Pope Update

Huge win for Pope on Saturday, as the Cats blew out Vandy 91 to 77.  The Cats shot the lights out in Rupp, going 11-22 (!) from three-point range, while Vandy could only manage 7-28.  Collin Chandler made 6-8 (!) threes, and finished with a career-high 23 points.

The Cats run their record to 10-6 in the SEC and 19-10 overall, and I think they are finally a safe bet to make the NCAA Tournament.  They also jumped up to Number 25 on Ken Pom -- their highest ranking on that service since January 24.  They have two games left.  On Tuesday, they are at Texas A & M.  The Aggies are ranked 38 on Ken Pom, and have lost six of their last eight.  But this is Senior Night for the Aggies, the Cats never play well in College Station, and the Aggies (who are 9-7 in the SEC) really have to win this game.  So that will be an extremely tough matchup for the Big Blue.

UK's last game of the season is home to Florida, which may now be the best team in the country.  On Saturday, Florida humiliated Coach Cal and Arkansas, 111 to 77.  It's really hard to see UK winning that game.

Ken Pom gives UK a 46 percent chance against A & M, and a 30 percent chance against Florida.

Here are the SEC standings after 16 games:

Florida:  14-2

Alabama:  12-4

Arkansas:  11-5

Tennessee: 10-6

Kentucky:  10-6

Missouri:  10-6

Vanderbilt:  9-7

Texas:  9-7

Texas A & M:  9-7

Georgia:  8-8

Auburn:  6-10

Oklahoma:  5-11

Mississippi St:  5-11

Mississippi:  4-12

Louisiana St:  3-13

S. Carolina:  3-13

Here are the Classic SEC rankings according to Ken Pom:

4.  Florida:  23-6

14.  Vanderbilt:  22-7

15.  Alabama:  22-7

18.  Tennessee:  20-9

25.  Kentucky:  19-10

33.  Georgia:  20-9

40.  Auburn:  15-14

58.  Louisiana St:  15-14

79.  Mississippi:  12-17

96.  Mississippi St:  13-16