Good morning Big Blue Nation, and happy SEC Championship day. Today the Wildcats will face off against the Texas A&M Aggies for the SEC Tournament championship. This will also serve as a revenge game for Kentucky after the heart breaking loss down in College Station in what is the only previous meeting between the two this season. Kentucky forced the game into overtime and had a 1 point lead with the ball when the Aggies were handed the game on a bogus technical call against Isaac Humphries for spiking the ball, which ended with a 79-77 loss for the Cats.

The Cats will been in for a fight today as the Aggies present a physicality down low that has cause them some problems on the year. Freshman Tyler Davis is a load in the post who posted a double-double on the Cats in College Station with 15 points and 12 rebounds and Kentucky may need to depend on some quality minutes out of Isaac Humphries today who had a career game with 12 rebounds against Davis and the Aggies. Jalen Jones presents the Cats with another challenge as the teams leading scorer and rebounder averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds respectfully. Jones is a 6’7″ guard who the Cats might need to rely on Isaiah Briscoe to play lockdown defense against.

A big difference in this game from the previous one is that it will not be played as an away game for the Cats where they have really struggled on the year, and I believe that will be a key component to the game. With the possibility of a 3 seed on the line if the Cats can come out with a win I fully expect Kentucky to come out firing on all cylinders, and while the Aggies will be ready themselves I just don’t think they will have enough to stop Kentucky. So after viewing the comparisons, keys to the game, and predictions below, what will be your predictions for the gam Big Blue Nation?

Team Stats

Kentucky Wildcats                              Texas A&M Aggies

79.6 points (29th)                 >               75.9 points (114th)

38.9 rebounds (53rd)               >              38.8 rebounds (56th)

14.5 assists (100th)             <                17.1 assists (11th)

68.0 points allowed (82nd)            <             65.0 points allowed (31st)

Team Leaders

Kentucky                                                       Texas A&M

Jamal Murray: 20.2 points                          Jalen Jones: 15.6 points

Marcus Lee: 6.3 rebounds                              Jalen Jones: 7.1 rebounds

Tyler Ulis: 7.2 assists                                     Alex Caruso: 5.1 assists

Cordell’s Keys To The Game

• The Kentucky big men have to be physical with Tyler Davis in the post (Humphries may see extended action)
• Cats will need either Isaiah Briscoe or Alex Poythress to match up with Jalen Jones and stay out of foul trouble
• Kentucky will need to attack and keep an up-tempo style of play looking to score in transition