Pope Update

Down in Knoxville, the Cats promptly fell behind early, and trailed by 17 points (24-41) late in the first half.  Once again, however, they came storming back, this time behind 22 points from Denzel Aberdeen -- not to mention four huge three-pointers from Collin Chandler.  Still, UK trailed 77-76 with only about 50 seconds left -- but a steal by Chandler set up a fast break to put the Cats into the lead, and they hung on for an enormous 80-78 win.  Not surprisingly, the game ended with a brawl -- but that's par for the course when UK wins in Knoxville.  Amazingly, however, the win means that the Cats have won six of their last seven meetings with UT in Knoxville, including two wins in a row for Mark Pope:

01/17/26:  Tennessee 78 - 80 Kentucky

01/28/25:  Tennessee 73 - 78 Kentucky

03/09/24:  Tennessee 81 - 85 Kentucky (Cal's final win as UK coach)

01/14/23:  Tennessee 56 - 63 Kentucky

02/14/22:  Tennessee 76 - 63 Kentucky

02/20/21:  Tennessee 55 - 70 Kentucky

02/08/20:  Tennessee 64 - 77 Kentucky

UK's four-game winning streak in Knoxville is the Cats' longest since UK won four straight games in Knoxville between 2002 and 2005 (thank you Chuck Hayes).

The Cats are now 3-2 in the SEC, 12-6 overall, and Number 27 on Ken Pom.  The Cats' second consecutive nail-biting win moves them up to Number 243 in luck.  Pomeroy now projects the Cats to finish 10-8 in the SEC and 19-12 overall.  That record would probably get them in the NCAA Tournament.  Next week the Cats host Texas and Ole Miss.

Meanwhile, in Nashville, Vandy hosted Florida in a battle for first place.  The Commodores have been very good in close games, and Florida has been poor.  Ken Pomeroy calls this difference "luck," and says that it should even out over time.  Vandy and Florida made Pomeroy look good today.  They had Doug Shows as one of the officials, and the Commodores and the Gators played a Doug Shows special, with the teams combining for 52 free throws.  But Duke Miles, Vandy's best player, fouled out late, and the Gators pulled out a 98-94 victory.  Florida moves to 4-1 in the SEC, 13-5 overall, and 9 on Ken Pom.  They also moved up to 343 in luck.  Meanwhile, Vandy fell to 3-2 in the SEC, 16-2 overall, and 11 on Ken Pom.  They fell to 126 in luck.

In Athens, Georgia pasted Arkansas 90-76.  So the Razorbacks are now 3-2 in the SEC, 13-5 overall, and 26 on Ken Pom.

One final game of note.  In Murray, Kentucky, the Murray State Racers beat Indiana State 85-81 for their 12th win in a row -- the sixth longest active streak in the country.  The Racers are 8-0 in the Valley, 16-3 overall, and 88 on Ken Pom.

Here are the Classic SEC standings:

9.  Florida:  13-5

12.  Vanderbilt:  16-2

17.  Alabama:  13-5

22.  Tennessee:  12-6

24.  Kentucky:  12-6

28.  Georgia:  15-3

35.  Auburn:  11-7

44.  Louisiana St:  13-5

59.  Mississippi:  11-7

83.  Mississippi St:  10-8