kentucky to get out to a better start compared to their last game. 

Feb. 4 at South Carolina

South Carolina: 8-9 (0-3)

In their January 7 meeting, South Carolina played scrappy and won quite a few loose balls. That issue should be addressed by John Calipari in the near future. 

Sophomore guard Bruce Ellington should be back to form for the Gamecocks, which should give them a bit more scoring from the outside.

Still, I don't see Kentucky losing this game. South Carolina has played two games at home since their game against Kentucky, and they lost both (to Vanderbilt and Florida).

Feb. 7 vs. Florida

Florida: 14-4 (2-1)

Well, it's safe to say Florida is not good on the road. All four of their losses thus far have been away from The Swamp. A win at South Carolina shows a step in the right direction, but Rupp Arena is a much harder venue to win in.

Unless Kentucky comes out extremely flat, this game should be a win for the Wildcats.

Feb. 11 at Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt: 13-4 (3-0)

Vanderbilt opened conference play with a dominant 65-35 win over Auburn. With Festus Ezeli back, the Commodores will be looking to prove why they were a top-10 team at the start of the year.

Vanderbilt has looked great in conference play, and if Kentucky hasn't improved on their woeful road starts, they will have trouble winning this game.

Memorial Gym has always been a tough place to play, and will no doubt prove to be a tough environment for Kentucky to win in. 

With three days rest before this matchup, Kentucky should be on their game. Whether or not they can start fast will be pivotal in this game.

Feb. 18 vs. Mississippi

Mississippi: 11-6 (1-2)

Six days rest, playing at home and Ole Miss simply isn't on Kentucky's talent level. 

This game won't be close.

Feb. 21 at Mississippi State

Mississippi State: 15-3 (2-1)

This is the first game that I wouldn't be surprised to see Kentucky lose.

Mississippi State is an experienced squad and has the size to match up with Kentucky. An interesting duo to watch will be Rodney Hood and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Both are forwards that play with a lot of energy and are very efficient.

This game will be close throughout and a great game to watch.

Feb. 25 vs. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt: 13-4 (3-0)

These two teams will no doubt be familiar with each other, having played just two weeks before this game. If Vanderbilt's scoring duo John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor heat up, this game will stay close.

Vanderbilt hasn't won in Rupp Arena since the 2006-2007 season, and that streak should stay intact.

March 1 vs. Georgia

Georgia: 9-8 (0-3)

Kentucky should be performing their best by March, and this game will almost certainly be seen as a tune-up for their regular-season finale.

Georgia may be able to keep this game close if they catch Kentucky looking ahead, but I doubt it will matter.

March 4 at Florida

Florida: 14-4 (2-1)

And March Madness begins.

These two teams will almost certainly be dancing, but a strong game to end the regular season will impact seeding in the NCAA tournament. Kentucky will almost certainly be eyeing a number one seed, and Florida will be jockeying for a better seed.

Depending on how each team plays throughout conference play, this game may very well decide who gets the top seed in the SEC tournament. 

This game will be a great one to watch. It will be interesting to see how well Florida rebounds in SEC play, as well as how well Kentucky plays on the road.

Keep checking back for updated records and analysis!