I don't think this team cares that it's UK they're playing. This team has a confident swagger that I've rarely seen in college sports. They've essentially been on cruise control since SEC play started. Yet, when it matters most, they step it up and prove unstoppable. The only two times they really almost got themselves into trouble they couldn't get out of were at Vanderbilt and home against Alabama. I mean, we've been concerned for weeks that they're not playing their best ball, and yet here we are in mid February and 1.) They're still unbeaten at home and on the road, 2.) Their only loss was in OT, with their best player fouled out, and 3.) 9 of 11 conference wins have been by double digits. Those are amazing statistics...especially when you can consider those stats and still say, "They haven't played their best." I will be shocked if this team doesn't rise to the occasion and take it to UK for 40 minutes.
With that said, it is at Rupp, which is a tough place to play. There are absolutely going to be a lot of calls go against Tennessee. (And, let's face it, Tennessee has gotten the benefit of the doubt on quite a few calls this year -- finally getting the winner's treatment.) I'm not going to be shocked if UK wins. And I'm okay with that. I'd love to run the table in the SEC, but if we have to have a loss somewhere, let's go ahead and take it on the chin, then win out and secure a 1-seed.
Well said. It's scary to think of what this team will look like when they do play their best.
Hopefully they time it right.